Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1890-04-28
PARABLE0F THE S0WER.
THE ABLE SERMON BY REV.
J. l.. CARROLL.
TO WHICH OF THE FOUR CLASSES
DO WE BELONG?
An Interesting Text ElOquently
Explained Delights the Hap.
tist congregation - How
Will II be with US?

Rev. ]. l.. Carroll preached yesterday
from the Parable Of the Sower." which
was the International Sunday school les
son for the day.
81 would call attention to the lessons
suggested, said the speaker. "This par
able is thought to be the first of many
that Jesus spoke. His design is obvious
He intended to preach the effect of the
Gospel on different people. The Savior
here divided those hearing into four
classes. As they were then, so are they
now and will remain.
"The sowcr went out to SOW" he said
"somc of the seed fell by the wayside, and
the fowls of the air destroyed them. This
represents the first class of hearers. You
will understand the class meant. At
points where the path and field meet, the
soil is poor and sterile. The steady
tramp, tramp, tramp has destroyed all
vegetation, and prevented the soil be-
coming enriched by the continuous
growth and decay. The soil is not only
poor, but hard and packed. 1t is just so
with the first class of hearers. Their
moral and religious nature is impovcr-
ishcd by continual round of sinful
thoughts, words and actions. The re
ligious influences have been crowded out
by these thoughts. The soil of the spir-
itual natures is sterile and hard. The
heart is hard, too. You can see the
effect of seed sowing on such natures.
1t is on the wavsidc soil. 1t lies
exposed and the fowls of the air de.
your it. These fowls are equal to evil
spirits who take the word out of the
hearers hearts.
THE second class is represented by the
stony ground. This ground lacks moist
urc and has no depth. The sowcr goes
along and sows the seed. They fell on
the soil on top of the rock. That is the
way with this class OF hearers. They
have some thought, and some religious
feeling, consideration and concern, but
not much. There is no depth. The un-
dcrlying soil is not broken up. These are
they who hear the word with joy. The
rock being near the surface makes il
warmer and the seed springs up quicker
and grows faster than where the soil is
deeper. This class is not hard to move.
but the trouble is IN keeping them mov.
ing. When something does happen they
seem more moved than the rest but il soon
changes. They are shallow and superb.
cinl, and are trippcd up by temptations
and the impression made soon passes
away.
"Thc third class is the seed on stony
ground. 1t seemed to be good ground
1t did not appear hard and sterile. The
tops of the thorns had been destroyed,
hut the earth was filled with the roots.
When the seed begins to gcrminatc, the
germ of the thorn also awakcns and be.
gins to grow. They grow up, and the
thorns choke the good seed out. By
these thorns are meant the riches and sin.
iul pleasures OF this world. The seed are
sown in the heart, hut the germs and
roots of care for worldly goods, thoughts
and pleasures are ON the inside aud spring
M and choke the good seed. These evil
germs draw to themselves the fertility
that ought To go to the good seed. You
vidual begins to grow worldly minded
aud all good is crowded out.
"Thc good ground represents the fourth
class. There are several pcculiaritics of
this class. They are entirely opposed to
the other three. The evil Of the heart
has been put in good condition, and the
seed Of the Gospel sink in deep. They
work on the soul and bring forth fruit.
Impressions are made on men and
are not shaken OIL Immediately. but on
the contrary an effort is made to have
them sink deeper.
Now we have indicated the four classes
and the question arises, which class do
We belong to' Are you as wayside
hearers, easily moved aud impressed,
but letting the result disappear at once
Are you as thorny ground hearers, let.
ting the cares and anxictics Of this world
root out the desire for better things
Or are you MS good ground hearers, let.
ting the Word tall on good and honest
heart and keeping il. Some day we will
have to answer for the way we have
heard the Gospel Are we ready Shall
we stand before God on that day as way.
side hearers only, stony ground hearers,
thorny ground hearers or good ground
hearers ,"