Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-08
The Four Hearers.

side, were calling to morning service, aud
bands of worshippers came focking from scat
tered hamlets, to hear the Gospel of Christ,
and to praise him in bis house. There was
one group of four persons known to one an
othsr, who walked in company, and they had
plenty to say on the crops, the new organ,
and the season. as seaside residents call
the time for visitors on their coast.
There was rich, or at least, wellto-do
farmer, a wealthy tradesman, and q gentleman
in middle life whose companion was young
daughter, of sweet and placid countenance,
whose age could scarcely be more than fifteen
years.
Az they left the village a fifth Joined
them, and asked the shortest way to the
church. which was more than half mile
distant. There was something so friendly in
his greeting that they readily admitted him
to their party, and at once they began to speak
of the place whittier they were vending, of
its beauty, its improvements, its congregation,
and its minister. Then followed a remark
from the stranger on the blessings of the day
of rest, and its holy duties, to which the ell
der man assented, and said, with something
like compIacency, have never missed but
once,-and that was month of illness
going to that church, sir, for forty years
past
That is saying great DEAL replied the
stranger have you ever reckoned how many
sermons that makes 2
No, cannot say | have replied the
farmer, and, after pause, well, l reckon
about 2,076.'
You are not far wrong was the answer,
and if the question was, how many sermons
Que must hear to be saved you would stand
well, but it is not; Christ says, Take heed
hoo we hear 1t is, imagine, on that that
the good of hearing hinges.
You are right, sir said the man with
sigh. for he knew hon. he had heard for many
a long year, and he was weary and heavy
laden yet, having found no rest
We all know the parable of the sower,'
resumed the stranger. 1t would be worth
while, as We walk to church, to ask ourselves
to which class we ca h belong
They all relapsed into silence and took the
advice.
The old mans thoughts ran thus
Il am going down hill fast. ! have heard,
as the gentleman says, Gods message,
through the minister, upwards of two thou
sand times and what the better am l? So
! sure as | 90 to church am l disturbed by
thoughts of my crops, or my banker, or the
clouds and weather. [ am listening to the
sermon, perhaps, and begin to feel little
warm and interested, when these thoughts
come 1t must be Satan sends them and the
good things are all snatched away, and the
good thoughts scattered the bad birds of
the air, Or of the world, come and devour
them up, and am not yet safe for heaven.
All, l am wayside hearer, l fear
H. said the tradesman to himself, like
to hear u good sermon as well as any ONE
Yes, and may say I often hear it with joy
| think the Bible a wonderful book, the his.
tory of Christ's love in dying for us WON
derful history, and many a time | have wish
ed that l lived in religious family so as 1
could be really religious myself; but then,
thore is so much to give up. My brothers
and sisters, and father aud mother, too, so
often have laughed at my scruples when l
have refused to break the Sabbath day, and
l cannot bear laugh. think I must be
the stony ground nearer, for there seems to be
no root to my desires and good feelings, and
as TO persecution, l know never could stand
that
H. said tie third to himself, am very
glad that that stranger does not ask us Tor
our replies. am sure no one can respect
religion more than |, but have no time for
such strictness as some of my neig hbors. [
have so many friends, so many pursuits, such
an increasing business, so many pounds in
vested here there, and everywhere, that
need to look sharp. | suppose these riches
are my thorns, for certainly religion does not
grow. What hear on Sunday is all choked
up before the end of the week. Yes, the seed
!, of Gods word with me certainly falls on
thoroy ground
The little girl was thinking all this time
and she as, ed herself very seriously, What
, kind of nearer am II know am a SIN
ner, but know too that Jesus died to save
me. know | do not feel so full of love as
ought, in return for His love, but know
too, that there is no name so sweet in my car
as the name of Jesus. | know that there is
no day SO precious as that on which / hear
that name most often. | trust His Spirit
: has renewed my heart, and is making me ho-
Her than once was before | believed on Him,
; but long to bring forth more fruits Of holt
ness | must pray for Gods Holy Spirit to
, come like The dew on the grass, by His grace
| to refresh my SOUL
They were now at the church door, and
parted
The sower sowed the seed, and the four
hearers received each in his own way. Yet
the strangers question was not forgotten =
= and it is question which we must ask and
answer, dear children, as well as they Tor
the day will come when every sermon we
f have heard shall be brought to our minds
and Christ, the Judge of all, will call us tc
T.. account for the manner in which we have re-
i. ceived his offers of reconciliation.-Mrs
:. Geidart.