Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-25
SOIL FOR SPIRITUAL SOWING.


SOIL FOR SPIRITUAL SOWING.
BY Rev Ralph DaIy
The farmer who desires a good har
vest MS a result of his labors does not
consider the time spent in preparing
the seed bed as lost No pains are
spared that the soil may be pulverized
and enriched until the seed has every
possible chance that 1t may spring up
quickly and be helped rapidly on TO
maturity 70 the novice as he watches
the laborious method OF preparation
and the apparent waste of grain when
it is scattered upon the ground. it
would appear as il the farmer were
wasting both time and seed. But the
initiated understand that all this is nee
essary to produce the new crop. No
man who has the slightest degree of
knowledge Of agriculture expects 70
SOW grain upon the hard ground of the
highway ana have it bear fruit.
Neither docs he expect to liant corn in
an unhroken pasture field and receive
amy fruit for his labor. The soil is first
thoroughly prepared-the more thor
oughly the better yield-ard then the
seed is sown With expectation of the
harvest. Without preparation of the
soil there is no expectation of harvest.
Now 10 US ii seems that the same law
ought 10 hold good in spiritual seed
sowing Jesus taught as much in the
Parable OF the Sewer. In the expiana-
ton which the Master gave for this
parable four classes Of hearers of the
Word were pointed out Only one class
was profited permanently by what was
heard The different kinds Of soil rep
resent different conditions Of heart ana
soul But It was only where the ground
was thoroughly prepared and ready to
receive the seed that the abundant har-
vest was realized. Thus we are brought
TO the conclusion that the Word of Life
can only spring up and bear fruit in the
heart that is thoroughly prepared to
receive the Word.
While we would in no wise excuse
the preacher from careful preparation
upon his sermon, and while we also
know that the preacher must do great
amount of preaching that Is only pre-
pairing the soil for the reception Of the
seed. yet in our humble judgment 1t is
lust as essential that the nearer pre-
pare carefully that he may properly
hear the sermon as it is essential that
the preacher prepare carefully that he
may properly preach the sermon. The
hearers work is not done when he has
presented himself in the house of God.
There is vet n part for him in the ser
vice How often have we seen people
come into the church and sit down with
an air that seemed to say We'll, now L
am here, and here to be entertained,
and If | am not entertained-well, |
shall not come again" Gospel truth
falls fruitlessly upon such hearts. They
are as stony ground.
Again we often find another class who
are continually complaining that they
cannot get anything out of the sermons
that they hear. We We're greatly exer-
cised the first time that criticism of our
sermons was brought to our ears, but
when the same people offer the same
complaint when they have been listen
ing to the cry best that our church
affords. then the criticism loses force
and we conclude that the trouble is
with the one offering complaint. and
not so much the fault of the sermons
as it might be. Spiritual truths are dis
Serned 10y the splritual-minded. Ii ev-
err 2r4feSsed child of God would kneeI
in his secret place of prayer Of he has
one before starting to the services of
Gods house and there from a full low
ing heart ask for Gods special blessing
and glory and power to be upon the
preacher and congregation. and espe-
ciaily upon himself in the services,
cause for complaint would soon disap-
pear. If the rank and file of our Chris
tian hearers could only be brought to
realize the responsibility resting upon
them for their part in the service, we
would have fewer dry sermons and no
complaints. When the heart and soul
is attuned to the proper pitch it is easy
10 understand the language of Gods
people. But the richest and most glo-
rious truths of the gospel must fall
fruitless upon the unprepared heart.
The effect of many an otherwise pow
erful sermon has been destroyed by the
nstless inattention of hearers who have
been so occupied all the week with the
affairs of this life that they have not
taken the time to prepare by prayer
and meditation for the services of Gods
house. Only as the Word falls into ten
der Holy Ghost prepared hearts can il
spring up and bear fruit. This is the
only class of hearers to whom the gos-
pei comes with any degree Of fruitful
ness. This is the kind of soil that
preachers need for the reception of
their teaching Shall we not one and
all work and pay to this end:
FUTURE OF THE SOUL,