One of the Master's most wonderful parables begins, "BEHOLD, A SOWER WENT
FORTH TO sow." There are many lessons in that instructive analogy.
YOU CANNOT SOW WHEAT ON THE PARLOUR CARPET. You must go forth. If the
world could be converted by self-indulgent theorists, we should have had
the Millenium here long ago. It is impossible to read any Christian,
newspaper without coming across some of these drawing-room farmers--men
who can sit at their fireside, and show you how to do it! Ask them where
their barns are, and they will have excuses to make as to why their plans
have not succeeded. We have heard these gentlemen hold forth in a
Quarterly Meeting, and have had hard work to keep our temper, and have
not always been supposed to have succeeded. We may, however, settle it
that Mr. Plan-others-their-work could put all the harvest he ever had in
his waistcoat pocket!
Would you need a waggon for your gains, you must leave ease and dignity
behind, and trudge over the heavy furrows, seed basket in hand.
Secondly, as the preachers say,
YOU MUST SOW WHERE THE PLOUGH HAS BEEN FIRST. A great deal of seed is
lost because the ground has not been prepared. Of late years the cry has
been "Believe! Believe!" But what must we believe? "Believe on Jesus,"
say they. Yes, but have they believed what the Bible says about sin?
Those who do not believe in the guiltiness of sin, cannot believe on
Christ. Till men see they have been in the wrong, they will not
understand the "righteousness which is by faith."
Let the ploughshare of repentance make the land ready for the seed, and
then there will be some hope of lasting success. Some other time we may
have something to say about the birds, which pick up the seed; but for
the present let it suffice that we insist upon the ploughman doing his
work before the sower comes to do his. We have a notion that it would be
well if the seed-basket were left at home for a while, and some one were
to take hold of the plough. Before to-day we have found, when we have
gone to begin a Mission, that it was of little use to preach Christ as a
Saviour. Men and women who are not convinced of the sins of their life,
need to be told of the punishment which awaits those who die with their
sins unpardoned. We have been too mealy-mouthed, and have feared to
offend our hearers; and so the seed has fallen on hard ground, and the
birds only have a successful Mission!
THE BIBLE OUGHT TO BE THE
KING OF YOUR BOOKS. IF IT
IS NOT THEY ARE NOT WORTH
HOUSE ROOM.
XLVIII. EIGHT EASTER LESSONS LEARNED AT EMMAUS.
LUKE xxiv. 13-35.
I.--When friends speak of good things, Jesus draws near.
"These things" which concern Jesus. Even if men speak sorrowfully, if it
is of Jesus they speak, He is nigh. If He were the subject of
conversation more, His friends would have more of His company. If you
are shy of Him, He will be shy of you.
II.--Unbelief manufactures sorrow for the godly.
Jesus said they looked "sad." It is a pity to employ unbelief; he does
not know how to make a smile. When he tries it is a misfit. If the
disciples had believed Jesus, they would have been dancing for joy, for
they would have been round the tomb to see Him rise. We have lost that
picture, because no one believed the Lord enough to expect His words to
be fulfilled.--Mark viii. 31.
III.--Never expect infidels to be converted while saints are sceptical.
Certain women had told them, but they were "slow of heart to believe." Is
not this tardiness of faith the secret of popular infidelity? If
Christians shewed their faith by works, Bradlaugh, and such like, would
have no audiences when they lectured!
IV.--Suffering was the duty of Christ, as the servant of God.
"Ought not Christ to have suffered?" Before He could have the wages, He
must do the work. Eternity alone gives space for the payment of what He
earned in Gethsemane and on Calvary.
V.--The Old Testament was Jesus Christ's Bible.
Has it the place it ought to have in our hearts? These men had their
hearts warmed while Christ expounded Psalms and Prophecies. He will do
the same to you, if you will ask Him. It is a reflection upon the Holy
Ghost to make use of so small a portion of the Bible as some do.
VI.--Hospitality is a remunerative virtue.
"I was a stranger, and ye took me in." Christ blesses the cupboard from
which wayfarers are fed. They fed Jesus, and He filled their hearts with
deathless joy.
VII.--Apostates lose the best news.
Judas had gone out of hearing when the eleven had heard of a risen
Christ.
VIII.--Testifying to grace received brings fresh supplies.
It was while telling what they had seen that they heard the voice of
Jesus speak peace.
XLIX. WORK FOR BOYS.
1 SAMUEL iii.
I.--There is work in God's house for Boys to do.
"The child Samuel ministered." When you sing with feeling you do God's
work. When you see some one without a hymn-book and you take one to the
stranger, you minister. When you make room for a stranger to sit by you,
then you do the work of the Lord. When you pray for the preacher, then
you are of use.
II.--Boys' bedrooms are open to God.
It was while Samuel was asleep that God stood at his bedside; but He is
there before we sleep. He hears when wicked stories are told, and when
bad deeds are planned in the dark.
III.--God does not wait for you to grow up before He calls.
Perhaps you have heard Him call and, like Samuel, did not know the voice.
When you felt that longing to be good, then He called. When you were at
the grave-side, and felt awed and silenced by the coffin, thinking that
some day people would look down and read your name, He called. When you
were ill and felt unfit to die, He called. In your class at Sunday
school, and while hearing the gospel preached, you were called.
IV.--Boys should answer the first call.
Samuel was not like some lads who have to be called many times before
they will get up. "He ran unto Eli." And in doing this he was the
picture of the way we should make haste, and delay not to keep God's
commandments. You will never be of greater value to God than now. Each
day you delay to serve Him, you lessen your value in His sight.
V.--Boys may be taken into God's confidence.
The Bible tells us, "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him,"
and a boy may fear God so as to know His secrets as Samuel did. If you
will listen, as this lad did, you shall hear God speak.
VI.--Boys who do God's will shall have men do their's.
See verse 20. The whole nation came to hear the mind of God from the boy-
prophet, for we read in the first verse of the next chapter that Samuel's
word came unto all Israel.
IF DEATH CAN INJURE YOU
YOU ARE NOT ENJOYING FULL
SALVATION.