Evening journal., 1918-07-11

Lessons from favorits parallels. Mark
AIS. is. 26-32.
The parable recorded in Mark 4:i-s
has well been called "the parable OF
The four kinds OF soiP' for II viii be
noted that the effort OF the sower was
the same in each case; all the seed
fell" We have therefore TO consider
hard soil, stony soil. weed grown soil
and good soil.
Hard or wayslde soil: How often we
meet those who, having lived In sin
and amid its hardening influences have
become so cslloused that the story OF
Jesus and His love falls like seed on
the hard surface OF a road and Is
quickly snatched up by Satan who new
er allows one OF his. followers % soft
en- up" II he can prevent II.
Stony or shallow soil: We are liv-
ing in an age when many folks live
only on the surface. Superficial folk
who never tie up TO anything perma-
nently. SNayed by every wind OF doc
trlne, shallow in thought, shallow In
life. shallow in soul. Hearing the Cos
pei message they at once exclaln that's
what / want" but fail to lay hold on
Il by faith and their spiritual growth,
though at FIRST promising, quickly
withers because there Is no deepness
OF earth"
Weed grown soil. There Is perhaps
more OF this kind OF soil in the Held
where the Gospel is sown than any
other. What body OF believers does
not number among It's members some
moor souls who love the world better
than they love God. Growing, yes, but
growing among weeds OF worldly pleas
ures that sap their spiritual vitality
and choke their feeble efforts at fruit
bearing. Unwilling to step out on the
promise that "no good thing VIII lie
Withhold from them that walk up
rightly" Playing with the things OF
sin they are stumbling blocks to tnem-
selves and to those about them. Hav-
ing no definite knowledge OF the saw
ing grace OF God they are as clouds
between the unssved and the sun OF
Righteousness.
Good soil: How refreshing u Is 10
meet one who has taken God at HIS
word, appropriated Him ana al OF hiS
nrecious promises. Well prepared SOIL
in which the good seed has found sooo
root and grows up and produces irult.
And such fruit Love, Joy, peace, lohe
suffering, gentleness. goodness.
Loosen up; A plough, harrow ana culti.
vator may be rough instruments put
thew get results. Ask God to MAKE
Won a frultbearing Christian and then
be willing to be made fruitful.
The Secret Growth OF the Seed,
Marx 426-2s, and The Mustard SEED
Mark &: 3O-32, are two parallels OF
christian growth. When one really
gives God the right OF way in his heart
changes take place In his life that are
resIlv amazing. The seed that GOD
sows is always good and never fails
20 produce II given a chance. II any
man be In Christ Jesus he Is a new
creature. old things have passed away
hehold. all things have become new
the fully surrendered follower expert
ences new peace, power and blessing
He grows despite vicissitudes realizine
mat all things work together for good
70 those that love the Lord.
FRANK p. MITCHELL,
Y. NJ. c. A., Wilmington, Del.
Next Sundays topic viii be written
by z. II. Collins, pastor OF Eastiake NJ
e. Church.
Mr.. Mitchell has shown very ably the
life OF today and Il will pay each one
Of us to read it over very, very care
fully and lnd out TO which class OF The
four mentioned by him we belong. II
we cannot now be classed In the good
soil let us strive to make ourselves ht
to be In this class.
We can see very readily the result OF
living in the wayside soil. in other
words we can see the result OF indlf-
ference TO Gods word. Are we OF the
Indifferent type when II comes to do
ing things for God7