St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-03-02
Take Heed How We Hear.

Take Heed How We Hear.
We have recently had an interesting
Sunday school lesson on the subject, The
sower that went forth to SOW" In it we
had the explanation that the sower is the
man of God who faithfully breaches and
teaches His word. The seed is the word
of God. The four different kinds of
ground represent the various characters
that hear the Word, viz first, those upon
whom it has no effect - the way side
nearer; in other words, the 'heartless
nearer" Second, those who are slightly
agitated by the truth-the stony ground
= h.arer, or shallow hearted" Third,
those more deeply affected, enough, per-
haps, to lead them to make profession of
religion, do we'll for season, but have
not stability of Christian character to
withstand the temptations, trials, vexa-
tions, ETC., but become offended, discour-
aged, or tired of the Christian life. So
they allow f'the cares of the world and the
deceitfulness of riches to choke out all
their nobler impulses and prevent them
from ever accomplishing anything good as
Christian. They bear no fruit. They
are the ''hGlf-hearted. Fourth, they that
bring forth truit-the "nh0le-hearted." They
have been truly converted converted not
only to God, but also from the world, from
sin and death. They have calmly counted
the cost of being Christian according to
the Scriptures. They have decided to be
right at any cost. To live for God and his
glory is their aim. They love what God
loves and hate what God hates. They are
the Christians, and the only ones that are
bearing fruits to the honor ~ and glory of
Gods great name. Z"
How important it is, then, that we take
heed how we hear the word of God. 1t is
our duty to hear it, believe it and act upon
it. Once having taken stand for Christ,
let us crest on His unchanging word"
Stand for God, not saying 81 am for Paul"
or 81 am for Apollos :" but say 81 am for
Christ" 81 am against Satan," II am for
the right" 81 am against that which is
wrong" Such hearers not are hearers
only, but are also "doers of the word"
They are the noblest specimens of Gods
creation. They realize that they are not
their own, but that they have been bought
with price, even the blood of Jesus.
While we should hear the word of God,
believe it, and act upon it, yet there are
some things we should not hear. We
should not hear the words of the low and
vicious. We should restrain our ears
from the words of the wicked. There are
people in our midst who are haters of God,
of course they are haters of his people and
would do all in their power to drag them
kown to degradation and shame, yea,
would deceive the very elect of God and
make them like unto themselves, low,
mean, vulgar and profane. Such charac-
tiers when out, and with nothing else to do,
like to congregate on the street corners, or
some conspicuous place, to see who can
excel in swearing, or profaning Gods holy
name The situation is deplorab1e. 1t
shocks the modesty of ladies as well as all
other decent people. We should take
heed how we hear them. Some may think
that those who have an aversion for such
profane vulgarity should hear it to inten-
sity their disgust for it. Such falcacies
are not the most uncommon. There is
danger, if we hear mean talk, of thinking
about it when we do not hear it. We
NAV think about it till we too are con
taminated. Take heed how ye hear.
.'vice is a monster of so frightful a mien,
That to be hated needs but to be seen
But seen too oft, familiar with his face.
We first endure, then pity, then embrace"
We should not hear the bad talk that is
afioat to-day. 1t is said that General
Grant never allowed the coarse jokes and
stories of army life to be told in his hear
ing. If he could not prevent the telling,
he saved his own self respect by withdraw
ing from the company.
We have just read story of boy who
made his influence felt in the right direc-
tion. He was member of the Sunday
school. but went out last summer into the
country to spend the vacation, visit he
had long looked forward to with pleasure.
He went out to help the men harvest One
of the men was an inveterate swearer.
The bow having stood it as long as he
could. said .Well, guess | will go
home to- morrow" The swearer, who had
taken a great liking to him, said: II
thought you were going to stay all sum-
mer Il was" he said, ''but | can't stay
where any body swears so; one OF US must
90. SO | will leave" The man felt the re-
hike and said: eff you will stay, l won't |
swear :" and he kept bis word.
Rows. take bold stand for the right ;
throw YOUR influence ON the side of Christ,
md Won will SOW seed the harvest Of which
1on will reap both in this world and in
hat which is to consolidation VISITOR.
Little Maggie, after long day of play,
.onnd on her way to bed that her dolly
,ad been lying ne elected all day on q chair.
WHY, you poor child, forgot all about
you. and I'm your mother r
II is said, that thinking to amuse him,