Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-06-15

Rev. d. NJ. Stcarns.
We step back quite bit in the order l
of events t. take up this and the mex;
two lessons on the Mysteries Of thc
Kingdom" bUt perhaps it d. lo;
matter much how we step if ooly we \
step into the light and keep step with |
our blessed Lord in His thoughts and |
purposes. Although verses 10 to l. |
are not included in our lesson we /
must look At them, as there we find |
the reason why lie taught In parallels. |
The rulers having determined to Kill |
Him (Xii, lii our lesson chapter opens |
with the statement that the same day |
lie went out Of the house and sat by /
the seaside. \ simple statement Of n |
fact, but very suggestive of another
fact that lie was about to so out
from the house of Israel and begin to
gather from the sea of nations another
people during this age who will reign
with Him i'll the next or kingdom
age NIatt. xiii, 3T-39; Acts XIV, 14-1S)
When the disciples asked Him why
He taught in parallels, His reply was,
Because it is given unto you to know
the mysteries Of the kingdom of heav
en-, but to them it is not given" And
then he quoted from lisa. vi the proph-
ecy concerning this blindness. The
kingdom of God. or OF heaven, was
no mystery. for it was plainly revealed
in all the Old Testament. The suffer
ings and glory of the Messiah were all
fully revealed, but that there should
be long period between the suffer
ings and the glory, that the kingdom
would be at hand and then postponed
for Il whole age, this was not revealed
until by the Lord in these parallels,
and later to and by Paul. A concord
ance will enable any one to see that
the word mystery" is used Of God
| in Christ, Christ in His people. the
blindness of Israel, the resurrection OF
the just, the development of iniquity.
the end Of this age. This whole age
between the rejection OF Christ and
His coming again in glory is the time
of the mysteries Of the kingdom which
our Lord sets forth in these seven par
ables of this chapter. Mark and Luke
each give the first One-the parable OF
the sower-the understanding of which
seems all important. for our Lord said
when asked for its significance. Know
We not this parable? And how, then,
will We know all parableS:" Mark iv)
From our next lesson we learn that
the field is the world (verse 3S), and
we must bear in mind that it is
world lying in the wicked one and that
he is the god OF *: 1t is an evil age
and ever growing worse as far as the
fear Of God is concerned Il John V,
10; II Cor. iv. /; Gal. i. i: Rom. xii.
l, .; III Tim. iii. 10. Alongside Of I'M
paralleled progress on many lines there
is unparalleled iniquity, unbelief, re-
. lection of the Bible as the word of
God and Of the deity Of Christ and of
His atOnement for sin. We are no
where taught TO expect any improve
= ment in these matters during this age
. but we are faithfully to SOW the seed
Of the word Of God everywhere and
. expect just what we are taught in this
: parable. Some set their hearts OIL
/. certain results and say we must have
. this or that, we must have fifty or {
hundred conversions, we must have {
: revival, the town must be taken fol
: God, etc. Happier are those who arr
:. in harmony with the Lord and wh'
rest on His assurance that His worC
!" will accomplish that which lie please
! Qsa. w, IL. 1t Is incOrruptihle seeC
{, the word of life, and He has r-omi SCI
. to watch over it Il Pet. i, 23; Acts V
y 90; Jer. i, 10, II. W. The hearts of me
y are the soil, and some are beaten :
4 hard by the going to and fro of til
+ things of this life that the seed ca
scarce find entrance, and the devil
u always watching to catch it away les
Il they should believe and be saved
:. Other hearts are hard within. rock
e. hearts, but with enough soft soil to T,
v ceive the seed. Such appear to enJo
II the word; they say it does them goo,
4, they receive it gladly, but they al
v easily offended, cannot stand any pc
. secution.
III others the soil is good enough
grow thorns and the seed does find
' lodging. and it grows, but the thorl
grow so fast that there is no frui
The cares and pleasures of this lif
the deceitfulDess of riches, the lus
OF other things, choke the word, al
no fruit is brought to perfection.
the first two kinds Of soil there is !
indication Of salvation. | am inclin'
to believe that this third kind Of st
indicates a possibility Of salvation, b
saved as by fire q Cor. i'll, II, 15). T.
fourth kind Of soil Is good by L
grace of God. There is an honest |
ception Of the truth They hear