THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

Our Lord in parables his laws reveals

To docile minds, which justly he conceals
From those with pride and stubbornness possest,
And seal'd for death. Lo! this among the rest-

IN the 13th chapter of Matthew we find recorded the circumstance of Jesus preaching from a ship, to the multitude who stood on the shore, and his discourse was in the form of a parable to the following effect:"Behold a sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air, came and devoured them up; and some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth, and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth, and when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away; and some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprung up

and choked them; but others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundred-fold, some sixty-fold, and some thirty-fold."

Such was the parable that our Lord spake to his hearers; and it is very striking to observe, how he improved all the circumstances of life to afford instruction to those that followed him, making every thing subservient to the great end for which he came, to lead men to God. Most of his followers must have been familiar with the sight of sowing the fields with corn, and this now afforded a lesson from which they might learn much, and from which, by the blessing of God, we also may learn much. Christ was pleased to explain the meaning of this parable; and noticed,

1st. The way-side, or path of the corn field, which being trodden hard cannot re

ceive the grain sown thereon: this the birds make their spoil, and carry away. This is meant to represent those who come to the house of God, and hear his word, without giving diligence to receive it into their hearts; from such the devil easily takes away what they have heard, and they gain no profit.

2d. The stony ground: in such ground as this the seed is not likely to thrive; nor can the Word of God produce any good effect where there is nothing congenial thereto; there may be an appearance of religion, a mere hearing of the word, and that with some outward show of joy; but the soul is not right, the stony heart has not been removed, therefore the seed of life cannot strike deep root.

3d. The thorny ground: in such a place the corn is not likely to come to perfection,

for the thorns will soon overgrow and choke it; thus it is in the soul, where the world and its cares and pleasures have the sway; there may be something of religion, but it comes to no good and blessed end, it is at last choked by the thorns of time and sense.

4th. The good ground: here the seed thrives and repays the sower's toil; and in the heart where God the Holy Spirit breaks up the ground, the gospel seed brings forth abundantly to the praise of God. O that we may be of the happy number in whose hearts the word of life takes deep root downward, and then, by the grace of God, we shall bring forth fruit upward. (2 Kings xix. 30.)