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Wherever the Gospel is taught as a divine revelation, many "hear it, and understand it not." declarations lie on the surface of the mind; but no pains are taken to examine the evidence of its authority, nor to bring the heart into subjection to its precepts. In truth, the heart is never affected: the man remains within the hearing but without the feeling of religion. Such is the case with seed which falls "by the way side;" on ground unprepared and unfit to receive it; where it is trodden under foot by every passenger, or carried off by the fowls of the air: destroyed by the scorner, or scattered by the tempter.

Others, instead of neglecting the Gospel altogether, are struck with some sense of its beauty: with the high views of mankind and their future destiny which it unfolds; or the ennobling relation to God, which it offers; or the suitableness of its doctrines to the condition of the human race. So when they "hear the word, they receive it with joy;" listen to it gladly; and if there were no trials to come, no self-denial to be exercised, no duties to be performed, they would be something more than almost Christians. So corn might flourish on a rock, if there were no sun to parch it, or no storm to wash it away; it springs up for a time, though afterwards it withers. Such is the religious impression described in the figure. When difficulties arise, it is obliterated. The corrupt propensities of the heart prevail: or

opposition ensues; if not such as menaced the early followers of Jesus, the never-failing opposition of the indifference, contempt, and irreligious example of other men; and under these trials, religion gives way, if it has not been deeply rooted in the heart. "He that receiveth the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by-and-by he is offended." "1

There is also a numerous class who persevere through life with no doubt upon their minds of the truth of Christianity: they pay some attention to its ordinances, and imagine, perhaps, that in the main they are living obediently to its precepts. And so they do live, in all those cases where the world and the Scripture agree: in all the ordinary rules of life which keep society together, and secure the peace of the community. But the heart is still untouched, or, at best, unsubdued: it is fixed on worldly advantages, worldly preferment, worldly pleasures, worldly approbation; and these snares so entangle it, that all those rarer and peculiar graces which the Gospel requires-all that undivided attachment to its Author which it claims-all that uncompromising fidelity which constitutes and distinguishes the true Chris

1 Matt. xiii. 21.

tian, is still wanting. Such is he who "receives seed among thorns; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful." He is not like those who have never paid any attention to the word; nor like those who, having been drawn to listen to it, have afterwards avowedly discarded it, as requiring too great a sacrifice. He remains to the end a plant upon Christian ground: has leaves and blossoms: a show, perhaps, of fruit, of fruit which reaches no perfection: it is not Christian fruit, such as belongs peculiarly to the Gospel, being estimated by its standard, and supported by its motives.

So likewise there is a fourth class, upon whom the word is not lost or destroyed without taking root; neither is it overborne by the opposition which it must encounter; neither is it choked among the concerns, and interests, and pleasures of the present state; but it grows among unfriendly plants, and flourishes in spite of an ungenial climate; and is distinguished by the fruits of humility, piety, holiness, and charity, in which it abounds. Yet among these who alike "receive, and understand, and keep the word," there is not an uniform proficiency. All do not in an equal degree obtain the mastery over their natural corruptions. All do not arrive at an equal height in Christian virtues. All do not labour equally in the service of their Master, to whom they have attached themselves. All produce fruit;

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but " some thirty fold, some sixty, and some an hundred."

Such is the actual state of the Christian world. And such is the description which was drawn of it before Christianity was in existence. The description agrees with the experience of every minister who has observed the workings of human nature under the operation of the Gospel. He can distinguish characters like these among every hundred persons that may be under his charge; he can perceive none who do not fall naturally and easily within some of these classes. And this ought to be considered strong evidence of divine authority in him who delivered such a parable: a parable which comprehensively describes the whole of mankind, in a country where the Gospel is preached: so as to mark out by a masterly touch the different shades and variations of character, which should be hereafter produced by a cause not then in operation. That this foreknowledge of character should have been found in men who were no more than Jesus and his followers appeared to be, is as difficult to believe, as that one uneducated in anatomy should be able to delineate the internal conformation of the human body.

IV. It must be observed, farther, that the parable just considered by no means stands alone, an exception to the general tenour of the discourse of Jesus :

it cannot be alleged as a single instance of success among many failures. The truth which it conveys is intimated by several other parables, likewise of a prophetic nature; among which that of the tares springing up among the wheat, and of the net cast into the sea,1 deserve particular attention. Like the former, they communicate information which an impostor would be unwilling to furnish, which an enthusiast would refuse to anticipate, but which has been found agreeable to experience in every age of the Gospel. They predict, that even in the countries where Christianity is received and generally professed, there shall be a great variance between its precepts and the characters of many who come within its pale. They warrant us to expect that many will contradict by their lives the faith which they express in their creed, and fall short of the character which the Gospel prescribes and requires.

That such is the case, none will deny. A large proportion of the people, in a Christian country, believe in the incarnation of Jesus as an historical fact, without being in any characteristic degree influenced by his religion. I do not only mean that they are denominated Christians from their geographical position, or the baptism of their infancy; but that, if questioned upon the point, they would profess themselves Christians; would be offended if their faith were doubted; would desire to be comprehended in

1 Matt. xiii. 24, 43, 47, 50.