of mankind, nor to the teacher, who was the Son of God, sent down from Heaven to attest the truth of it by miracles, and to enforce it by his own example; the defect then must be owing to the hearers only; which will easily be seen, if we consider the different reception it has met with in the world, where but one part in four of those who hear the gospel, receive it with pure affection, and bring forth the fruits of the spirit: this is alluded to in the parable, where out of the four parts of seed cast into the ground, one only came to perfection; the cause of its unfruitfulness is ascribed to the fault of the soil on which it fell; to prove this, our Saviour produces the following reasons:

1st. "Some fell by the way-side, and it was trodden down, "the air devoured it."

and the fowls of

This is to be un

derstood of those men, who hear the word

with so much carelessness and indifference,

that it is impossible it should ever make any lasting impression upon their minds. Too many of this sort are daily to be met with, who frequent religious assemblies merely to comply with the custom of the world, or to pass away an idle hour; not with any resolution of attending seriously to the service of the church, or purposing to practice what they hear ;-the vain and dissipated thoughts of these people are properly expressed in the parable, by the fowls of the air; for it is not by visible and violent means, but by suggesting idle fancies, and banishing the better and more serious considerations, that the tempter taketh away the good seed. Religious truths convey themselves to our understanding, and influence our affections, by a careful application of thought, and frequent reflection; and God, who gave us reasoning faculties, expects they should be employed in matters of this nature, at least as much as in any other. These are

considerations, which every one should be possessed with, especially at all seasons of devotion and public worship; for there cannot be a greater injury offered to the Holy One that inhabiteth eternity, than to enter his temple with impure and unbecoming thoughts, to behave there with indiffe rence and disregard, and to depart with the additional sin of having slighted his word, and taken his name in vain.

2dly. "Some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it was sprung up it withered 66 away, because it lacked moisture;" this is explained of those, who when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. This error is not less common than the former, and equally dangerous; it is natural for those who pay any attention to the precepts of the gospel, to receive them with joy and gladness, since they contain

promises of everlasting happiness to all who hear and believe; but how few can boast of a firm and steady faith, not to be shaken with hardships and suffering for the truth. Adversity is the trial that brings their integrity to the touch; this shews whether they serve God for present profit and convenience, or for his own sake, and from a well-grounded persuasion of their duty; many are proof against common cares and accidents, but if some unforeseen calamity or trying affliction assault them, it undermines the weak foundation, and washes the building from its unsteady bottom; and how should it be otherwise? when the word has no root in them, they have no true understanding of the principles of the gospel, no deep repentance and lively faith; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away; if religion proposed nothing to its followers but the enjoyment of every wanton wish, and a series of un

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interrupted pleasures, the practice of it would be attended with no difficulty; little merit would there be in obeying those precepts that recommended nothing but what was agreeable to every man's inclination; but the case is very different; as the reward is no less than everlasting happiness, it is but reasonable that some pains should be taken for the attainment of so glorious a prize. Though in this present age we are free from religious persecutions, yet it has pleased God to try us with affliction and various kinds of temptations, that by enduring these light and temporary sufferings with patience and resolution, we may entitle ourselves to a blessed immortality-remembering, that the virtue which faints in the day of trial, however prosperous and promising it may appear, is allowed no better character than that of seed cast upon stony ground.