Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-28

and iO.-There were other places in the
Held where a thin soil partly covered the
rocks beneath, spread like skin on bones.
The seed falling here appears shortly with
tair promise OF an abundant crop. but the
piaEts, because there Is no depth Of earth
are scorched by the sun, and having no
nourishmeut are soon wlthered In ex-
PLANTATION OF this part OF the parable Jesus
sayf there are hearers who have no root
in themselves, and so endure only for a
time, unable to overcome affiction and
persecution. This case is really more seri-
Gus than the other. They listened with
attention. They experienced some Joy at
the message. But the impression soon
passed away. Paul had such hearers,
who did hinder your tGal..s v:I) John
the Baptist had many such, and IN Herod
distinguished one who listened attentive
ly and then fell away. In our day such
persons are in every audience ConVlctlon
is mistaken for conversion. the pleasures or
emotion for the pleasures OF ntety:
THE THORNY GROUND. Oversees IS
and 49, Some seed fell among thorns, anu
the thorns grew up and chOked It," By this
Jesus refers TO those he1rers who are over
come by the deceitfulness Of riches and tho
cares of the world This As favorite refer
ence with Jesus. 1T is easier FOR camel
to go through the eye OF needle than for
a rich man into enter the Kingdom OF God,
He said. Matt, xix:24) DR.. Johnson put
the point well when, on Garrick showing his
beautiful house and grounds. the great
shoulder and said "Ah, David David, these
are che things which make deathbed ter
rible." When the young man sought Jesus
he was told to sell all he had and give IL
away as thereby his heart would be freer
to accept the Gospel. Mark, x:2l) In the
Sermon on the Mount Matt, vi:lO the dis
ciples were warned against laying up treas
ure on earth. All this Is In line with tho
teaching in the parable. Many souls are
lost through inordinate love of riches. Tho
lust OF other things (the imagination may
easily make the damaging lisO Will have the
same effect upon the word.
THE GOOD GROUND. Verse BOD
THE good ground are they which in an
honest heart keep the word and bring forth
fruit" These true Christians with sew
eral characteristics. "a They receive tho
word. 1t does not fall on their minds to run
off like water. G) They understand Ii. APP
preciate it's value, feel its power. compre-
bend its meaning, yield to its requirements.
90 They keep the word hold II In contem-
plation, lock 1t UP In their memories and
esteem it a prescious treasure. psalm
cxix:97.) az They bring forth fruit, in the
form of good works, In heavenly DISPOSE
tons. in noble and useful lives. some more
and some less. Such are some OF the points
that distinguish real Christians from mere
professors The key to all lies in one word
they have good ground, good hearts. This
heart is found only in those who, born OF
the Holy Ghost. receive the truth In the
love of IL. Its presence or absence explains
what Is otherwise inexplicable.
THE CLOSING WORDS.-This para
BILE teaches that the result attained through
preaching depends upon the heavens. Gen.
orally the man In the pulpit is blamed or
praised Whoever he may be he can do
nothing more than to deliver the message
faithfully, and that he must do. After that
the Indispensable thing is a good heart.
God can give that. There is nothing in the
grain to change bad into good ground. The
truth does indeed sanctify. But IL the
heart is hardened by worldly Influences, IL
the evil world occupies IL, no good Will re-
Slll m wi hos fS hnar rfa
the word and the Spirit shall find a
gracious power working there to bring
forth fruit TO the glory of God. All who go
to the house Of the Lord may well consider
with what spirit they go. They may como
away no better than when they went. But
they may find the truth that is able to
make them wise unto salvation. They may
nv