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“thorns” is to be found a concrete descrip tion of present conditions in Christendom. Gaudy thistles overtop tlje wheat.—Need ham. v. IS. Satan — immediately. Like birds, he is there at once. By doubt, ridicule or counter attractions he takes away the Word. Camb. Bible. Some teach that “birds” should be interpreted as mere impersonal temptations, but Christ teaches the existence of a personal evil spirit.—Plummer. The devil doesn’t let the grass grow under his feet, but comes as soon as the seed ?s sown.—Torrey. Taketh away. How much of the precious seed is sown in vain! But there is a day coming when lost sermons must be account ed for.—Henry. If the heart is unploughed, unhumbled, the devil will ,snatch away the Word ere we are aware.—Sel. Seed is only safe from birds when it is buried.—Sel. Aim the Gospel at the heart. Not every man has a head.—Sel. v. 16. Immediately receive. In v. IS Satan allowed no time. Here the receiver takes no time, sot counting the cost, Luke 14:28-33. Sudden and thoughtless enthu siasm.—Plummer. v. 17. No root. Familiar truth may» be bed-ridden in the dormitory of the soul beside exploded errors.—Sel. Persecution. Some “hit the trail” when the crowds applaud, and “put out for the woods” when fools sneer.—Torrey. A puff of wind sets a «'shallow pond into wavelets. —Sel. Fair weather crews will desert when storms begin to blow,—Maclaren. v. 19. Cares — riches. One is anxious because he has not enough of the world. The other is full' of foolish confidence because he has so much.—Maclaren. Choose between the Word and the world. No heart can mature two crop's.—Sel. * v. 20. Good ground. The Christian is he who can truly say, “Thy word have I hid in my heart.”—Sel. There were four casts of seed, yet but one was partially suc cessful.—Moody.
real disciples without harming the careless and without giving openings to hostile crit icism.—Hastings. ’ Even careless hearers will Catch at a plain comparison borrowed from common things.—Henry. v. 3. Hearken. “Hear ye.«” People on the beach were talking to one another and it was necessary to call their attention. Plummer, v. 9 concludes, “Let him hear.” Those who speak Christ’s words ,may com mand attention.—Henry. Sower went out. This is an age for mis sions and testimony, World evangelism is the Spirit’s plan for the church, hut there will be no world conversion during this age. —Evans. Comparison between teaching and sowing is common in literature—Plato, Plutarch, Philo. v. 4. Came to pass. The three-fold Causes-of failure are arranged in progres sive order. At every stage of growth there are enemies.. The first sowing doesn t get into the ground at all ; the second grows a little;, third has a longer life but sadder failure because a nearer approach to fer tility.^—Maclaren. Wayside. Sowing with its scarce results reminds one of the patriarchal age in which only occasional hearers like Abel, Enoch, Noàh, Abraham received thè truth in faith. Abundance df seed was cast but hearts were hardened like a beaten path. Stony ' ground suggests the days of law, when Israel quickly received the Word and made promises, (Ex. 27:4) but they lacked soil. Thorny ground hearers are specially to be found in the Gospel age. Never was the Bible so much exploited but thorns are growing in the same field to prevent the good seed from thriving. Good ground sow ing tells of the successful exploit to take place between the two advents (Rev. 11; 7 :9-17).-—Needham. v. S. Stony ground. A deep yrork is bet ter than a swift work.—Torrey. v. 7. Thorns grew up. When seed was sown, the thorns were scarcely above the surface, but they got the start, needing no cultivation, were more vigorous and strang led the good seed.—'Wiclif. In the word
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