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SERMON XV.

PROGRESSIVE RELIGION.
(PREACHED IN TIME OF HARVEST.)

MARK iv. 26-29.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself: first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest

is come.

THE Lord Jesus Christ came to establish a kingdom in the world: he said much to explain its nature, and to illustrate its excellency: his discourses are in general not difficult to be understood; and his language, though often figurative, is plain and easy.

These remarks apply to the words of the text: in which we have the progress of Christianity in the world, and especially the growth of grace in the believer's heart, illustrated by the growth of corn in the earth. We have witnessed the goodness of God in the bounties of Providence. We have proved his

faithfulness to that ancient and important promise, "While the earth remaineth, seed-time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease*." We have seen the growth of corn, the earth bring forth plentifully, the fields white for harvest, and the reapers, with their sickles, cutting down the precious grain. We have seen the produce of the ground, in part at least, carried home, gathered in, and safely preserved for the service of man and beast. Contemplating the munificent hand of the Almighty to his creatures, we may say with the Psalmist, "These wait all upon thee, that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good." "O Lord, how manifold are thy works-the earth is full of thy riches." "Oh! that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men."

The circumstances of harvest remind us of the words of the text, from which we may offer a few general observations.--God carries on his work of grace by the instrumentality of men. This work of grace is often, for some time, unperceived: where it exists, it must sooner or later appear: it is gradual in its growth, beneficial in its effects, and glorious in its result.

I. God carries on his work of grace by THE IN

STRUMENTALITY OF MEN.

"So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground."-The practice of the husbandman is well known: it is here noticed for the purpose of illustrating the work of God in the world

* Gen. viii. 22.

under the Christian dispensation. We shall not, however, consider it in its more general and extensive application, but more particularly in reference to individual believers, the work of genuine religion in the soul of man. The seed sown is the good word of the Gospel; the men employed to sow it are Christian ministers; the soil is the human heart. Ministers, indeed, have not access to the hearts of men; but he who sends them has; and, while they scatter the seed, it is his prerogative to give it entrance, to preserve its life, and to insure its fruit.

Ministers may learn hence the nature and importance of their work. It is not merely to address the ear, but to aim at the heart; not to amuse the fancy, but to inform the mind; to interest and engage the best powers and feelings of the soul. That which is most likely to do this is the Gospel; "the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." “We preach," says the Apostle," not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord." "We preach Christ crucified, the power of God, and the wisdom of God." And this word "worketh effectually in you that believe."

What is the state of the ground in which the husbandman sows his seed? It is not ground full of stones or weeds, beaten down, and totally neglected and uncultivated: it is ground ploughed up, and properly prepared. Think of the condition of the human heart. By nature it is awfully bad: it produces nothing but the weeds of sin and wickedness: it is hard and insensible in a most affecting degree: it will not receive, but repels, what is best adapted to its good. But Divine grace effects an entire change: it softens the heart, subdues its prejudice, humbles its pride, and renders it kindly susceptible of impressions

the most salutary and useful. Thrice happy they who have experienced this change; whose hearts are thus prepared!

The husbandman casts his seed into the ground. Thus ministers dispense the word of God: but God himself prepares the heart to receive it, and gives it there an abiding place. He carries on his work by the instrumentality of others. They are honoured who are thus employed for him; but unspeakably happy they "who know the joyful sound," who are acquainted with the power of his renovating grace, whose hearts have felt the force of heavenly truth, the life-giving and reviving influence of the Holy Spirit! We observe,

II. This work of grace is often, for some time, UN

PERCEIVED.

When a man has cast seed into the ground "he sleeps, and rises night and day:" that is, he sleeps in the night, and rises in the day; he follows his usual occupations, his various concerns of business or pleasure; and the whole process of vegetation goes on "he knoweth not how :" the seed is in the earth, but he perceives it not, nor can he do any thing more towards its growth: he leaves it there, and hopes and patiently waits.

He

Thus the seed of Divine grace sown in the heart;— it is frequently there when not discernéd. A good work is begun in the soul: this or that man is the instrument of this work, but he knows it not. dispenses the word of truth: the Lord the Spirit owns and applies it to the heart. It diffuses light, imparts life, and becomes the means of effectual conversion to God; yet all this secretly and silently. Our Lord urged the necessity of this change on Nicode

mus; "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Yet, in regard to its nature and mode of production, he spoke thus; "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit."

This work of grace is often concealed, owing to the gradual and imperceptible manner in which it is produced; perhaps in the earliest stages of life, and by means the most gentle Sometimes it is hid by the privacy of a man's situation, and because of the natural timidity and diffidence of his temper. Remaining imperfections not unfrequently conceal it: a good work is begun, but it is obscured by manifold infirmities. There are other causes which need not now be enumerated. The fact should teach us to hope well, even where at present we see little ground of hope. The Lord has his "hidden ones ;" and these are sometimes found where least expected. It should also excite to prayer, not only that God's work may exist and grow, but that it may be manifest for the encouragement of others; "Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children."

III. Where this work of grace exists it must sooner or later APPEAR.

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The seed cast into the ground, the text informs us, "springeth and groweth up.' However long it may lie concealed, it does not always do so; it must vegetate; and presently we behold the barren clods covered with precious grain, the brown earth clothed in living green.

It is just so with the work of God in the believer's

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