Thus he also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."

Worldliness appears under many forms, it differs widely in different persons, the circumstances under which it is fostered have great influence in determining its character; still, whatever shape it may assume, if allowed to govern the heart, it will effectually destroy the effects of the gospel.

"The care of this world." By this is meant undue care, anxious care, sinful care, which is prone to take absolute possession of the soul. We must not condemn all care; in a world like this care cannot possibly be avoided, nay, there is a care which is even necessary and praiseworthy. But to most men life is a severe struggle-a struggle to earn one's livelihood, to pay one's way, to keep poverty out of one's house. And there is always great danger lest an honest desire to do what is right in this respect should beget in time a spirit of distrust in that good Providence which feeds the ravens and clothes the lilies. It is then that the care of this world becomes a sin and a snare, and stifles the aspirations of the soul after those things which can ennoble its spiritual nature.

"And the deceitfulness of riches." By striving against poverty it is possible to become rich. Many

a man has started in life with no higher idea than to live above want; but by industry, perseverance, and economy, he contrived to amass a large fortune. Now, one might reasonably expect that such a man would be relieved of every care. But no, it too often happens otherwise; the man's care only increases in weight and intensity. And why? Because of the deceitfulness of riches. Riches make fair promises, but never fulfil them; they promise to satisfy the soul, but never do so. Riches promise to make their possessor happy at some future period, but when that period arrives the man is as wretched Riches promise to give their possessor rest after he has accumulated a certain amount, but when that object is attained the man is as greedy as before. The deceitfulness of riches! how true the expression! what a host of men know it to their sorrow!

as ever.

"And the lusts of other things entering in." So Mark has it. It is astonishing what a number of desires those men sometimes have, upon whom Providence has lavishly bestowed her bounties. And in proportion as these desires are gratified they seem to be constantly multiplied. There is the man of pleasure; the more pleasure he enjoys, the more his heart craves for. There is the ambitious man; the higher the position he secures, the higher still is his aim. Once, therefore, a man sets his mind on earthly things, the chances are that they will so completely

absorb his attention, as to make him utterly forgetful of the welfare of his soul.

Worldliness, then, in any form is a great evil; it chokes the word of the kingdom, it hinders the success of the gospel. Worldliness, therefore, must be conquered before any good can be done. A worldly mind may appear to receive the word, may seem to be religiously impressed, but it can never attain that perfection of character which is pleasing in the sight of God.

IV. THE EARNEST HEARER.

"But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." In this case the soil was ready to receive the seed, it had been duly ploughed and cleared of all noxious weeds, so that when the seed fell into it they presently began to grow, and ultimately brought forth fruit. Thus, "he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

"And understandeth it." This is the very first condition of success; it cannot be over-estimated; without this failure must be the result. It matters not how honest, how well-meaning, how zealous a man may be; if the word does not enter his under

standing it cannot change his heart.

Just think of

it. Can that seed grow which has never entered the soil? Can that tree bear fruit, whose roots are not in the ground? The thing is impossible, unreasonable, contrary to the established laws of God's uniHow important therefore the admonition, "Take heed how ye hear!" Hear, not for others, but for yourselves. Hear, not listlessly, but for your lives. Hear, as a man hears the reading of a will in which he himself is interested.

verse.

Hear, as a mandate in

condemned criminal hears the royal which his own sentence is revoked. Hear the word as it is the word of God, bring to the study of it all the powers at your command, never rest until you are quite certain that you comprehend it.

But hearing the word does not merely concern the understanding, for it also concerns the heart. Hence Luke describes the earnest hearer as one "who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keeps it." It is a great advantage to possess great intellectual powers, but this is not everything. We know that many wise and learned men have heard the word to no purpose. With their minds stored with knowledge, and their hearts puffed up with pride, they have come to the word to criticise it, to reason about it, to analyse it; and the result has been that they have sunk down into the lowest depths of unbelief. Let us pray, therefore, for child-like sim

plicity, for an honest and good heart, so that the word may become within us a real presence and a living power. Our Lord said on one occasion, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and the prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight." And again, "Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."

Now mark the never-failing characteristic of an earnest hearer; "which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth." Whenever the seed fall into good ground, there is a tangible, visible result; the fact manifests itself in the rich, abundant crop by which the ground is covered. "Wherefore," saith James, "lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." This then is the infallible test by which we may know whether we have truly received the word into our hearts-do we bear fruit? do we abound in good works? are we diligent, persevering, faithful, in our Lord's service? Be it therefore our chief aim to be fruitful, to bring forth if possible an hundredfold, to win for ourselves a position among the brightest stars in the heaven of heavens.