The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-12-05

4. And when much people were gath
cred together and We're come to Him out
of every city He spake by a parable" In
Math. xiii, 2, and Mark iv, 1, it is written
that He sat in ship, and the multitude
stood on the shore while He taught them.
In Math. xiii, 1, it is said that He went
out Of the house and sat by the seaside.
This going out of the house may be sug-
gestive OF His turning from the house of
Israel because of their turning against
Him. for we read in Math. xii. IA, that
they held council to destroy Him, and
it was not till after this that they were
taught by parallels. The light is never
taken from those who are willing to re-
ceive It,
5. "A sower went out to SOW his seed,
and as he sowed some fell by the wayside,
and it was trodden down, and the fowls
of the air devoured it," In verses IL and
u we have His own explanation of
verse and will therefore take them here
and 50 on through the lesson. The seed is
the word Of God. In l Pet. j, %, il is called
incorruptble seed which liveth and abid-
eth forever. In Math. xiii, 81, He that
soweth the good seed is the Son of Man,
but IN the next verse the good SEED IS the
children OF the kingdom.
6. And some fell upon rock, and as
soon as it was strung up 1t withered away
because ii lacked moisture. Matthew and
Mark say it had not much earth and with
cred when the sun was up because 1t had
no root.
Is. Here is the explanation of the seed
on the rocky soil. Compare Math. xiii, 20
81. and Mark w, 16. II. These church
goers receive the word with joy, possibly
tax it over on the way home and at the
dinner table, but some one says some
thing against the preacher, SANDER old
or new, or perhaps one says that higher
criticism has disposed of the whole pas
sage which the preacher spoke from, and
the foundation of his remarks Is thus swept
away. Or perhaps next day in the store
or office the haarer talks of the good SER
mon Of yesterday and is laughed at by
his fellows, who want to know Wnen ne
turned his back on them and how soon he
intends to depart for the foreign field.
Thus he is offended, and satan conquers.
Z. And some fell among thorns, and
the th0rns sprlng up with it and choked
L." Mark iv. z, says it yielded no fruit.
IA. This verse, with Math. xiii, p, and
Mark iv, is, 10, gives light on the thOrny
ground hearers. These seemed to be
really saved people. The failure with
them is fruit not salvation. The cares
and riches and pleasures Of this life, with
the luSLS VI OlueI llluS5s Cuohc TIC WI "
and they bring no fruit to perfection.
There are many who think that if they
can only make sure of heaven that IS
everything, and having received Jesus as
their Savio1 they are burdened with bust
ness or hbhsehold cares or carried way
with pleast1es or other things, as studies
or pursuit of various kinds They &C
cept JesuScas Savior, but not as Lord.
They expect to crown Him Lord Of all
when they get TO heaven, but know moth
ing Of it Ahere They are described in
1 Cor. i'll, IL, as losing their works and
saved as III a fire. They are not abiding
in Him f6 fruit bearing and would be
ashamed if He should come Il John ii, Is;
John XVI.
s. and other fell on good ground and
sprang up and bare fruit an hundredfold.
And when He had said these things he
hear" MA thew and Mark say that this
seed brougl forth some thirty, some sixty
and some q hundredfold.
10 This, with Math. xiii, %, and Mark
iv. 20, leaves us in no doubt as to who are
meant by khe good ground. The honest
and good heart must indicate the new
heart born from above, which was prob
ably also in the last class of hearers. These
hear the word and receive it and keep it
and with patience bring forth fruit to the
praise of His name who redeemeth them.
While al true believers are equally sancu-
fed in Christ by His one Offering CHeb.
X, 10, ID, it is equally true that We are
daily being sanctified as to our daily life
by His word Of truth John xvii, ID. Al.
Gods dealings with His people are in or
der that they may bear more fruit, for He
is g.Oried when we bear much fruit Uohn
XIV. ), 81. To this end we must remember
that Jesus said in this connection, with
| out Me or apart from Me We can do moth
ing" or, as in Hos. xiv. s. From Ne is
l,xvf a. hn1fArrne- orror
| find ourselves trying to abide or trying 10
bear fruit, we may be sure that we are
not right, for quietly as the branch abdes
in the vine and as quietly as the vine bears
fruit. through its branches SO quietly will
| God by His spirit bear fruit through us in
Jesus's name when we are fully yielded to
Him. We need not plan anything for God,
| for 1--WE are His workmanship, created in
| Christ Jesus unto good works, which God
| hath before prepared, that we should wax
in them" (Eph. Ii, 10. If we simply and
| whole-heartedly yie.d to Him, He Wi,
work in US both 10 will and TO do Of His
| good pleasure those things which are wei.
| pleasing in His sight (Phi.. ii, 10: Heb. xiii.
| I'D. Some have not ears TO hear these
| things. They are wise and prudent in
| their own estimation and want to know
| why God gave us brains and common
| sense if He did not want us to be self
| reliant and pan and work out things for
| His glory.
.. 'And His disciples asked Him. say
| ing, What might this parable be?" In
| Mark iv, 10 it is written that when He
| was alone they that We're about Him with
I the twelve asked of Him the parable" Sc
in Mark xiii, 3, 4, we find that Peter
| James, John and Andrew asked Him pri-
vately about certain matters. He still has
| an inner circle Of disciples to whom He
| tells many things which He cannot tell
to all. He is not partial. He is no re-
specter of persons, but all do not come
| equally close to Him in whole-hearted sur
| render. All limitations and hindrances are
| On our side not on His.
10. And He said, Unto you it is given
| to know the mysteries of the kingdom of
| God, but to others in parallels, that See
| ing they might not see and hearing they
| might not understand" This is not as
some think, who suppose that He taught
| in parallels In order to make His teaching
| more plain. Observe, He says that they
might not see and not understand. He
| had taught them plainly and without par
ables until they refused Him and sought
to kill Him, but now that the kingdom is
| to be postponed till His return He tells in
parallels the characteristics Of this present
age, known the period of the mystery
| of the kingdom. A parable is like the
| shell of a nut, as one has said. 1t keeps
| the kernel from the indolent and for the
| diligent.
A story of MILDLY Morgan.
once, while taking care of a friends
| vacant country house in remote corner