fulness as the other's: men, therefore, do not need any unusual heinousness of actual transgression to inspire them with gratitude towards Him, through whom alone they have a hope of everlasting life. "We thus judge, that if he died for all, then were all dead." He is the sole author of spiritual life to any one; without him we are dead towards God: he is the sole author of eternal life to any one; without him "we are children of wrath, even as Do we need more cause than this to excite our love?

others."

And who, after all, are they to whom little is forgiven? Few can look back on a past life, and say that such is the case with them. And still fewer will. When they compare what they are, or have been, with what they ought to be, and might have been, if they had made better use of the means of grace vouchsafed them--when, instead of measuring themselves by others, they measure themselves by the law of God;-they will not palliate the coldness of their love, by reason of the fewness of their sins, but they will condemn it as a remaining evidence of a heart that needs to be more fully renewed.

What then we require is, not more sin to excite our thankfulness, but a stronger sense of the need we have to be thankful; a stronger sense of the holiness of God, and a livelier faith 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 has 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. Such 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.

4

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

LECTURE XXVI.

PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

LUKE viii. 1-15.

1. And it came to pass afterwards, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

2. And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

3. And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

4. And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable : (Matt. xiii. 4-20. Mark iv. 2-20.)

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. He knows how many things may occur, to 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

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.

their own state or danger be described, they do not apply the word 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 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." 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 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 the bitter thoughts continue even longer, especially if formed 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