Behold, there went out a sower to sow; and it came to pass, as the sowed, some fell by the way-side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up."noun

These are they who hear the Gospel, and understand it not; pay, that is, no attention to sit all that they hear passes off their mind without making any impression upon it: they are, in short, just as if they had not heard it; their thoughts and actions are no more guided by the rules of the Bible, than if no such book had been ever written the reason is, that the heart is } not touched; they remain without any feeling of religion, without any sense of duty, without any regard for the will and honour of Almighty God, and his Son Jesus Christ.

As the seed which falls by the way-side is trodden under foot by every passenger, or carried off by the fowls of the air, so that none springs up, and brings forth fruit; thus it is with those who hear the word of God, and pay no attention to it. It is worthy of remark, what our Saviour says in this place: "When these have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and

taketheaway the word that was sown in their hearts."We may learn from hence, that if we are idle or careless, our great enemy, the devil, becomes only the more active and watchful; wherever he sees men off their guard, he is sure to seize them for his prey. In fact, his work is then half done for him. It was in an unguarded hour that David became an adulterer and a murderer. Satan found him heedless of all danger, took him by surprise, and led him into a course of guilt, on which he looked back with horror. The agonies of his soul are described by himself in language which must call forth compassion from all who hear it, and ought to set all on working out their salvation, on seeking, that is, through faith in Christ, and obedience to his will, to be saved. When, moreover, we consider the dangers to which we are all exposed, we have reason to work out our salvation with fear and trembling."

We read also, that Satan entered into the heart of Judas, when he had begun to

long after the wages of sin

He had cast an eager eye on the bag which he carried, and the money contained in it. It was, at present, the common stock, and in tended to buy provisions for Christ and his apostles; but Judas wished to make it his own; and this covetous temper being indulged gained ground, assisted by the wicked counsels of Satan, till Judas gave up freely, and even eagerly, the Master, who had done so much to serve him, and was prepared to do so much more, for thirty pieces of silverd.

We may see from hence, how necessary it is that Christians should watch over themselves. To this end, let them "hearken" to the word of God, lay it to heart, and pray that, by his blessing, it may become the rule of their lives. Let them espe cially beware, how they treat coldly and with indifference those truths which are designed to lay open the path of duty, and which invite them, with the most affec tionate earnestness, to walk in it. If they take no pains, the word of God, though

Luke xxii. 3.** Matt. xxvi. 15. W

intended as a lamp to their feet, and a light unto their paths, will profit them nothing. There must be, on their part, a willing mind, a heart careful of its best interests, and anxious to improve them; for no one ever yet became a sincere Christian, brought forth, that is, in his life the fruits of his ; faith, without great watchfulness over himself, and daily prayer to God for the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

II. We may now proceed to the next character described by our Lord.

"Some fell on stony ground, where it had not much depth of earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth but when the sun was up it was scorched; and because it had no root it withered away."

These are they, who, instead of neglecting the Gospel altogether, are struck with some sense of its worth, and feel a value for the offers it holds forth: when they hear the word, they receive it therefore with joy, listen to it gladly, and if there were no trials to come, no duties to be performed; if no inclination of the heart was required to be checked; if, in short,

i

they might enjoy every present wish, and obtain also future shappiness; they would be something more than almost Christians. So corn might flourish on a rock, if there was no sun to parch it, or ho storms to wash it away; it springs up for a time, though it afterward withers. Such is the case with the persons here spoken of. When difficulties arise, they shrink from the path of duty, turn out of the strait road because it is too rough for them, and strike into some other path which seems smoother and easier for the feet, though in the end it will be found beset with thorns and briars. These fainthearted and lukewarm Christians have no root in themselves; the Gospel has not taken firm possession of the heart, but has laid only a slight hold of the feelings. As soon therefore as their duty crosses their inclination, they fall off, and, like those disciples who were offended with Christ, walk no more with Him, whom they had hitherto honoured as their Saviour, eoq This is indeed a very common case.

e John vi. 66.

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