The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-13
"rHE sowER AND THE SEED"
Sermon by Evangelist Barrett In the
Gospel Tent.

At the Gospel Tent last evening Evan
gelist Barrett spoke from Luke B: 4-15:
"The Sower and the Seed" He said that
Christ told His Disciples why He spoke in
parallels, and that in all things In life,
the application was true. A man who has
muscle and uses IL obtains more. A mau
having intellect and using IL, obtains
more. man having truth and using II
obtains more. They grow. In this para BILE,
the seed Is the word OF God. BY usage,
the word OF God 10 always growing. Why?
Because II has life in it. The word Of
God has life, growth, and fruittulness in
II. One grain of wheat has more intrin-
sic face value than diamond. A dia-
mond never increases much in value, but
grain OF wheat can grow TO fill the
whole earth. We never underestimate the
value of sowing Gods seed. The evange-
list went on to tell OF the conversion of
Moody and OF Spurgeon, and the value
OF that seed sowing. II makes all the
difference In the world what seed we
SOW. He would not give tract on "How
20 overcome the tobacco habit" to a
minister's wife. Scant crops result
from poor seed. His description of the
four classes Of hearers was very practical.
He likened the "wayside hearers TO
those whose hearts had become hard by
the earth wheels OF dress, business,
pleasure, etc, -treading il down. The
knows the word would spring up into
life and they be saved. This wayside
soil can be ploughed up and made ut for
Gods seed. The seed that falls on rocky
ground takes hold OF the emotions and
the head, but never takes hold of the
depths Of their being. These seem TO
promise for while but are superficial in
their understanding OF what it means to
be Christian. The sun symbolizes per-
secution. When prosecutions arise, the
seed fails 10 grow. Why? The soil is too
shallow. Some seed fell in a heart pre-
occupied by thorns--note the pre-occupa-
ton hearts occupied by the world,
riches, etc. We must look that nothing
crusbes the word, that love for nothing
else crowds out study o. Gods word =
rayer-communion- worship. We may
be everything but ready for Christs COM
ing by reason of cares OF this world. We
have plenty OF "stallow soil' hearers ;
but we have SO very many who are
choked with tborns. May God help them.
Some seed fell into good ground.
Though the seed came to naught in three
cases, yet it came to good in one case.
There is no reason TO believe that only
one-quarter OF the seed sown springs up
into eternal life, but il more than pays
to get one-quarter OF our hearers con-
verted. Crushed limestone makes most
fertile soil, and heart, crushed by
you Woru, Is capaDle oI grand results.
The human heart is the soil; the word of
God Is the seed; the Christian worker
drops the seed into the soil; the Holy
Spirit quickens 1t ;the heart closes around
II by faith; the old nature dies; the new
nature springs up; the man is created
anew, is born again, is made alive. He
passes out of death into life.
After the sermon conservation meeting
was held and several hands were raised
for prayer. The continued illness of Mr..
w. b. Wilson prevents his singing. Mr..
III. l.. Thompson, who has SO ably as
sisted the evangelist in the meetings,
leaves for Chicago tonight via New York
boat. Great preparations are being made
for musical feast for Wednesday even
ing when Rev. William Shesf Chase, rec
tor OF st. James Episcopal Church of
Woonsocket, will be here. Evangelist
Barrett breaches tonight.