The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-24
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

indicated above
SUBJECT: THE PARABLE OF THE SoWER
This parable and its explanation are given
by st. Matthew, rs: 10 1929 and st. Luke,
(8:4-8, 11-15.) The explanation is also given
by st. Mark, and is our lesson. We find the
parable also in st. Mark, (4:1-9.)
The parable was spoken A. d. 81, near Caper-
naum. The Speaker, Christ, sat in boat
little off the shore of the Galilean Sea, while
his hearers stood along the beach.
The idea of parable is that we throw up by
the side of a fact which we want to make plain
some simple admitted truth. We call the proc
ess illustration. When the two lie side by
side we examine them, looking for the points
of similarity. The rhetorical definition of
parable is this: that species of the genus ale
CORY which consists of a continued narration of
real or fictitious events applied by way of
simle to the Illustration of moral truth. In
religious sense we understand a parable to be
some natural, well-known fact, used TO illumi-
nate or develop spiritual. So the idea of the
little girl was accurate who said, "a parable is
an earthly story with heavenly meaning"
Hannah More said of this style of teaching:
" 1t is naturally adapted to engage the atten-
tien, and is level with the capacity of all; and
conveys moral and religious truths in more
vivid and impressive manner than the dry,
didactie mode; and by laying hold of the
imagination lnsinuates itself into the under
standing and affections, and while it opens the
doctrine il processes to conceal it gives no
alarm to mans preiudices."
The special object of this parableis to teach
the necessity of preparation for hearing Gods
word explained, and attention during its de-
livery. Itpresupposes ministry; also the de-
claration of religious truth by authorized teach
ers or ministers. The soil is the heart or mind.
Ones mind should be relieved of all pressing
care when he is about to receive spiritual in
struction. Truth should take such deep root
that triling trouble will not breed intidelity;
such hold that the heat of persecution will
not scorch it, One entering the temple should
drive out from his thoughts sheep, oxen, mer-
chandise, money changing.
FoHr classes of hearers are enumerated
wayside, stony ground, thorny, and good
ground. Let us consider these separately and
at length.
l. Fayside hearers. These are they who are
not sufficiently attentive to comprehend fully
what is said. Instructions are impaired in
their hearing, but they do not take enough
pains to gain any clear idea of the thoughts
addressed to them. The seed falls on them,
but does not enter the mind nor affect the
heart. Such hearers become a ready prey to
Satan. lie can readily efface such slight i'm
pressons by his thousand receptions and al
lurements, just as a bird can easily snatch the
seed lying on the surface of the wayside. a
fowl cannot so readily devour seeds sunk deep
into good SOIL
The t0aySide hearers are the men
Whose minds are inattentive when
The Gospel seed around is cast;
Nor can it then take root at last;
For we must understand the Word
Ere it can faith and joy afford.'
2. St0ag-grOuRd hearers. These at first hear
| the Word and receive it with joy and enthu-
| siasm, but they do not let it take deep root 1t
| does not secure fOothold on their judgments.
| 1t is like seed soWn on mere thin surface of
| soil, underneath which are thick, connected
| layers of rocks. 1t can gain no root. 1t may
| grow for little time but the tap-root cannot
| penetrate the rocks beneath. The young sprout
can secure no frmness This class of hearers
| are tickle. Dependence cannot be placed on
/ them. They hear the truth, and manifest Joy at
its reception; but in a little time, meeting per-
| secution on account of having taken up the
cause OF Christ, they WAIVER. They fall in with
! some old associate who ridicules religion and
! laughs at the idea of being Christian. Per
| haps some one, whom they least suspected, puts
| on mean, contemptuous grin, aud remarks to
| them that they are pretty Christians" Pos
| sibly friend-one whom they thought would
/ rejoice at their becoming Christians-passes
them on their way to the house of God, giving
| religion smile OF contempt, and from his foul
! lips asking them in derision to pray for him.
! Persecution may take thousand other forms,
| but when it comes stony ground hearers can
not endure it. To such tribulation atfliction,
! temptation are causes of ohense, and ultimately
! of complete separation from the religion of
! Christ. AS said our Savior in regard to the
seed sown in stony places, the sun was no sooner
/ up than it scorched and withered the tender
| rOotet. 1t could get neither room nor moisture,
and hence the sun, rather than supporting and
nourishing it, actually killed it. The sunlight
| was designed to afford it strength and to enable
| it TO grow. 1t would have had such effect had
the seed been soWn in suitable soil So it is with
atliction, temptation, tribulation. If We hear
| the Word Alright, II the seed be SOWn IN good
! ground, trial, suffering, and even persecution
| will not kill, but WILL on the contrary, render
US stronger Ii, however, the spiritual seed
| have not gone down deep into our hearts and
| gained place in our inner nature, we cannot
| endure trial. We shall be converts, creatures
| of mere day. We shall be easily disheartened
and readily abandon our faith.
There are many stony ground hearers. They
| grow joyous over sermon. They are enthu-
| sastic at the reception of the truth. But it is
a mere temporary condition. They approve
all the sentiments of discourse, but they can
| not live them. They are affected merely as to
| the intellect. The truth does not penetrate
the soul. Why? Because between the truth
aud the soul-between the seed and the soil
! is an impeuetrable rock, on which the truth
cannot take sufficient root. 1t does not reach
| their judgments and cOnsciences. 1t makes a
1 in etiacing
The StoRy-grOund are they who hear
| The Word with reverentlal fear;
| And for a moment feel pleasure
| Almost unbounded in It's measure;
| But AS it has not had deep root,
| 1t cannot bear the wish d-for fruit;
| For deep conviction of his guilt
Must first by ev ry one be felt
| Ere he can hail the news from Heaven,
| OF peace with God and sins forgiven.
| And now when cruel trials come
| From foes abroad, or foes at bone,
Such cannot bear the scorching day,
| And all their verdure dies away
g. TAorny- SOa hearers. This class go and at
tentiycly listen to the Word. but as soon as they
leave the sanctuary they suffer too great anxi.
ETY. about their temporal matters, or harbor in.
ordinate desires for riches, or allow their atten.
ton TO be attracted from religious reflection By
cultivating improper attachment for earthly
| things. Three causes are given in the accounts
why this class of hearers are not profted. 1
Their minds are crowded with the cares of this
life. 2 They are over anxious to become wealthy
3. They seek temporal pleasure. St. Mark
says the lust of other things enters in and
occupies their minds. st. Luke says the
pleasures of this life" choke them. Benga
cites the following causes; Food, love, literary
| taste. Bloomfield mentions gluttony, drunk