in the efficacy of Christ's blood, by which that holiness is satisfied. Such faith will produce love, as it produced love in the woman here: and from the like love the like effects will flow. She evidenced it by reverence towards our Lord's person; we, who cannot give the same proofs of affection, shall evidence it by love towards His name, His word, His people. And as he approved it in her, He will approve it in His disciples of all times, that they love much, because they have been much forgiven.

48. "And He said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49. "And they that sat at meat with Him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50. "And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace."

It had not yet become fully evident who this was that forgiveth sins also. To us it is revealed, that "the Father hath delivered all things into His hand:" let us learn to desire and seek the same blessing; Go in peace. The blessing follows the like faith, working with the like love. For that none may ever doubt whether this love was the fruit of faith, He said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee.

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4 In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Gal. v. 6.

LECTURE XL.

PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

LUKE viii. 4—15.

(Matt. xiii. 3-23. Mark iv. 2—20.)

4. "And when much people were gathered together, and were come to Him out of every city, He spake by a parable.

5. "A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6. "And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. 7. "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8. "And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, He cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

We shall best see the force of this parable, if we review the circumstances under which it was uttered.

He went throughout every city and village, preaching, and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city.

To an inexperienced eye, the sight of such a congregation would be like that of a springing field, promising an abundant harvest. But the husbandman is not so easily elated. how many things may occur, to

He knows blight the

prospect, and disappoint the promise. And so He who knew the heart, knew how much light curiosity, how much fickleness, how much worldliness, lurked among these hearers: how many would leave him, when they learnt the real nature of his kingdom; learnt that "if any man would come after him, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow him." This He foretold, under a figure which the disciples were at a loss to understand.

9. "And his disciples asked Him, saying, What might this parable be?

10. "And He said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.1

11. "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12. "Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved."

Some hear or read the word of God with so little attention, that it never lays hold on their minds. They immediately forget it: even though their own state or danger be described, they do not apply the word to themselves. And he that hinders is the devil: who makes his advantage of their habits or their disposition, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest

1 This might as properly be translated, "so that seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not understand." They have not the state of mind which God sees fit to open and enlighten.

they should believe, and be saved. Seeing, they see not: so that St. James compares them to "a man beholding his natural face in the glass, who beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he

was.

وو

Scripture preached to such persons is like seed falling on the way-side, the beaten road. Seed must enter within the soil, and be covered with the earth, or it cannot grow.

13. "They on the rock are they, which when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Some, when they hear the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, are pleased with its promises, touched by the divine mercy which it displays, and moved by the apprehension of losing its blessings; they make, perhaps, a sort of wild wish, "O let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his !" And these wishes and good purposes continue till they have left the church and reached their home, and find there business to disturb or friends to amuse them and sometimes they continue even longer, especially if made in a time of sorrow and separation from the concerns. and pleasures of the world. But there is no settled resolution to seek the kingdom of God in the first place, no constancy of mind to deny themselves, and follow the Lord, fully counting the cost, counting also the eternal gain. At the

first trial or difficulty they fall away like seed cast upon stony or rocky ground, which soon springs up into a blade, but the earth is too thin and shallow to nourish it for any time; it is parched up and withered by the heat of the

summer sun.

14. "And that which fell among thorns are they, which when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection."

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These go further still: are convinced of the truth of the gospel, acknowledge its excellence, profess to be partakers of its promises. But the love of this world, though shaken, is not subdued, in their hearts: and if not subdued, it will, in the end, prevail. To such St. John has written, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." A decided choice must be made, a decided preference shown. The Lord our God is a jealous God;" and will not be satisfied with a divided heart, or a partial share of our affections. The cares of life cannot be avoided; but they must not choke the word: neither must the riches and pleasures of this life: these too must be kept subservient to the main object, the pleasures which are at God's right hand; they must be made to promote, and not to supersede, "the love of the Father." 66 They that will be rich," and they that will involve themselves in the cares of this world and the lust of other