,transcriber's ,notes3      ,italic text
 is denoted by underscores and bold text
 by equal    signs4      ,blank pages   
have been eliminated4      ,variations  
in spelling and hyphenation have been   
left as in the    original4      ,a few 
typographical errors have been          
corrected4            ,funk  ,wagnalls' 
,important ,publications4        ,the   
,science of ,politics4      ,,by        
,,walter ,,thomas ,,mills1              
,secretary of the ,national             
,intercollegiate ,association4 ,a timely
 work    for every citizen4 ,the book is
 wholly practical and untechnical and is
    directly suited to the needs of     
every citizen4 #abmo1 cloth1 #bjd pages4
    ,price1 #a4jj4      ,pres4 ,julius  
,h4 ,seelye1 of ,amherst ,college1 says3
    ,with its clearness and force ,i am 
much pleased4      ,frances ,e4 ,willard
 says3      ,mr4 ,mills has done an     
important service to the cause of good  
government by setting in a clear light  
before the citizen his personal         

relation to government by a political   
party4 ,may his book have a    million  
readers4      ,public ,opinion1         
,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 says3      ,the   
book is interesting and instructive1 and
 the style is vigorous    and refined4  
,foundation of ,death4      ,,by ,,axel 
,,gustafson1      the celebrated        
,english ,reformer4 ,a practical study  
of the ,drink    ,question4 #abmo1      
cloth1 #a4ej4      ,the ,boston         
,transcript3      ,the entire subject is
 handled in a most judicious manner1 and
 we    recommend the book as one of     
exceptional value in these times of     
alcoholic discussions4 ,no advocate of  
temperance can do without it1    for it 
is a compendium of the world's          
experience and the world's    opinions4 
,nobody ,knows4      ,,by ,a ,,nobody4  
,a treatise on applied ,christianity    
under the guise of fiction4 ,an         
original1 interesting work4 #abmo1      
cloth1 #a4be4      ,a book of great     
directness and earnestness1 in which the

 hero brings    about a moral and social
 reformation by a reconciliation between
    employer and employee1 between the  
church and the masses4 ,a model of      
terse epigrammatic ,english4 ,not a dull
 line in it4            ,,talks ,,to    
,,farmers4        ,,by    ,,rev4        
,,charles ,h4 ,,spurgeon4        ,,new  
,,york3    ,,funk  ,,wagnalls1          
,,publishers1    #ah ,,and #bj ,,astor  
,,place4    #ahhi4          ,,table ,,of
 ,,contents4                            
,,page      ,,the ,,sluggard',s ,,farm1 
#a      ,,the ,,broken ,,fence1         
#bd      ,,frost ,,and ,,thaw1          
#ci      ,,the ,,corn ,,of ,,wheat      
,,dying ,,to ,,bring ,,forth ,,fruit1   
#ef      ,,the ,,ploughman1             
#ga      ,,ploughing ,,the ,,rock1      
#hh      ,,the ,,parable ,,of ,,the     
,,sower1                          #ajc  
,,the ,,principal ,,wheat1              
#aah      ,,spring ,,in ,,the ,,heart1  
#acb      ,,farm ,,laborers1            
#adi      ,,what ,,the ,,farm ,,laborers

 ,,can ,,do1 ,,and ,,what ,,they        
,,cannot ,,do1                          
#afd      ,,the ,,sheep ,,before ,,the  
,,shearers1                     #aha    
,,in ,,the ,,hay-,,field1               
#aif      ,,the ,,joy ,,of ,,harvest1   
#baa      ,,spiritual ,,gleaning1       
#bbf      ,,meal-,,time ,,in ,,the      
,,cornfields1                       #bda
      ,,the ,,loaded ,,wagon1           
#beh      ,,threshing1                  
#bge      ,,wheat ,,in ,,the ,,barn1    
#bij          ,,talks ,,to ,,farmers4   
,,the ,,sluggard',s ,,farm4    ,i went  
by the field of the slothful1 and by the
 vineyard of the man  void of           
understanding2 ,and1 lo1 it was all     
grown over with thorns1 and  nettles had
 covered the face thereof1 and the stone
 wall thereof was  broken down4 ,then ,i
 saw1 and considered it well3 ,i looked 
upon it1 and  received                  
instruction4--,,proverbs #bd3cj-cb4     
,no doubt ,solomon was sometimes glad to
 lay aside the robes of state1  escape  

from the forms of court1 and go through 
the country unknown4 ,on  one occasion1 
when he was doing so1 he looked over the
 broken wall of a  little estate which  
belonged to a farmer of his country4    
,this estate  consisted of a piece of   
ploughed land and a vineyard4 ,one      
glance showed  him that it was owned by 
a sluggard1 who neglected it1 for the   
weeds had  grown right plentifully and  
covered all the face of the ground4     
,from  this ,solomon gathered           
instruction4 ,men generally learn wisdom
 if they  have wisdom4 ,the artist's eye
 sees the beauty of the landscape       
because  he has beauty in his mind4 ,to 
him that hath shall be given1 and he    
shall have abundance1 for he shall reap 
a harvest even from the field  that is  
covered with thorns and nettles4 ,there 
is a great difference  between one man  
and another in the use of the mind's    
eye4 ,i have a book  entitled1 ,the     
,harvest of a ,quiet ,eye1 and a good   
book it is3 the  harvest of a quiet eye 

can be gathered from a sluggard's land  
as well as  from a well-managed farm4   
,when we were boys we were taught a     
little  poem1 called1 ,eyes and no      
,eyes1 and there was much of truth in   
it1 for  some people have eyes and see  
not1 which is much the same as having no
  eyes2 while others have quick eyes for
 spying out instruction4 ,some look     
only at the surface1 while others see   
not only the outside shell but the      
living kernel of truth which is hidden  
in all outward things4    ,we may find  
instruction everywhere4 ,to a spiritual 
mind nettles have  their use1 and weeds 
have their doctrine4 ,are not all thorns
 and  thistles meant to be teachers to  
sinful men8 ,are they not brought forth 
of the earth on purpose that they may   
show us what sin has done1 and the  kind
 of produce that will come when we sow  
the seed of rebellion against  ,god8 ,i 
went by the field of the slothful1 and  
by the vineyard of the  man void of     
understanding1 says ,solomon2 ,i saw1   

and considered it  well3 ,i looked upon 
it1 and received instruction4 ,whatever 
you see1  take care to consider it well1
 and you will not see it in vain4 ,you  
shall find books and sermons everywhere1
 in the land and in the sea1 in  the    
earth and in the skies1 and you shall   
learn from every living beast1  and     
bird1 and fish1 and insect1 and from    
every useful or useless plant  that     
springs out of the ground4    ,we may   
also gather rare lessons from things    
that we do not like4 ,i am  sure that   
,solomon did not in the least degree    
admire the thorns and the  nettles that 
covered the face of the vineyard1 but he
 nevertheless found  instruction in     
them4 ,many are stung by nettles1 but   
few are taught by  them4 ,some men are  
hurt by briers1 but here is one who was 
improved by  them4 ,wisdom hath a way of
 gathering grapes of thorns and figs of 
nettles1 and she distils good from herbs
 which in themselves are noisome  and   
evil4 ,do not fret1 therefore1 over     

thorns1 but get good out of them4  ,do  
not begin stinging yourself with        
nettles1 grip them firmly1 and then  use
 them for your soul's health4 ,trials   
and troubles1 worries and  turmoils1    
little frets and little disappointments1
 may all help you if  you will4 ,like   
,solomon1 see and consider them         
well--look upon them1 and  receive      
instruction4    ,as for us1 we will now1
 first1 consider ,solomon's description 
of a  sluggard3 he is a man void of     
understanding2 secondly1 we shall       
notice his description of the sluggard's
 land3 it was all grown over  with      
thorns1 and nettles had covered the face
 thereof4 ,when we have  attended to    
these two matters we will close by      
endeavoring to gather  the instruction  
which this piece of waste ground may    
yield us4    ,first1 think of           
,,solomon',s ,,description ,,of ,a      
,,slothful ,,man4 ,solomon was a  man   
whom none of us would contradict1 for he
 knew as much as all of us  put         

together2 and besides that1 he was under
 divine inspiration when he  wrote this 
,book of ,proverbs4 ,solomon says1 a    
sluggard is a man void of               
understanding4 ,the slothful does not   
think so2 he puts his hands in his      
pockets1 and you would think from his   
important air that he had all the  ,bank
 of ,england at his disposal4 ,you can  
see that he is a very wise man  in his  
own esteem1 for he gives himself airs   
which are meant to impress  you with a  
sense of his superior abilities4 ,how he
 has come by his  wisdom it would be    
hard to say4 ,he has never taken the    
trouble to  think1 and yet ,i dare not  
say that he jumps at his conclusions1   
because  he never does such a thing as  
jump1 he lies down and rolls into a     
conclusion4 ,yet he knows everything1   
and has settled all points3  meditation 
is too hard work for him1 and learning  
he never could endure2  but to be clever
 by nature is his delight4 ,he does not 
want to know more  than he knows1 for he

 knows enough already1 and yet he knows 
nothing4  ,the proverb is not           
complimentary to him1 but ,i am certain 
that ,solomon  was right when he called 
him a man void of understanding4        
,solomon was  rather rude according to  
the dainty manners of the present times1
  because this gentleman had a field and
 a vineyard1 and as ,poor ,richard      
saith1 ,when ,i have a horse and a cow  
every man biddeth me good morrow4  ,how 
can a man be void of understanding who  
has a field and a vineyard8  ,is it not 
generally understood that you must      
measure a man's  understanding by the   
amount of his ready cash8 ,at all events
 you shall  soon be flattered for your  
attainments if you have attained unto   
wealth4  ,such is the way of the world1 
but such is not the way of ,scripture4  
,whether he has a field and a vineyard  
or not1 says ,solomon1 if he is a       
sluggard he is a fool1 or if you would  
like to see his name written out  a     
little larger1 he is a man empty of     

understanding4 ,not only does he  not   
understand anything1 but he has no      
understanding to understand with4  ,he  
is empty-headed if he is a sluggard4 ,he
 may be called a gentleman1 he  may be a
 landed proprietor1 he may have a       
vineyard and a field2 but he  is none   
the better for what he has3 nay1 he is  
so much the worse1  because he is a man 
void of understanding1 and is therefore 
unable to  make use of his property4    
,i am glad to be told by ,solomon so    
plainly that a slothful man is void  of 
understanding1 for it is useful         
information4 ,i have met with persons   
who thought they perfectly understood   
the doctrines of grace1 who could       
accurately set forth the election of the
 saints1 the predestination of  ,god1   
the firmness of the divine decree1 the  
necessity of the ,spirit's  work1 and   
all the glorious doctrines of grace     
which build up the fabric  of our faith2
 but these gentlemen have inferred from 
these doctrines  that they have to do   

nothing1 and thus they have become      
sluggards4  ,do-nothingism is their     
creed4 ,they will not even urge other   
people to  labor for the ,lord1 because1
 say they1 ,god will do his own work4   
,salvation is all of grace6 ,the notion 
of these sluggards is that a man  is to 
wait1 and do nothing2 he is to sit      
still1 and let the grass grow  up to his
 ankles in the hope of heavenly help4   
,to arouse himself would  be an         
interference with the eternal purpose1  
which he regards as  altogether         
unwarrantable4 ,i have known him look   
sour1 shake his aged  head1 and say hard
 things against earnest people who were 
trying to win  souls4 ,i have known him 
run down young people1 and like a great 
steam  ram1 sink them to the bottom1 by 
calling them unsound and ignorant4 ,how 
shall we survive the censures of this   
dogmatic person8 ,how shall we  escape  
from this very knowing and very captious
 sluggard8 ,solomon  hastens to the     
rescue and extinguishes this gentleman  

by informing us  that he is void of     
understanding4 ,why1 he is the standard 
of orthodoxy1  and he judges everybody6 
,yet ,solomon applies another standard  
to him1  and says he is void of         
understanding4 ,he may know the         
doctrine1 but he  does not understand   
it2 or else he would know that the      
doctrines of  grace lead us to seek the 
grace of the doctrines2 and that when we
 see  ,god at work we learn that he     
worketh in us1 not to make us go to     
sleep1  but to will and to do of his own
 good pleasure4 ,god's predestination of
  a people is his ordaining them unto   
good works that they may show forth  his
 praise4 ,so1 if you or ,i shall from   
any doctrines1 however true1 draw  the  
inference that we are warranted in being
 idle and indifferent about  the things 
of ,god1 we are void of understanding2  
we are acting like  fools2 we are       
misusing the gospel2 we are taking what 
was meant for meat  and turning it into 
poison4 ,the sluggard1 whether he is    

sluggish about  his business or about   
his soul1 is a man void of              
understanding4    ,as a rule we may     
measure a man's understanding by his    
useful activities2  this is what the    
wise man very plainly tells us4 ,certain
 persons call  themselves cultured1 and 
yet they cultivate nothing4 ,modern     
thought1  as far as ,i have seen        
anything of its actual working1 is a    
bottle of  smoke1 out of which comes    
nothing solid2 yet we know men who can  
distinguish and divide1 debate and      
discuss1 refine and refute1 and all  the
 while the hemlock is growing in the    
furrow1 and the plough is  rusting4     
,friend1 if your knowledge1 if your     
culture1 if your education  does not    
lead you practically to serve ,god in   
your day and generation1  you have not  
learned what ,solomon calls wisdom1 and 
you are not like the  ,blessed ,one1 who
 was incarnate wisdom1 of whom we read  
that he went  about doing good4 ,a lazy 
man is not like our ,saviour1 who said1 

,my  ,father worketh hitherto1 and ,i   
work4 ,true wisdom is practical3        
boastful  culture vapors and theorizes4 
,wisdom ploughs its field1 wisdom hoes  
its  vineyard1 wisdom looks to its      
crops1 wisdom tries to make the best of 
everything2 and he who does not do so1  
whatever may be his knowledge of  this1 
of that1 or of the other1 is a man void 
of understanding4    ,why is he void of 
understanding8 ,is it not because he has
 opportunities  which he does not use8  
,his day has come1 his day is going1 and
 he lets  the hours glide by to no      
purpose4 ,let me not press too hardly   
upon any  one1 but let me ask you all to
 press as hardly as you can upon        
yourselves while you enquire each one of
 himself1 ,am ,i employing the  minutes 
as they fly8 ,this man had a vineyard1  
but he did not cultivate  it2 he had a  
field1 but he did not till it4 ,do you1 
brethren1 use all  your opportunities8  
,i know we each one have some power to  
serve ,god2 do  we use it8 ,if we are   

his children he has not put one of us   
where we are  of necessity useless4     
,somewhere we may shine by the light    
which he has  given us1 though that     
light be only a farthing candle4 ,are we
 thus  shining8 ,do we sow beside all   
waters8 ,do we in the morning sow our   
seed1  and in the evening still stretch 
out our hand8 for if not1 we are        
rebuked by the sweeping censure of      
,solomon1 who saith that the slothful   
is a man void of understanding4         
,having opportunities he did not use    
them1 and next1 being bound to the      
performance of certain duties he did not
 fulfil them4 ,when ,god  appointed that
 every ,israelite should have a piece of
 land1 under that  admirable system     
which made every ,israelite a land      
owner1 he meant that  each man should   
possess his plot1 not to let it lie     
waste1 but to  cultivate it4 ,when ,god 
put ,adam in the garden of ,eden it was 
not that he  should walk through the    
glades and watch the spontaneous        

luxuriance of  the unfallen earth1 but  
that he might dress it and keep it1 and 
he had  the same end in view when he    
allotted each ,jew his piece of land2 he
  meant that the holy soil should reach 
the utmost point of fertility  through  
the labor of those who owned it4 ,thus  
the possession of a field  and a        
vineyard involved responsibilities upon 
the sluggard which he  never fulfilled1 
and therefore he was void of            
understanding4 ,what is  your position1 
dear friend8 ,a father8 ,a master8 ,a   
servant8 ,a minister8 ,a  teacher8      
,well1 you have your farms and your     
vineyards in those  particular spheres2 
but if you do not use those positions   
aright you  will be void of             
understanding1 because you neglect the  
end of your  existence4 ,you miss the   
high calling which your ,maker has set  
before  you4    ,the slothful farmer was
 unwise in these two respects1 and in   
another  also2 for he had capacities    
which he did not employ4 ,he could have 

tilled the field and cultivated the     
vineyard if he had chosen to do so4  ,he
 was not a sickly man1 who was forced to
 keep his bed1 but he was a  lazy-bones 
who was there of choice4    ,you are not
 asked to do in the service of ,god that
 which is utterly  beyond you1 for it is
 expected of us according to what we    
have and not  according to what we have 
not4 ,the man of two talents is not     
required to  bring in the interest of   
five1 but he is expected to bring in the
  interest of two4 ,solomon's slothful  
was too idle to attempt tasks which     
were quite within his power4 ,many have 
a number of dormant faculties of  which 
they are scarcely aware1 and many more  
have abilities which they  are using for
 themselves1 and not for ,him who       
created them4 ,dear  friends1 if ,god   
has given us any power to do good1 pray 
let us do it1  for this is a wicked1    
weary world4 ,we should not even cover a
  glow-worm's light in such a darkness  
as this4 ,we should not keep back a     

syllable of divine truth in a world that
 is so full of falsehood and  error4    
,however feeble our voices1 let us lift 
them up for the cause of  truth and     
righteousness4 ,do not let us be void of
 understanding1 because  we have        
opportunities that we do not use1       
obligations that we do not  fulfil1 and 
capacities which we do not exercise4    
,as for a sluggard in soul matters1 he  
is indeed void of understanding1  for he
 trifles with matters which demand his  
most earnest heed4 ,man1  hast thou     
never cultivated thy heart8 ,hast the   
ploughshare never broken  up the clods  
of thy soul8 ,has the seed of the ,word 
never been sown in  thee8 or has it     
taken no root8 ,hast thou never watered 
the young plants  of desire8 ,hast thou 
never sought to pull up the weeds of sin
 that grow  in thy heart8 ,art thou     
still a piece of the bare common or wild
 heath8  ,poor soul6 ,thou canst trim   
thy body1 and spend many a minute at the
  glass2 dost thou not care for thy     

soul8 ,how long thou takest to decorate 
thy poor flesh1 which is but worm's     
meat1 or would be in a minute if ,god   
took away thy breath6 ,and yet all the  
while thy soul is uncombed1  unwashed1  
unclad1 a poor neglected thing4 ,oh it  
should not be so4 ,you  take care of the
 worse part and leave the better to     
perish through  neglect4 ,this is the   
height of folly6 ,he that is a sluggard 
as to the  vineyard of his heart is a   
man void of understanding4 ,if ,i must  
be idle1  let it be seen in my field and
 my garden1 but not in my soul4    ,or  
are you a ,christian8 ,are you really   
saved1 and are you negligent in  the    
,lord's work8 ,then1 indeed1 whatever   
you may be1 ,i cannot help saying  you  
have too little understanding2 for      
surely1 when a man is saved  himself1   
and understands the danger of other     
men's souls1 he must be in  earnest in  
trying to pluck the firebrands from the 
flame4 ,a ,christian  sluggard6 ,is     
there such a being8 ,a ,christian man on

 half time8 ,a  ,christian man working  
not at all for his ,lord2 how shall ,i  
speak of him8  ,time does not tarry1    
,,death does not tarry1 ,,hell does not 
tarry2 ,satan  is not lazy1 all the     
powers of darkness are busy3 how is it  
that you and  ,i can be sluggish1 if the
 ,master has put us into his vineyard8  
,surely we  must be void of             
understanding if1 after being saved by  
the infinite love  of ,god1 we do not   
spend and be spent in his service4 ,the 
eternal fitness  of things demands that 
a saved man should be an earnest man4   
,the ,christian who is slothful in his  
,master's service has no idea what  he  
is losing2 for the very cream of        
religion lies in holy consecration  to  
,god4 ,some people have just enough     
religion to make it questionable        
whether they have any or no4 ,they have 
enough godliness to make them  uneasy in
 their ungodliness4 ,they have washed   
enough of their face to  show the dirt  
upon the rest of it4 ,i am glad1 said a 

servant1 that my  mistress takes the    
sacrament1 for otherwise ,i should not  
know she had  any religion at all4 ,you 
smile1 and well you may4 ,it is         
ridiculous that  some people should have
 no goods in their shop1 and yet        
advertise their  business in all the    
papers2 should make a show of religion1 
and yet have  none of the ,spirit of    
,god4 ,i wish some professors would do  
,christ the  justice to say1 ,no1 ,i am 
not one of his disciples2 do not think  
so  badly of him as to imagine that ,i  
can be one of them4 ,we ought to be     
reflections of ,christ2 but ,i fear many
 are reflections upon ,christ4  ,when we
 see a lot of lazy servants1 we are apt 
to think that their  master must be a   
very idle person himself1 or he would   
never put up with  them4 ,he who employs
 sluggards1 and is satisfied with their 
snail-like  pace1 cannot be a very      
active man himself4 ,o1 let not the     
world think  that ,christ is indifferent
 to human woe1 that ,christ has lost his

 zeal1  that ,christ has lost his       
energy3 yet ,i fear they will say it or 
think it  if they see those who profess 
to be laborers in the vineyard of       
,christ  nothing better than mere       
sluggards4 ,the slothful1 then1 is a man
 void of  understanding2 he loses the   
honor and pleasure which he would find  
in  serving his ,master2 he is a        
dishonor to the cause which he professes
 to  venerate1 and he is storing up     
thorns for his dying pillow4 ,let that  
stand as settled--the slothful1 whether 
he be a minister1 deacon1 or  private   
,christian1 is a man void of            
understanding4      ,now1 secondly1     
,,let ,,us ,,look ,,at ,,the            
,,sluggard',s ,,land3 ,i went by the    
field  of the slothful1 and by the      
vineyard of the man void of             
understanding2  ,and1 lo1 it was all    
grown over with thorns1 and nettles had 
covered the  face thereof4 ,note1 first1
 that land will produce something4 ,soil
  which is good enough to be made into a

 field and a vineyard must and  will    
yield some fruit or other2 and so you   
and ,i1 in our hearts and in  the sphere
 ,god gives us to occupy1 will be sure  
to produce something4 ,we  cannot live  
in this world as entire blanks2 we shall
 either do good or  do evil1 as sure as 
we are alive4 ,if you are idle in       
,christ's work1 you  are active in the  
devil's work4 ,the sluggard by sleeping 
was doing more  for the cultivation of  
thorns and nettles than he could have   
done by any  other means4 ,as a garden  
will either yield flowers or weeds1     
fruits or  thistles1 so something either
 good or evil will come out of our      
household1 our class1 or our            
congregation4 ,if we do not produce a   
harvest of good wheat1 by laboring for  
,christ1 we shall grow tares to be      
bound up in bundles for the last dread  
burning4    ,note again that1 if it be  
not farmed for ,god1 the soul will yield
 its  natural produce2 and what is the  
natural produce of land if left to      

itself8 ,what but thorns and nettles1 or
 some other useless weeds8 ,what  is the
 natural produce of your heart and mine8
 ,what but sin and misery8  ,what is the
 natural produce of your children if you
 leave them untrained  for ,god8 ,what  
but unholiness and vice8 ,what is the   
natural produce of  this great city if  
we leave its streets1 and lanes1 and    
alleys without  the gospel8 ,what but   
crime and infamy8 ,some harvest there   
will be1 and  the sheaves will be the   
natural produce of the soil1 which is   
sin1  death1 and corruption4    ,if we  
are slothful1 the natural produce of our
 heart and of our sphere  will be most  
inconvenient and unpleasant to          
ourselves4 ,nobody can sleep  on thorns1
 or make a pillow of nettles4 ,no rest  
can come out of an  idleness which lets 
ill alone1 and does not by ,god's       
,spirit strive to  uproot evil4 ,while  
you are sleeping1 ,satan will be sowing4
 ,if you  withhold the seed of good1    
,satan will be lavish with the seed of  

evil1  and from that evil will come     
anguish and regret for time1 and it may 
be  for eternity4 ,o man1 the garden put
 into thy charge1 if thou waste thy     
time in slumber1 will reward thee with  
all that is noisome and painful4        
,thorns also and thistles shall it bring
 forth to thee4    ,in many instances   
there will be a great deal of this evil 
produce2 for  a field and a vineyard    
will yield more thistles and nettles    
than a piece  of ground that has never  
been reclaimed4 ,if the land is good    
enough for  a garden1 it will present   
its owner with a fine crop of weeds if  
he  only stays his hand4 ,a choice bit  
of land fit for a vineyard of red wine  
will render such a profusion of nettles 
to the slothful that he shall  rub his  
eyes with surprise4 ,the man who might  
do most for ,god1 if he  were renewed1  
will bring forth most for ,satan if he  
be let alone4 ,the  very region which   
would have glorified ,god most if the   
grace of ,god were  there to convert its

 inhabitants1 will be that out of which 
the vilest  enemies of the gospel will  
arise4 ,rest assured of that2 the best  
will  become the worst if we neglect it4
 ,neglect is all that is needed to      
produce evil4 ,if you want to know the  
way of salvation1 ,i must take some     
pains to tell you2 but if you want to   
know the way to be lost1 my reply  is   
easy2 for it is only a matter of        
negligence3--,how shall we escape if  we
 neglect so great salvation8 ,if you    
desire to bring forth a harvest  unto   
,god1 ,i may need long to instruct you  
in ploughing1 sowing1 and  watering2 but
 if you wish your mind to be covered    
with ,satan's hemlock1  you have only to
 leave the furrows of your nature to    
themselves4 ,the  slothful asks for ,a  
little sleep1 a little slumber1 a little
 folding of  the hands to sleep1 and the
 thorns and thistles multiply beyond all
  numbering1 and prepare for him many a 
sting4    ,while we look upon the lazy  
man's vineyard let us also peep into the

  ungodly sluggard's heart4 ,he does not
 care about repentance and faith4  ,to  
think about his soul1 to be in earnest  
about eternity1 is too much  for him4   
,he wants to take things easy1 and have 
a little more folding of  the arms to   
sleep4 ,what is growing in his mind and 
character8 ,in some of  these spiritual 
sluggards you can see drunkenness1      
uncleanness1  covetousness1 anger1 and  
pride1 and all sorts of thistles and    
nettles2  or where these ranker weeds do
 not appear1 by reason of the restraint 
of  pious connections1 you find other   
sorts of sin4 ,the heart cannot be      
altogether empty1 either ,christ or the 
devil will possess it4 ,my dear  friend1
 if you are not decided for ,god1 you   
cannot be a neutral4 ,in this  war every
 man is for ,god or for his enemy4 ,you 
cannot remain like a  sheet of blank    
paper4 ,the legible handwriting of      
,satan is upon you--can  you not see the
 blots8 ,unless ,christ has written     
across the page his own  sweet name1 the

 autograph of ,satan is visible4 ,you   
may say1 ,i do not go  into open sin2 ,i
 am moral1 and so forth4 ,ah1 if you    
would but look1 and  consider1 and      
search into your heart1 you would see   
that enmity to ,god  and to his ways1   
and hatred of purity1 are there4 ,you do
 not love ,god's  law1 nor love his     
,son1 nor love his gospel1 you are      
alienated in your  heart1 and there is  
in you all manner of evil desires and   
vain thoughts1  and these will flourish 
and increase so long as you are a       
spiritual  sluggard1 and leave your     
heart uncultivated4 ,o1 may the ,spirit 
of ,god  arouse you2 may you be stirred 
to anxious1 earnest thought1 and then   
you  will see that these rank growths   
must be uprooted1 and that your heart   
must be turned up by the plough of      
conviction1 and sown with the good  seed
 of the gospel1 till a harvest rewards  
the great ,husbandman4    ,friend1 if   
you believe in ,christ1 ,i want to peep 
over the hedge into  your heart also1 if

 you are a sluggish ,christian2 for ,i  
fear that  nettles and thistles are     
threatening you also4 ,did ,i not hear  
you sing  the other day--      ',tis a  
point ,i long to know8    ,that point   
will often be raised1 for doubt is a    
seed which is sure to  grow in lazy     
men's minds4 ,i do not remember reading 
in ,mr4 ,wesley's  diary a question     
about his own salvation4 ,he was so busy
 in the harvest  of the ,master that it 
did not occur to him to distrust his    
,god4 ,some  ,christians have little    
faith in consequence of their having    
never sown  the grain of mustard-seed   
which they have received4 ,if you do not
 sow  your faith by using it1 how can it
 grow8 ,when a man lives by faith in    
,christ ,jesus1 and his faith exercises 
itself actively in the service of  his  
,lord1 it takes root1 grows upward1 and 
become strong1 till it chokes  his      
doubts4 ,some have sadly morbid         
forebodings2 they are discontented1     
fretful1 selfish1 murmuring1 and all    

because they are idle4 ,these are  the  
weeds that grow in sluggards' gardens4  
,i have known the slothful  become so   
peevish that nothing could please them2 
the most earnest  ,christian could not  
do right for them2 the most loving      
,christians could  not be affectionate  
enough2 the most active church could not
 be  energetic enough2 they detected all
 sorts of wrong where ,god himself saw  
much of the fruit of his ,spirit4 ,this 
censoriousness1 this contention1  this  
perpetual complaining is one of the     
nettles that are quite sure to  grow in 
men's gardens when they fold their arms 
in sinful ease4 ,if your  heart does not
 yield fruit to ,god it will certainly  
bring forth that  which is mischievous  
in itself1 painful to you1 and injurious
 to your  fellow-men4 ,often the thorns 
choke the good seed2 but it is a very   
blessed thing when the good seed comes  
up so thick and fast that it  chokes the
 thorns4 ,god enables certain           
,christians to become so fruitful  in   

,christ that their graces and works     
stand thick together1 and when  ,satan  
throws in the tares they cannot grow    
because there is no room for  them4 ,the
 ,holy ,spirit by his power makes evil  
to become weak in the  heart1 so that it
 no longer keeps the upper hand4 ,if you
 are slothful1  friend1 look over the   
field of your heart1 and weep at the    
sight4    ,may ,i next ask you to look  
into your own house and home8 ,it is a  
dreadful thing when a man does not      
cultivate the field of his own  family4 
,i recollect in my early days a man who 
used to walk out with me  into the      
villages when ,i was preaching4 ,i was  
glad of his company till ,i  found out  
certain facts1 and then ,i shook him    
off1 and ,i believe he  hooked on to    
somebody else1 for he must needs be     
gadding abroad every  evening of the    
week4 ,he had many children1 and these  
grew up to be  wicked young men and     
women1 and the reason was that the      
father1 while he  would be at this      

meeting and that1 never tried to bring  
his own children  to the ,saviour4 ,what
 is the use of zeal abroad if there is  
neglect at  home8 ,how sad to say1 ,my  
own vineyard have ,i not kept4 ,have you
 never  heard of one who said he did not
 teach his children the ways of ,god    
because he thought they were so young   
that it was very wrong to  prejudice    
them1 and he had rather leave them to   
choose their own  religion when they    
grew older8 ,one of his boys broke his  
arm1 and while  the surgeon was setting 
it the boy was swearing all the time4   
,ah1 said  the good doctor1 ,i told you 
what would happen4 ,you were afraid to  
prejudice your boy in the right way1 but
 the devil had no such qualms2  he has  
prejudiced him the other way1 and pretty
 strongly too4 ,it is our  duty to      
prejudice our field in favor of corn1 or
 it will soon be covered  with thistles4
 ,cultivate a child's heart for good1 or
 it will go wrong  of itself1 for it is 
already depraved by nature4 ,o that we  

were wise  enough to think of this1 and 
leave no little one to become a prey to 
the  destroyer4    ,as it is with homes1
 so is it with schools4 ,a gentleman who
 joined  this church some time ago had  
been an atheist for years1 and in       
conversing with him ,i found that he had
 been educated at one of our  great     
public schools1 and to that fact he     
traced his infidelity4 ,he said  that   
the boys were stowed away on ,sunday in 
a lofty gallery at the far  end of a    
church1 where they could scarcely hear a
 word that the  clergyman said1 but     
simply sat imprisoned in a place where  
it was  dreadfully hot in summer and    
cold in winter4 ,on ,sundays there were 
prayers1 and prayers1 and prayers1 but  
nothing that ever touched his  heart2   
until he was so sick of prayers that he 
vowed if he once got out  of the school 
he would have done with religion4 ,this 
is a sad result1  but a frequent one4   
,you ,sunday-school teachers can make   
your classes so  tiresome to the        

children that they will hate ,sunday4   
,you can fritter  away the time in      
school without bringing the lads and    
lasses to ,christ1  and so you may do   
more hurt than good4 ,i have known      
,christian fathers  who by their        
severity and want of tenderness have    
sown their family  field with the thorns
 and thistles of hatred to religion     
instead of  scattering the good seed of 
love to it4 ,o that we may so live among
 our  children that they may not only   
love us1 but love our ,father who is in 
heaven4 ,may fathers and mothers set    
such an example of cheerful piety  that 
sons and daughters shall say1 ,let us   
tread in our father's  footsteps1 for he
 was a happy and a holy man4 ,let us    
follow our mother's  ways1 for she was  
sweetness itself4 ,if piety does not    
rule in your  house1 when we pass by    
your home we shall see disorder1        
disobedience1  pride of dress1 folly1   
and the beginnings of vice4 ,let not    
your home be  a sluggard's field1 or you

 will have to rue it in years to come4  
,let every deacon1 every class-leader1  
and also every minister enquire         
diligently into the state of the field  
he has to cultivate4 ,you see1  brothers
 and sisters1 if you and ,i are set over
 any department of our  ,lord's work1   
and we are not diligent in it1 we shall 
be like barren  trees planted in an     
orchard1 which are a loss altogether1   
because they  occupy the places of other
 trees which might have brought forth   
fruit  unto their owners4 ,we shall     
cumber the ground1 and do damage to our 
,lord1 unless we render him actual      
service4 ,will you think of this8 ,if   
you could be put down as a mere cipher  
in the accounts of ,christ1 that  would 
be very sad2 but1 brother1 it cannot be 
so1 you will cause a  deficit unless you
 create a gain4 ,oh that through the    
grace of ,god we  may be profitable to  
our ,lord and ,master6 ,who among us can
 look upon his  life-work without some  
sorrow8 ,if anything has been done      

aright we  ascribe it all to the grace  
of ,god2 but how much there is to weep  
over6  ,how much that we would wish to  
amend6 ,let us not spend time in idle   
regrets1 but pray for the ,spirit of    
,god1 that in the future we may not  be 
void of understanding1 but may know what
 we ought to do1 and where  the strength
 must come from with which to do it1 and
 then give ourselves  up to the doing of
 it4    ,i beg you once more to look at 
the great field of the world4 ,do you   
see how it is overgrown with thorns and 
nettles8 ,if an angel could take  a     
survey of the whole race1 what tears he 
would shed1 if angels could  weep6 ,what
 a tangled mass of weeds the whole earth
 is6 ,yonder the field  is scarlet with 
the poppy of popery1 and over the hedge 
it is yellow  with the wild mustard of  
,mahometanism4 ,vast regions are        
smothered with  the thistles of         
infidelity and idolatry4 ,the world is  
full of cruelty1  oppression1           
drunkenness1 rebellion1 uncleanness1    

misery4 ,what the moon  sees6 ,what     
,god's sun sees6 ,what scenes of horror6
 ,how far is all this to  be attributed 
to a neglectful church8 ,nearly nineteen
 hundred years are  gone1 and the       
sluggard's vineyard is but little       
improved6 ,england has  been touched    
with the spade1 but ,i cannot say that  
it has been  thoroughly weeded or       
ploughed yet4 ,across the ocean another 
field  equally favored knows well the   
ploughman1 and yet the weeds are rank4  
,here and there a little good work has  
been done1 but the vast mass of  the    
world still lies a moorland never broken
 up1 a waste1 a howling  wilderness4    
,what has the church been doing all     
these years8 ,she ceased  after a few   
centuries to be a missionary church1 and
 from that hour she  almost ceased to be
 a living church4 ,whenever a church    
does not labor  for the reclaiming of   
the desert1 it becomes itself a waste4  
,you shall  not find on the roll of     
history that for a length of time any   

,christian  community has flourished    
after it has become negligent of the    
outside  world4 ,i believe that if we   
are put into the ,master's vineyard1 and
 will  not take away the weeds1 neither 
shall the vine flourish1 nor shall the  
corn yield its increase4 ,however1      
instead of asking what the church has   
been doing for this nineteen hundred    
years1 let us ask ourselves1 ,what  are 
we going to do now8 ,are the missions of
 the churches of ,great  ,britain always
 to be such poor1 feeble things as they 
are8 ,are the best  of our ,christian   
young men always going to stay at home8 
,we go on  ploughing the home field a   
hundred times over1 while millions of   
acres  abroad are left to the thorn and 
nettle4 ,shall it always be so8 ,god    
send us more spiritual life1 and wake us
 up from our sluggishness1 or  else when
 the holy watcher gives in his report1  
he will say1 ,i went by  the field of   
the sluggish church1 and it was all     
grown over with thorns  and nettles1 and

 the stone wall was broken down1 so that
 one could  scarcely tell which was the 
church and which was the world1 yet     
still  she slept1 and slept1 and slept1 
and nothing could waken her4    ,i      
conclude by remarking that ,,there      
,,must ,,be ,,some ,,lesson ,,in ,,all  
,,this4 ,i  cannot teach it as ,i would1
 but ,i want to learn it myself4 ,i will
 speak  it as though ,i were talking to 
myself4    ,the first lesson is1 that   
unaided nature always will produce      
thorns and  nettles1 and nothing else4  
,my soul1 if it were not for grace1 this
 is  all thou wouldst have produced4    
,beloved1 are you producing anything    
else8 ,then it is not nature1 but the   
grace of ,god that makes you produce    
it4 ,those lips that now most charmingly
 sing the praises of ,god would  have   
been delighted with an idle ballad if   
the grace of ,god had not  sanctified   
them4 ,your heart1 that now cleaves to  
,christ1 would have  continued to cling 
to your idols--you know what they       

were--if it had not  been for grace     
divine4 ,and why should grace have      
visited you or me--why8  ,echo answers1 
,why8 ,what answer can we give8 ',tis   
even so1 ,father1 for  so it seemed good
 in thy sight4 ,let the recollection of 
what grace has  done move us to manifest
 the result of that grace in our lives4 
,come1  brothers and sisters1 inasmuch  
as we were aforetime rich enough in the 
soil of our nature to produce so much of
 nettle and thistle--and ,god  only     
knows how much we did produce--let us   
now pray that our lives may  yield as   
much of good corn for the great         
,husbandman4 ,will you serve  ,christ   
less than you served your lusts8 ,will  
you make less sacrifice  for ,christ    
than you did for your sins8 ,some of you
 were whole-hearted  enough when in the 
service of the evil one1 will you be    
half-hearted in  the service of ,god8   
,shall the ,holy ,spirit produce less   
fruit in you than  that which you       
yielded under the spirit of evil8       

,god grant that we may not be left to   
prove what nature will produce if  left 
to itself4    ,we see here1 next1 the   
little value of natural good intentions2
 for  this man1 who left his field and  
vineyard to be overgrown1 always meant  
to work hard one of these fine days4 ,to
 do him justice1 we must admit  that he 
did not mean to sleep much longer1 for  
he said--,yet a little  sleep1 a little 
slumber1 a little folding of the hands  
to sleep4 ,only a  little doze1 and then
 he would tuck up his sleeves and show  
his muscle4  ,probably the worst people 
in the world are those who have the best
  intentions1 but never carry them out4 
,in that way ,satan lulls many to       
sleep4 ,they hear an earnest sermon2 but
 they do not arise and go to  their     
,father2 they only get as far as saying1
 ,yes1 yes1 the far country  is not a   
fit place for me2 ,i will not stay here 
long4 ,i mean to go home  by-and-by4    
,they said that forty years ago1 but    
nothing came of it4 ,when  they were    

quite youths they had serious           
impressions1 they were almost  persuaded
 to be ,christians1 and yet they are not
 ,christians even now4  ,they have been 
slumbering forty years6 ,surely that is 
a liberal share of  sleep6 ,they never  
intended to dream so long1 and now they 
do not mean to  lie in bed much longer4 
,they will not turn to ,christ at once1 
but they  are resolved to do so one day4
 ,when are you going to do it1 friend8  
,before ,i die4 ,going to put it off to 
the last hour or two1 are you8  ,and so1
 when unconscious1 and drugged to       
relieve pain1 you will begin  to think  
of your soul8 ,is this wise8 ,surely you
 are void of  understanding4 ,perhaps   
you will die in an hour4 ,did you not   
hear the  other day of the alderman who 
died in his carriage8 ,little must he   
have  dreamed of that4 ,how would it    
have fared with you had you also been   
smitten while riding at your ease8 ,have
 you not heard of persons who  fall dead
 at their work8 ,what is to hinder your 

dying with a spade in  your hand8 ,i am 
often startled when ,i am told in the   
week that one whom  ,i saw on ,sunday is
 dead--gone from the shop to the        
judgment-seat4 ,it is  not a very long  
time ago since one went out at the      
doorway of the  ,tabernacle1 and fell   
dead on the threshold4 ,we have had     
deaths in the  house of ,god1 unexpected
 deaths2 and sometimes people are       
hurried away  unprepared who never meant
 to have died unconverted1 who always   
had from  their youth up some kind of   
desire to be ready1 only still they     
wanted a  little more sleep4 ,oh1 my    
hearers1 take heed of little delays1 and
 short  puttings-off4 ,you have wasted  
time enough already1 come to the point  
at  once before the clock strikes again4
 ,may ,god the ,holy ,spirit bring you  
to decision4    ,surely you do not      
object to my having a little more sleep8
 says the  sluggard4 ,you have waked me 
so soon4 ,i only ask another little nap4
  ,my dear man1 it is far into the      

morning4 ,he answers1 ,it is rather     
late1 ,i know2 but it will not be much  
later if ,i take just another  doze4    
,you wake him again1 and tell him it is 
noon4 ,he says1 ,it is the  hottest part
 of the day3 ,i daresay if ,i had been  
up ,i should have gone  to the sofa and 
taken a little rest from the hot sun4   
,you knock at his  door when it is      
almost evening1 and then he cries1 ,it  
is of no use to  get up now1 for the day
 is almost over4 ,you remind him of his 
overgrown  field and weedy vineyard1 and
 he answers1 ,yes1 ,i must get up1 ,i   
know4  ,he shakes himself and says1 ,i  
do not think it will matter much if ,i  
wait till the clock strikes4 ,i will    
rest another minute or two4 ,he is      
glued to his bed1 dead while he liveth1 
buried in his laziness4 ,if he  could   
sleep forever he would1 but he cannot1  
for the judgment-day will  rouse him4   
,it is written1 ,and in hell he lift up 
his eyes1 being in  torment4 ,god grant 
that you spiritual sluggards may wake   

before that2  but you will not unless   
you bestir yourselves betimes1 for now  
is the  accepted time2 and it may be now
 or never4 ,to-morrow is only to be     
found in the calendar of fools2 to-day  
is the time of the wise man1 the  chosen
 season of our gracious ,god4 ,oh that  
the ,holy ,spirit may lead you  to seize
 the present hour1 that you may at once 
give yourselves to the  ,lord by faith  
in ,christ ,jesus1 and then from his    
vineyard--                      ,quick  
uproot    ,the noisome weeds1 that      
without profit suck    ,the soil's      
fertility from wholesome plants4        
,,the ,,broken ,,fence4    ,i went by   
the field of the slothful1 and by the   
vineyard of the man  void of            
understanding2 and lo1 it was all grown 
over with thorns1 and  nettles had      
covered the face thereof1 and the stone 
wall thereof was  broken down4 ,then ,i 
saw1 and considered it well3 ,i looked  
upon it and  received                   
instruction4--,,proverbs #bd3cj-cb4     

,,this slothful man did no hurt to his  
fellow-men3 he was not a thief1 nor  a  
ruffian1 nor a meddler in anybody else's
 business4 ,he did not trouble  himself 
about other men's concerns1 for he did  
not even attend to his  own--it required
 too much exertion4 ,he was not grossly 
vicious2 he had  not energy enough to   
care for that4 ,he was one who liked to 
take things  easily4 ,he always let well
 alone1 and1 for the matter of that1 he 
let  ill alone1 too1 as the nettles and 
the thistles in his garden plainly      
proved4 ,what was the use of disturbing 
himself8 ,it would be all the same  a   
hundred years hence2 and so he took     
things just as they came4 ,he was  not a
 bad man1 so some said of him2 and yet1 
perhaps1 it will be found  at last that 
there is no worse man in the world than 
the man who is not  good1 for in some   
respects he is not good enough to be    
bad2 he has not  enough force of        
character about him to serve either ,god
 or ,baal4 ,he  simply serves himself1  

worshipping his own ease and adoring his
 own  comfort4 ,yet he always meant to  
be right4 ,dear me6 he was not going to 
sleep much longer1 he would only have   
forty winks more1 and then he  would be 
at his work1 and show you what he could 
do4 ,one of these days  he meant to be  
thoroughly in earnest1 and make up for  
lost time4 ,the  time never actually    
came for him to begin1 but it was always
 coming4 ,he  always meant to repent1   
but he went on in his sin4 ,he meant to 
believe1  but he died an unbeliever4 ,he
 meant to be a ,christian1 but he lived 
without ,christ4 ,he halted between two 
opinions because he could not  trouble  
himself to make up his mind2 and so he  
perished of delay4    ,this picture of  
the slothful man and his garden and     
field overgrown with  nettles and weeds 
represents many a man who has professed 
to be a  ,christian1 but who has become 
slothful in the things of ,god4         
,spiritual  life has withered in him4   
,he has backslidden2 he has come down   

from the  condition of healthy spiritual
 energy into one of listlessness1 and   
indifference to the things of ,god2 and 
while things have gone wrong  within his
 heart1 and all sorts of mischiefs have 
come into him and  grown up and seeded  
themselves in him1 mischief is also     
taking place  externally in his daily   
conduct4 ,the stone wall which guarded  
his  character is broken down1 and he   
lies open to all evil4 ,upon this point 
we will now meditate4 ,the stone wall   
thereof was broken down4    ,come1 then1
 let us take a walk with ,solomon1 and  
stand with him and  consider and learn  
instruction while we look at this       
broken-down  fence4 ,when we have       
examined it1 let us consider the        
consequences of  broken-down walls2 and 
then1 in the last place1 let us try to  
rouse up  this sluggard that his wall   
may yet be repaired4 ,if this slothful  
person should be one of ourselves1 may  
,god's infinite mercy rouse us up       
before this ruined wall has let in a    

herd of prowling vices4    ,i4 ,first   
let us take a ,,look ,,at ,,this        
,,broken ,,fence4    ,you will see that 
in the beginning it was a very good     
fence1 for it was  a stone wall4 ,fields
 are often surrounded with wooden       
palings which soon  decay1 or with      
hedges which may very easily have gaps  
made in them2 but  this was a stone     
wall4 ,such walls are very usual in the 
,east1 and are  also common in some of  
our own counties where stone is         
plentiful4 ,it was  a substantial       
protection to begin with1 and well shut 
in the pretty  little estate which had  
fallen into such bad hands4 ,the man had
 a field  for agricultural purposes1 and
 another strip of land for a vineyard or
 a  garden4 ,it was fertile soil1 for it
 produced thorns and nettles in         
abundance1 and where these flourish     
better things can be produced2 yet  the 
idler took no care of his property1 but 
allowed the wall to get into  bad       
repair1 and in many places to be quite  

broken down4    ,let me mention some of 
the stone walls that men permit to be   
broken down  when they backslide4    ,in
 many cases sound principles were       
instilled in youth1 but these are       
forgotten4 ,what a blessing is          
,christian education6 ,our parents1 both
 by  persuasion and example1 taught many
 of us the things that are pure and     
honest1 and of good repute4 ,we saw in  
their lives how to live4 ,they also     
opened the word of ,god before us1 and  
they taught us the ways of right  both  
toward ,god and toward men4 ,they prayed
 for us1 and they prayed with  us1 till 
the things of ,god were placed round    
about us and shut us in as  with a stone
 wall4 ,we have never been able to get  
rid of our early  impressions4 ,even in 
times of wandering1 before we knew the  
,lord  savingly1 these things had a     
healthy power over us2 we were checked  
when  we would have done evil1 we were  
assisted when we were struggling  toward
 ,christ4 ,it is very sad when people   

permit these first principles  to be    
shaken1 and to be removed like stones   
which fall from a boundary  wall4 ,young
 persons begin at first to talk lightly 
of the old-fashioned  ways of their     
parents4 ,by-and-by it is not merely the
 old-fashionedness  of the ways1 but the
 ways themselves that they despise4     
,they seek other  company1 and from that
 other company they learn nothing but   
evil4 ,they  seek pleasure in places    
which it horrifies their parents to     
think of4  ,this leads to worse1 and if 
they do not bring their fathers' gray   
hairs  with sorrow to the grave it is no
 virtue of theirs4 ,i have known young  
men1 who really were ,christians1 sadly 
backslide through being induced  to     
modify1 conceal1 or alter those holy    
principles in which they were  trained  
from their mother's knee4 ,it is a great
 calamity when  professedly converted   
men become unfixed1 unstable1 and       
carried about  with every wind of       
doctrine4 ,it shows great faultiness of 

mind1 and  unsoundness of heart1 when we
 can trifle with those grave and solemn 
truths which have been sanctified by a  
mother's tears and by a father's        
earnest life4 ,i am thy servant1 said   
,david1 and the son of thy  handmaid3 he
 felt it to be a high honor1 and1 at the
 same time1 a  sacred bond which bound  
him to ,god1 that he was the son of one 
who could  be called ,god's handmaid4   
,take care1 you who have had ,christian 
training1 that you do not trifle with   
it4 ,my son1 keep thy father's          
commandment1 and forsake not the law of 
thy mother3 bind them  continually upon 
thine heart1 and tie them about thy     
neck4    ,protection to character is    
also found in the fact that solid       
doctrines  have been learned4 ,this is a
 fine stone wall4 ,many among us have   
been  taught the gospel of the grace of 
,god1 and they have learned it well1  so
 that they are able to contend earnestly
 for the faith once delivered  to the   
saints4 ,happy are they who have a      

religion that is grounded upon  a clear 
knowledge of eternal verities4 ,a       
religion which is all  excitement1 and  
has little instruction in it1 may serve 
for transient  use2 but for permanent   
life-purposes there must be a knowledge 
of those  great doctrines which are     
fundamental to the gospel system4 ,i    
tremble  when ,i hear of a man's giving 
up1 one by one1 the vital principles of 
the gospel and boasting of his          
liberality4 ,i hear him say1 ,these are 
my  views1 but others have a right to   
their views also4 ,that is a very       
proper expression in reference to mere  
views1 but we may not thus  speak of    
truth itself as revealed by ,god3 that  
is one and unalterable1  and all are    
bound to receive it4 ,it is not your    
view of truth1 for that  is a dim thing2
 but the very truth itself which will   
save you if your  faith embraces it4 ,i 
will readily yield my way of stating a  
doctrine1  but not the doctrine itself4 
,one man may put it in this way1 and one

 in  another2 but the truth itself must 
never be given up4 ,the spirit of the   
,broad ,school robs us of everything    
like certainty4 ,i should like to ask   
some great men of that order whether    
they believe that anything is  taught in
 the ,scriptures which it would be worth
 while for a person to  die for1 and    
whether the martyrs were not great fools
 for laying down  their lives for mere  
opinions which might be right or might  
be wrong4  ,this ,broad-churchism is a  
breaking down of stone walls1 and it    
will let  in the devil and all his crew1
 and do infinite harm to the church of  
,god1 if it be not stopped4 ,a loose    
state of belief does great damage to    
any man's mind4    ,we are not bigots1  
but we should be none the worse if we so
 lived that  men called us so4 ,i met a 
man the other day who was accused of    
bigotry1  and ,i said1 ,give me your    
hand1 old fellow4 ,i like to meet with  
bigots  now and then1 for the fine old  
creatures are getting scarce1 and the   

stuff they are made of is so good that  
if there were more of it we might  see a
 few men among us again and fewer       
mollusks4 ,lately we have seen  few men 
with backbone2 the most have been of the
 jelly-fish order4 ,i  have lived in    
times in which ,i should have said1 ,be 
liberal1 and shake  off all narrowness3 
but now ,i am obliged to alter my tone  
and cry1 ,be  steadfast in the truth4   
,the faith once delivered to the saints 
is now  all the more attractive to me   
because it is called narrow1 for ,i am  
weary of that breadth which comes of    
broken hedges4 ,there are fixed  points 
of truth1 and definite certainties of   
creed1 and woe to you if  you allow     
these stone walls to crumble down4 ,i   
fear me that the slothful  are a        
numerous band1 and that ages to come may
 have to deplore the  laxity which has  
been applauded by this negligent        
generation4    ,another fence which is  
too often neglected is that of godly    
habits  which had been formed3 the      

sluggard allows this wall to be broken  
down4  ,i will mention some valuable    
guards of life and character4 ,one is   
the  habit of secret prayer4 ,private   
prayer should be regularly offered1 at  
least in the morning and in the evening4
 ,we cannot do without set  seasons for 
drawing near to ,god4 ,to look into the 
face of man without  having first seen  
the face of ,god is very dangerous3 to  
go out into the  world without locking  
up the heart and giving ,god the key is 
to leave it  open to all sorts of       
spiritual vagrants4 ,at night1 again1 to
 go to your  rest as the swine roll into
 their sty1 without thanking ,god for   
the  mercies of the day1 is shameful4   
,the evening sacrifice should be        
devoutly offered as surely as we have   
enjoyed the evening fireside3 we  should
 thus put ourselves under the wings of  
the ,preserver of men4 ,it  may be said1
 ,we can pray at all times4 ,i know we  
can3 but ,i fear that  those who do not 
pray at stated hours seldom pray at all4

 ,those who pray  in season are the most
 likely persons to pray at all seasons4 
,spiritual  life does not care for a    
cast-iron regulation1 but since life    
casts  itself into some mould or other1 
,i would have you careful of its        
external habit as well as its internal  
power4 ,never allow great gaps in  the  
wall of your habitual private prayer4   
,i go a step farther2 ,i believe that   
there is a great guardian power  about  
family prayer1 and ,i feel greatly      
distressed because ,i know that  very   
many ,christian families neglect it4    
,romanism1 at one time1 could do        
nothing in ,england1 because it could   
offer nothing but the shadow of  what   
,christian men had already in substance4
 ,do you hear that bell  tinkling in the
 morning8 ,what is that for8 ,to go to  
church to pray4  ,indeed1 said the      
,puritan1 ,i have no need to go there to
 pray4 ,i have  had my children         
together1 and we have read a passage of 
,scripture1 and  prayed1 and sang the   

praises of ,god1 and we have a church in
 our house4  ,ah1 there goes that bell  
again in the evening4 ,what is that for8
 ,why1 it  is the vesper bell4 ,the good
 man answered that he had no need to    
trudge  a mile or two for that1 for his 
holy vespers had been said and sung     
around his own table1 of which the big  
,bible was the chief ornament4  ,they   
told him that there could be no service 
without a priest1 but he  replied that  
every godly man should be a priest in   
his own house4 ,thus  have the saints   
defied the overtures of priestcraft1 and
 kept the faith  from generation to     
generation4 ,household devotion and the 
pulpit are1  under ,god1 the stone walls
 of ,protestantism1 and my prayer is    
that these  may not be broken down4     
,another fence to protect piety is found
 in week-night services4 ,i  notice that
 when people forsake week-night meetings
 the power of their  religion           
evaporates4 ,i do not speak of those    
lawfully detained to watch  the sick1   

and attend to farm-work and other       
business1 or as domestic  servants and  
the like2 there are exceptions to all   
rules3 but ,i mean  those who could     
attend if they had a mind to do so4     
,when people say1 ,it  is quite enough  
for me to be wearied with the sermons of
 the ,sunday2 ,i  do not want to go out 
to prayer-meetings1 and lectures1 and so
  forth1--then it is clear that they    
have no appetite for the word2 and      
surely this is a bad sign4 ,if you have 
a bit of wall built to protect  the     
,sunday and then six times the distance 
left without a fence1 ,i  believe that  
,satan's cattle will get in and do no   
end of mischief4    ,take care1 also1 of
 the stone wall of ,bible reading1 and  
of speaking  often one to another       
concerning the things of ,god4          
,associate with the  godly1 and commune 
with ,god1 and you will thus1 by the    
blessing of ,god's  ,spirit1 keep up a  
good fence against temptations1 which   
otherwise will  get into the fields of  

your soul1 and devour all goodly fruits4
    ,many have found much protection for
 the field of daily life in the stone   
wall of a public profession of faith4 ,i
 am speaking to you who are  real       
believers1 and ,i know that you have    
often found it a great  safeguard to be 
known and recognized as a follower of   
,jesus4 ,i have  never regretted--and ,i
 never shall regret--the day on which ,i
 walked to  the little river ,lark1 in  
,cambridgeshire1 and was there buried   
with  ,christ in baptism4 ,in this ,i   
acted contrary to the opinions of all my
  friends whom ,i respected and         
esteemed1 but as ,i had read the ,greek 
,testament for myself1 ,i felt bound to 
be immersed upon the profession of  my  
faith1 and ,i was so4 ,by that act ,i   
said to the world1 ,i am dead to  you1  
and buried to you in ,christ1 and ,i    
hope henceforth to live in  newness of  
life4 ,that day1 by ,god's grace1 ,i    
imitated the tactics of  the general who
 meant to fight the enemy till he       

conquered1 and  therefore he burned his 
boats that there might be no way of     
retreat4 ,i  believe that a solemn      
confession of ,christ before men is as a
 thorn  hedge to keep one within bounds1
 and to keep off those who hope to draw 
you aside4 ,of course it is nothing but 
a hedge1 and it is of no use to  fence  
in a field of weeds1 but when wheat is  
growing a hedge is of great             
consequence4 ,you who imagine that you  
can be the ,lord's1 and yet lie  open   
like a common1 are under a great error2 
you ought to be  distinguished from the 
world1 and obey the voice which saith1  
,come ye  out from among them1 be ye    
separate4 ,the promise of salvation is  
to the  man who with his heart believeth
 and with his mouth confesseth4 ,say    
right boldly1 ,let others do as they    
will2 as for me and my house1 we  will  
serve the ,lord4 ,by this act you come  
out into the king's highway1  and put   
yourself under the protection of the    
,lord of pilgrims1 and he  will take    

care of you4 ,oftentimes1 when otherwise
 you might have  hesitated1 you will    
say1 ,the vows of the ,lord are upon me3
 how can ,i  draw back8 ,i pray you1    
then1 set up the stone wall1 and keep it
 up1 and  if it has at any corner been  
tumbled over1 set it up again1 and let  
it  be seen by your conduct and         
conversation that you are a follower of 
,jesus1 and are not ashamed to have it  
known4    ,keep to your religious       
principles like men1 and do not turn    
aside for  the sake of gain1 or         
respectability4 ,do not let wealth break
 down your  wall1 for ,i have known some
 make a great gap to let their carriage 
go  through1 and to let in wealthy      
worldlings for the sake of their        
society4  ,those who forsake their      
principles to please men will in the end
 be  lightly esteemed1 but he who is    
faithful shall have the honor which     
cometh from ,god4 ,look well to this    
hedge of steadfast adherence to the     
faith1 and you shall find a great       

blessing in it4    ,there is yet another
 stone wall which ,i will mention1      
namely1 firmness  of character4 ,our    
holy faith teaches a man to be decided  
in the cause  of ,christ1 and to be     
resolute in getting rid of evil habits4 
,if thine  eye offend thee--wear a      
shade8 ,no2 pluck it out4 ,if thine arm 
offend  thee--hang it in a sling8 ,no2  
cut it off and cast it from thee4 ,true 
religion is very thorough in what it    
recommends4 ,it says to us1 ,touch  not 
the unclean thing4 ,but many persons are
 so idle in the ways of ,god  that they 
have no mind of their own3 evil         
companions tempt them1 and  they cannot 
say1 ,no4 ,they need a stone wall made  
up of noes4 ,here are  the stones no1   
no1 ,,no4 ,dare to be singular4 ,resolve
 to keep close to  ,christ4 ,make a     
stern determination to permit nothing in
 your life1  however gainful or         
pleasurable1 if it would dishonor the   
name of ,jesus4  ,be dogmatically true1 
obstinately holy1 immovably honest1     

desperately  kind1 fixedly upright4 ,if 
,god's grace sets up this hedge around  
you1  even ,satan will feel that he     
cannot get in1 and will complain to ,god
  hast thou not set a hedge about him8  
,i have kept you long enough looking    
over the wall1 let me invite you in1    
and for a few minutes let us ,,consider 
,,the ,,consequences ,,of ,a            
,,broken-,,down  ,,fence4    ,to make   
short work of it1 first1 the boundary   
has gone4 ,those lines of  separation   
which were kept up by the good          
principles which were  instilled in him 
by religious habits1 by a bold          
profession and by a firm  resolve1 have 
vanished1 and now the question is1 ,is  
he a ,christian1 or  is he not8 ,the    
fence is so far gone that he does not   
know which is his  ,lord's property and 
which remains an open common3 in fact1  
he does not  know whether he himself is 
included in the ,royal domain or left to
 be  mere waste of the world's manor4   
,this is for want of keeping up the     

fences4 ,if that man had lived near to  
,god1 if he had walked in his           
integrity1 if the ,spirit of ,god had   
richly rested on him in all holy  living
 and waiting upon ,god1 he would have   
known where the boundary was1  and he   
would have seen whether his land lay in 
the parish of ,all-saints1  or in the   
region called ,no-man's-land1 or in the 
district where ,satan is  the lord of   
the manor4 ,i heard of a dear old saint 
the other day who1  when she was near to
 death1 was attacked by ,satan1 and1    
waving her  finger at the enemy1 in her 
gentle way1 she routed him by saying1   
,chosen6 chosen6 chosen6 ,she knew that 
she was chosen1 and she  remembered the 
text1 ,the ,lord that hath chosen       
,jerusalem rebuke thee4  ,when the wall 
stands in its integrity all round the   
field1 we can resist  the devil by      
bidding him leave the ,lord's property  
alone4 ,begone6 ,look  somewhere else4  
,i belong to ,christ1 not to you4 ,to do
 this you must  mend the hedges well so 

that there shall be a clear boundary    
line1 and  you can say1 ,trespassers1   
beware6 ,do not yield an inch to the    
enemy1  but make the wall all the       
higher1 the more he seeks to enter4 ,o  
that  this adversary may never find a   
gap to enter by6    ,next1 when the wall
 has fallen1 the protection is gone4    
,when a man's  heart has its wall broken
 all his thoughts will go astray1 and   
wander  upon the mountains of vanity4   
,like sheep1 thoughts need careful      
folding1  or they will be off in no     
time4 ,i hate vain thoughts1 said       
,david1 but  slothful men are sure to   
have plenty of them1 for there is no    
keeping  your thoughts out of vanity    
unless you stop at every gap and shut   
every  gate4 ,holy thoughts1 comfortable
 meditations1 devout longings1 and      
gracious communings will be off and gone
 if we sluggishly allow the  stone wall 
to get out of repair4    ,nor is this   
all1 for as good things go out so bad   
things come in4 ,when  the wall is gone 

every passer-by sees1 as it were1 an    
invitation to  enter4 ,you have set     
before him an open door1 and in he      
comes4 ,are there  fruits8 ,he plucks   
them1 of course4 ,he walks about as it  
were a public  place1 and he pries      
everywhere4 ,is there any secret corner 
of your heart  which you will keep for  
,jesus8 ,satan or the world will walk   
in2 and do  you wonder8 ,every passing  
goat1 or roaming ox1 or stray ass visits
 the  growing crops and spoils more than
 he eats1 and who can blame the         
creature when the gaps are so wide8 ,all
 manner of evil lust and desires1  and  
imaginations prey upon an unfenced soul4
 ,it is of no use for you to  say1 ,lead
 us not into temptation4 ,god will hear 
your prayer1 and he  will not lead you  
there2 but you are leading yourself into
 it1 you are  tempting the devil to     
tempt you4 ,if you leave yourself open  
to evil  influences the ,spirit of ,god 
will be grieved1 and he may leave you to
  keep the result of your folly4 ,what  

think you1 friend8 ,had you not  better 
attend to your fences at once8    ,and  
then there is another evil1 for the land
 itself will go away4  ,no1 say you2 how
 can that be8 ,if a stone wall is broken
 down round a  farm in ,england a man   
does not thereby lose his land1 but in  
many parts  of ,palestine the land is   
all ups and downs on the sides of the   
hills1  and every bit of ground is      
terraced and kept up by walls4 ,when the
 walls  fall the soil slips over1       
terrace upon terrace1 and the vines and 
trees  go down with it2 then the rain   
comes and washes the soil away1 and     
nothing is left but barren crags which  
would starve a lark4 ,in the same       
manner a man may so neglect himself1 and
 so neglect the things of ,god1  and    
become so careless and indifferent about
 doctrine1 and about holy  living1 that 
his power to do good ceases1 and his    
mind1 his heart1 and  his energy seem to
 be gone4 ,the prophet said1 ,ephraim is
 a silly dove1  without heart3 there are

 flocks of such silly doves4 ,the man   
who  trifles with religion sports with  
his own soul1 and will soon degenerate  
into so much of a trifler that he will  
be averse to solemn thought1 and        
incapable of real usefulness4 ,i charge 
you1 dear friends1 to be sternly  true  
to yourselves and to your ,god4 ,stand  
to your principles in this  evil and    
wicked day4 ,now1 when everything seems 
to be turned into marsh  and mire and   
mud1 and religious thought appears to be
 silently sliding  and slipping along1  
descending like a stream of slime into  
the ,dead ,sea  of ,unbelief--get solid 
walls built around your life1 around    
your faith1  and around your character4 
,stand fast1 and having done all1 still 
stand4 ,may ,god the ,holy ,ghost cause 
you to be rooted and grounded1 built  up
 and established1 fixed and confirmed1  
never casting away your  confidence1    
which hath great recompense of reward4  
,lastly1 ,i want1 if ,i can1 ,,to ,,wake
 ,,up ,,the ,,sluggard4 ,i would like to

 throw  a handful of gravel up to his   
window4 ,it is time to get up1 for the  
sun  has drunk up all the dew4 ,he      
craves a little more sleep4 ,my dear    
fellow1 if you take a little more sleep1
 you will never wake at all till  you   
lift up your eyes in another world4     
,wake at once4 ,leap from your bed      
before you are smothered in it4 ,wake   
up6 ,do you not see where you are8  ,you
 have let things alone till your heart  
is covered with sins like  weeds4 ,you  
have neglected ,god and ,christ till you
 have grown worldly1  sinful1 careless1 
indifferent1 ungodly4 ,i mean some of   
you who were once  named with the sacred
 name4 ,you have become like worldlings1
 and are  almost as far from being what 
you ought to be as others who make no   
profession at all4 ,look at yourselves  
and see what has come of your  neglected
 walls4 ,then look at some of your      
fellow-,christians1 and mark  how       
diligent they are4 ,look at many among  
them who are poor and  illiterate1 and  

yet they are doing far more than you for
 the ,lord ,jesus4  ,in spite of your   
talents and opportunities1 you are an   
unprofitable  servant1 letting all      
things run to waste4 ,is it not time    
that you  bestirred yourself8 ,look1    
again1 at others who1 like yourself1    
went to  sleep1 meaning to wake in a    
little while4 ,what has become of them8 
,alas1  for those who have fallen into  
gross sin1 and dishonored their         
character1 and who have been put away   
from the church of ,god2 yet they  only 
went a little farther than you have     
done4 ,your state of heart is  much the 
same as theirs1 and if you should be    
tempted as they have been1  you will    
probably make shipwreck as they have    
done4 ,oh1 see to it1 you  that slumber1
 for an idle professor is ready for     
anything4 ,a slothful  professor's heart
 is tinder for the devil's tinderbox2   
does your heart  thus invite the sparks 
of temptation8    ,remember1 lastly1 the
 coming of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4    

,shall he come and  find you sleeping8  
,remember the judgment4 ,what will you  
say to excuse  yourself1 for            
opportunities lost1 time wasted1 and    
talents wrapped up in  a napkin1 when   
the ,lord shall come8    ,as for you1 my
 unconverted friend1 if you go dreaming 
through this  world1 without any sort of
 trouble1 and never look to the state of
 your  heart at all1 you will be a lost 
man beyond all question4 ,the slothful  
can have no hope1 for if the righteous  
scarcely are saved1 who strive  to serve
 their ,lord1 where will those appear   
who sleep on in defiance of  the calls  
of ,god8 ,salvation is wholly and alone 
of grace1 as you well  know2 but grace  
never works in men's minds toward       
slumbering and  indifference2 it tends  
toward energy1 activity1 fervor1        
importunity1  self-sacrifice4 ,god grant
 us the indwelling of his ,holy ,spirit1
 that all  things may be set in order1  
sins cut up by the roots within the     
heart1  and the whole man protected by  

sanctifying grace from the wasters which
  lurk around1 hoping to enter where the
 wall is low4 ,o ,lord1 remember us  in 
mercy1 fence us about by thy power1 and 
keep us from the sloth which  would     
expose us to evil1 for ,jesus' sake4    
,amen4          ,,frost ,,and ,,thaw4   
,he giveth snow like wool3 he scattereth
 the hoarfrost like ashes4 ,he  casteth 
forth his ice like morsels3 who can     
stand before his cold8 ,he  sendeth out 
his word1 and melteth them3 he causeth  
his wind to blow1 and  the waters       
flow4--,,psalm #adg3af-ah4              
,,looking out of our window one morning 
we saw the earth robed in a white       
mantle2 for in a few short hours the    
earth had been covered to a             
considerable depth with snow4 ,we looked
 out again in a few hours and saw  the  
fields as green as ever1 and the        
ploughed fields as bare as if no  single
 flake had fallen4 ,it is no uncommon   
thing for a heavy fall of  snow to be   
followed by a rapid thaw4    ,these     

interesting changes are wrought by ,god1
 not only with a purpose  toward the    
outward world1 but with some design     
toward the spiritual  realm4 ,god is    
always a teacher4 ,in every action that 
he performs he is  instructing his own  
children1 and opening up to them the    
road to inner  mysteries4 ,happy are    
those who find food for their           
heaven-born spirits1  as well as for    
their mental powers1 in the works of the
 ,lord's hand4    ,i shall ask your     
attention1 first1 to the operations of  
nature spoken  of in the text2 and1     
secondly1 to those operations of grace  
of which  they are the most fitting     
symbols4    ,i4 ,consider1 first1 ,,the 
,,operations ,,of ,,nature4 ,we shall   
not think a few  minutes wasted if we   
call your attention to the hand of ,god 
in frost and  thaw1 even upon natural   
grounds4    #a4 ,observe the directness 
of the ,lord's work4 ,i rejoice1 as ,i  
read  these words1 to find how present  
our ,god is in the world4 ,it is not    

written1 the laws of nature produce     
snow1 but ,,he giveth snow1 as  if every
 flake came directly from the palm of   
his hand4 ,we are not told  that certain
 natural regulations form moisture into 
hoarfrost2 no1 but  as ,moses took ashes
 of the furnace and scattered them upon 
,egypt1 so it  is said of the ,lord ,,he
 scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes4   
,it is  not said that the ,eternal has  
set the world going and by the operation
  of its machinery ice is produced4 ,oh1
 no1 but every single granule of  ice   
descending in the hail is from ,god2    
,,he casteth forth his ice like         
morsels4 ,even as the slinger distinctly
 sends the stone out of his  sling1 so  
the path of every hailstone is marked by
 the ,divine power4 ,the  ice is called1
 you observe1 his ice2 and in the next  
sentence we read  of his cold4 ,these   
words make nature strangely magnificent4
 ,when we  look upon every hailstone as 
,god's hail1 and upon every fragment of 
ice  as his ice1 how precious the watery

 diamonds become6 ,when we feel the     
cold nipping our limbs and penetrating  
through every garment1 it  consoles us  
to remember that it is his cold4 ,when  
the thaw comes1 see  how the text speaks
 of it3--he sendeth out his word4 ,he   
does not  leave it to certain forces of 
nature1 but like a king1 ,he sendeth out
  his word and melteth them3 he causeth 
,,his wind to blow4 ,he has a  special  
property in every wind2 whether it comes
 from the north to  freeze1 or from the 
south to melt1 it is his wind4 ,behold  
how in ,god's  temple everything        
speaketh of his glory4 ,learn to see the
 ,lord in all  scenes of the visible    
universe1 for truly he worketh all      
things4    ,this thought of the         
directness of the ,divine operations    
must be carried  into providence4 ,it   
will greatly comfort you if you can see 
,god's hand  in your losses and crosses2
 surely you will not murmur against the 
direct agency of your ,god4 ,this will  
put an extraordinary sweetness into     

daily mercies1 and make the comforts of 
life more comfortable still1  because   
they are from a ,father's hand4 ,if your
 table be scantily  furnished it shall  
suffice for your contented heart1 when  
you know that  your ,father spread it   
for you in wisdom and love4 ,this shall 
bless your  bread and your water2 this  
shall make the bare walls of an         
ill-furnished  room as resplendent as a 
palace1 and turn a hard bed into a couch
 of  down2--my ,father doth it all4 ,we 
see his smile of love even when others  
see nothing but the black hand of ,death
 smiting our best beloved4 ,we see  a   
,father's hand when the pestilence lays 
our cattle dead upon the plain4  ,we see
 ,god at work in mercy when we ourselves
 are stretched upon the bed  of         
languishing4 ,it is ever our ,father's  
act and deed4 ,do not let us get  beyond
 this2 but rather let us enlarge our    
view of this truth1 and  remember that  
this is true of the little as well as of
 the great4 ,let  the lines of a true   

poet strike you3--      ,if pestilence  
stalk through the land1 ye say the ,lord
 hath done it--       ,hath he not done 
it when an aphis creepeth upon the      
rosebud8       ,if an avalanche tumbles 
from its ,alp1 ye tremble at the will of
     ,providence--       ,is not that   
will as much concerned when the sere    
leaves fall from     the poplar8    ,let
 your hearts sing of everything1        
,jehovah-,shammah1 the ,lord is there4  
#b4 ,next1 ,i beg you to observe1 with  
thanksgiving1 the ease of ,divine       
working4 ,these verses read as if the   
making of frost and snow were the       
simplest matter in all the world4 ,a man
 puts his hand into a wool-pack  and    
throws out the wool2 ,god giveth snow as
 easily as that3 ,he giveth  snow like  
wool4 ,a man takes up a handful of      
ashes1 and throws them into  the air1 so
 that they fall around3 ,he scattereth  
the hoarfrost like  ashes4 ,rime and    
snow are marvels of nature3 those who   
have observed the  extraordinary beauty 

of the ice-crystals have been           
enraptured1 and yet  they are easily    
formed by the ,lord4 ,he casteth forth  
his ice like  morsels--just as easily as
 we cast crumbs of bread outside the    
window  to the robins during wintry     
days4 ,when the rivers are hard frozen1 
and  the earth is held in iron chains1  
then the melting of the whole--how is   
that done8 ,not by kindling innumerable 
fires1 nor by sending electric  shocks  
from huge batteries through the interior
 of the earth--no2 ,he  sendeth forth   
his word1 and melteth them2 he causeth  
his wind to blow1  and the waters flow4 
,the whole matter is accomplished with a
 word and a  breath4 ,if you and ,i had 
any great thing to do1 what puffing and 
panting1 what straining and tugging     
there would be3 even the great          
engineers1 who perform marvels by       
machinery1 make much noise and stir     
about it4 ,it is not so with the        
,almighty ,one4 ,our globe spins round  
in  four-and-twenty hours1 and yet it   

does not make so much noise as a        
humming-top2 and yonder ponderous worlds
 rolling in space track their  way in   
silence4 ,if ,i enter a factory ,i hear 
a deafening din1 or if ,i  stand near   
the village mill1 turned by water       
dropping over a wheel1  there is a      
never-ceasing click-clack1 or an undying
 hum2 but ,god's great  wheels revolve  
without noise or friction3 divine       
machinery works  smoothly4 ,this ease is
 seen in providence as well as in       
nature4 ,your  heavenly ,father is as   
able to deliver you as he is to melt the
 snow1 and  he will deliver you in as   
simple a manner if you rest upon him4   
,he  openeth his hand1 and supplies the 
want of every living thing as readily   
as he works in nature4 ,mark the ease of
 ,god's working--he does but open  his  
hand4    #c4 ,notice in the next place  
the variety of the ,divine operations in
  nature4 ,when the ,lord is at work    
with frost as his tool he creates snow1 
a wonderful production1 every crystal   

being a marvel of art2 but then he  is  
not content with snow--from the same    
water he makes another form of  beauty  
which we call hoarfrost1 and yet a third
 lustrous sparkling  substance1 namely  
glittering ice2 and all these by the one
 agency of  cold4 ,what a marvellous    
variety the educated eye can detect in  
the  several forms of frozen water6 ,the
 same ,god who solidified the flood     
with cold soon melts it with warmth2 but
 even in thaw there is no  monotony of  
manner3 at one time the joyous streams  
rush with such  impetuosity from their  
imprisonment that rivers are swollen and
 floods  cover the plain2 at another    
time by slow degrees1 in scanty         
driblets1  the drops regain their       
freedom4 ,the same variety is seen in   
every  department of nature4 ,so in     
providence the ,lord has a thousand     
forms of  frosty trials with which to   
try his people1 and he has ten thousand 
beams of mercy with which to cheer and  
comfort them4 ,he can afflict you  with 

the snow trial1 or with the hoarfrost   
trial1 or with the ice trial1  if he    
will2 and anon he can with his word     
relax the bonds of adversity1  and that 
in countless ways4 ,whereas men are tied
 to two or three methods  in            
accomplishing their will1 ,god is       
infinite in understanding and  worketh  
as he wills by ways unguessed of mortal 
mind4    #d4 ,i shall ask you also to   
consider the works of ,god in nature in 
their  swiftness4 ,it was thought a     
wonderful thing in the days of          
,ahasuerus  that letters were sent by   
post upon swift dromedaries4 ,in our    
country we  thought we had arrived at   
the age of miracles when the axles of   
our cars  glowed with speed1 and now    
that the telegraph is at work we stretch
 out  our hands into infinity2 but what 
is our rapidity compared with that of   
,god's operations8 ,well does the text  
say1 ,he sendeth forth his  commandment 
upon earth3 his word runneth very       
swiftly4 ,forth went the  word1 ,open   

the treasures of snow1 and the flakes   
descended in  innumerable multitudes2   
and then it was said1 ,let them be      
closed1 and  not another snow-feather   
was seen4 ,then spake the ,master1 ,let 
the south  wind blow and the snow be    
melted3 lo1 it disappeared at the voice 
of  his word4 ,believer1 you cannot tell
 how soon ,god may come to your help4   
,he rode upon a cherub and did fly1 says
 ,david2 yea1 he did fly upon  the wings
 of the wind4 ,he will come from above  
to rescue his beloved4  ,he will rend   
the heavens and come down2 with such    
speed will he descend1  that he will not
 stay to draw the curtains of heaven1   
but he will rend  them in his haste1 and
 make the mountains to flow down at his 
feet1 that  he may deliver those who cry
 unto him in the hour of trouble4 ,that 
mighty ,god who can melt the ice so     
speedily can take to himself the same   
eagle wings1 and haste to your          
deliverance4 ,arise1 ,o ,god6 and let   
thy  children be helped1 and that right 

early4    #e4 ,one other thought3       
consider the goodness of ,god in all the
  operations of nature and providence4  
,think of that goodness negatively4     
,who can stand before his cold8 ,you    
cannot help thinking of the poor in  a  
hard winter--only a hard heart can      
forget them when you see the snow  lying
 deep4 ,but suppose that snow continued 
to fall6 ,what is there to  hinder it8  
,the same ,god who sends us snow for one
 day could do the like  for fifty days  
if he pleased4 ,why not8 ,and when the  
frost pinches us so  severely1 why      
should it not be continued month after  
month8 ,we can only  thank the goodness 
which does not send ,his cold to such an
 extent that  our spirits expire4       
,travellers toward the ,north ,pole     
tremble as they  think of this question1
 ,who can stand before his cold8 ,for   
cold has a  degree of omnipotence in it 
when ,god is pleased to let it loose4   
,let us  thank ,god for the restraining 
mercy by which he holds the cold in     

check4    ,not only negatively1 but     
positively there is mercy in the snow4  
,is not  that a suggestive metaphor8 ,he
 giveth snow like wool4 ,the snow is    
said to warm the earth2 it protects     
those little plants which have just     
begun to peep above the ground1 and     
might otherwise be frost-bitten2 as     
with a garment of down the snow protects
 them from the extreme severity  of     
cold4 ,hence ,watts sings1 in his       
version of the hundred and              
forty-seventh ,psalm--      ,his flakes 
of snow like wool he sends1     ,and    
thus the springing corn defends4    ,it 
was an idea of the ancients that snow   
warmed the heart of the soil1  and gave 
it fertility1 and therefore they praised
 ,god for it4 ,certainly  there is much 
mercy in the frost1 for pestilence might
 run a far longer  race if it were not  
that the frost cries to it1 ,hitherto   
shalt thou  come1 but no farther4       
,noxious insects would multiply until   
they  devoured the precious fruits of   

the earth1 if sharp nights did not      
destroy millions of them1 so that these 
pests are swept off the earth4  ,though 
man may think himself a loser by the    
cold1 he is a great  ultimate gainer by 
the decree of ,providence which ordains 
winter4 ,the  quaint saying of one of   
the old writers that snow is wool1 and  
frost is  fire1 and ice is bread1 and   
rain is drink1 is true1 though it sounds
  like a paradox4 ,there is no doubt    
that frost in breaking up the soil      
promotes fruitfulness1 and so the ice   
becomes bread4 ,thus those  agencies1   
which for the moment deprive our workers
 of their means of  sustenance1 are the 
means by which ,god supplies every      
living thing4  ,mark1 then1 ,god's      
goodness as clearly in the snow and     
frost as in the  thaw which clears the  
winter's work away4    ,christian1      
remember the goodness of ,god in the    
frost of adversity4 ,rest  assured that 
when ,god is pleased to send out the    
biting winds of  affliction he is in    

them1 and he is always love1 as much    
love in sorrow  as when he breathes upon
 you the soft south wind of joy4 ,see   
the  lovingkindness of ,god in every    
work of his hand6 ,praise him--he maketh
  summer and winter--let your song go   
round the year6 ,praise him--he  giveth 
day and sendeth night--thank him at all 
hours6 ,cast not away your  confidence1 
it hath great recompense of reward4 ,as 
,david wove the snow1  and rain1 and    
stormy wind into a song1 even so combine
 your trials1 your  tribulations1 your  
difficulties and adversities into a     
sweet psalm of  praise and say          
perpetually--      ,let us1 with a      
gladsome mind1     ,praise the ,lord1   
for he is kind4    ,thus much upon the  
operations of nature4 ,it is a very     
tempting theme1  but other fields invite
 me4    ,,ii4 ,i would address you very 
earnestly and solemnly ,upon ,,those    
,,operations ,,of ,,grace1 ,,of ,,which 
,,frost ,,and ,,thaw ,,are ,,the        
,,outward ,,symbols4    ,there is a     

period with ,god's own people when he   
comes to deal with them  by the frost of
 the law4 ,the law is to the soul as the
 cutting north  wind4 ,faith can see    
love in it1 but the carnal eye of sense 
cannot4 ,it  is a cold1 terrible1       
comfortless blast4 ,to be exposed to the
 full force  of the law of ,god would be
 to be frost-bitten with everlasting    
destruction2 and even to feel it for a  
season would congeal the marrow  of     
one's bones1 and make one's whole being 
stiff with affright4 ,who can  stand    
before his cold8 ,when the law comes    
forth thundering from its  treasuries1  
who can stand before it8 ,the effect of 
law-work upon the  soul is to bind up   
the rivers of human delight4 ,no man can
 rejoice when  the terrors of conscience
 are upon him4 ,when the law of ,god is 
sweeping  through the soul1 music and   
dancing lose their joy1 the bowl forgets
 its  power to cheer1 and the           
enchantments of earth are broken4 ,the  
rivers of  pleasure freeze to icy       

despondency4 ,the buds of hope are      
suddenly  nipped1 and the soul finds no 
comfort4 ,it was satisfied once to grow 
rich1 but rust and canker are now upon  
all gold and silver4 ,every  promising  
hope is frost-bitten1 and the spirit is 
winter-bound in  despair4 ,this cold    
makes the sinner feel how ragged his    
garments are4 ,he  could strut about1   
when it was summer weather1 and think   
his rags right  royal robes1 but now the
 cold frost finds out every rent in his 
garment1  and in the hands of the       
terrible law he shivers like the leaves 
upon the  aspen4 ,the north wind of     
judgment searches the man through and   
through4  ,he did not know what was in  
him1 but now he sees his inward parts to
 be  filled with corruption and         
rottenness4 ,these are some of the      
terrors of  the wintry breath of the    
law4    ,this frost of law and terrors  
only tends to harden4 ,nothing splits   
the  rock or makes the cliff tumble like
 frost when succeeded by thaw1 but      

frost alone makes the earth like a mass 
of iron1 breaking the  ploughshare which
 would seek to pierce it4 ,a sinner     
under the influence  of the law of ,god1
 apart from the gospel1 is hardened by  
despair1 and  cries1 ,there is no hope1 
and therefore after my lusts will ,i go4
  ,whereas there is no heaven for me    
after this life1 ,i will make a heaven  
out of this earth2 and since hell awaits
 me1 ,i will at least enjoy such  sweets
 as sin may afford me here4 ,this is not
 the fault of the law2 the  blame lies  
with the corrupt heart which is hardened
 by it2 yet1  nevertheless1 such is its 
effect4    ,when the ,lord has wrought  
by the frost of the law1 he sends the   
thaw of  the gospel4 ,when the south    
wind blows from the land of promise1    
bringing precious remembrances of ,god's
 fatherly pity and tender               
lovingkindness1 then straightway the    
heart begins to soften and a sense  of  
blood-bought pardon speedily dissolves  
it4 ,the eyes fill with tears1  the     

heart melts in tenderness1 rivers of    
pleasure flow freely1 and buds  of hope 
open in the cheerful air4 ,a heavenly   
spring whispers to the  flowers that    
were sleeping in the cold earth2 they   
hear its voice1 and  lift up their      
heads1 for the rain is over and gone2   
the flowers appear  on the earth1 the   
time of the singing of birds is come1   
and the voice of  the turtle is heard in
 our land4 ,god sendeth his ,word1      
saying1 ,thy  warfare is accomplished1  
and thy sin is pardoned2 and when that  
blessedly cheering word comes with power
 to the soul1 and the sweet  breath of  
the ,holy ,spirit acts like the warm    
south wind upon the heart1  then the    
waters flow1 and the mind is filled with
 holy joy1 and light1  and liberty4     
,the legal wintry state is gone1        
,the frosts are fled1 the spring comes  
on1     ,the sacred turtle-dove we hear 
,proclaim the new1 the joyful year4     
,having shown you that there is a       
parallel between frost and thaw in      

nature and law and gospel in grace1 ,i  
would utter the same thoughts           
concerning grace which ,i gave you      
concerning nature4    #a4 ,we began with
 the directness of ,god's works in      
nature4 ,now1 beloved  friends1 remark  
the directness of ,god's works in grace4
 ,when the heart  is truly affected by  
the law of ,god1 when sin is made to    
appear  exceeding sinful1 when carnal   
hopes are frozen to death by the law1   
when  the soul is made to feel its      
barrenness and utter death and          
ruin--this  is the finger of ,god4 ,do  
not speak of the minister4 ,it was well 
that he  preached earnestly3 ,god has   
used him as an instrument1 but ,god     
worketh  all4 ,when the thaw of grace   
comes1 ,i pray you discern the distinct 
hand  of ,god in every beam of comfort  
which gladdens the troubled conscience1 
for it is the ,lord alone who bindeth up
 the broken in heart and healeth  all   
their wounds4 ,we are far too apt to    
stop in instrumentalities4 ,folly  makes

 men look to sacraments for             
heart-breaking or heart-healing1 but    
sacraments all say1 ,it is not in us4   
,some of you look to the preaching  of  
the ,word1 and look no higher2 but all  
true preachers will tell you1  ,it is   
not in us4 ,eloquence and earnestness at
 their highest pitch can  neither break 
nor heal a heart4 ,this is ,god's work4 
,ay1 and not ,god's  secondary work in  
the sense in which the philosopher      
admits that ,god is  in the laws of     
nature1 but ,god's personal and         
immediate work4 ,he putteth  forth his  
own hand when the conscience is humbled1
 and it is by his own  right hand that  
the conscience is eased and cleansed4   
,i desire that this thought may abide   
upon your minds1 for you will not       
praise ,god else1 nor will you be sound 
in doctrine4 ,all departures from  sound
 doctrine on the point of conversion    
arise from forgetfulness that  it is a  
divine work from first to last2 that the
 faintest desire after  ,christ is as   

much the work of ,god as the gift of his
 dear ,son2 and that  our whole         
spiritual history through1 from the     
,alpha to the ,omega1 the  ,holy ,spirit
 works in us to will and to do of his   
own good pleasure4 ,as  you have        
evidently seen the finger of ,god in    
casting forth his ice and  in sending   
thaw1 so ,i pray you recognize the      
handiwork of ,god in giving  you a sense
 of sin1 and in bringing you to the     
,saviour's feet4 ,join  together in     
heartily praising the wonder-working    
,god1 who doeth all  things according to
 the counsel of his will4               
,our seeking thy face              ,was 
all of thy grace1    ,thy mercy demands1
 and shall have all the praise3         
,no sinner can be                       
,beforehand with thee1    ,thy grace is 
preventing1 almighty and free4    #b4   
,the second thought upon nature was the 
ease with which the ,lord  worked4      
,there was no effort or disturbance4    
,transfer that to the work  of grace4   

,how easy it is for ,god to send        
law-work into the soul6 ,you  stubborn  
sinner1 you cannot touch him1 and even  
providence has failed  to awaken him4   
,he is dead--altogether dead in         
trespasses and sins4 ,but  if the       
glorious ,lord will graciously send     
forth the wind of his ,spirit1  that    
will melt him4 ,the swearing reprobate1 
whose mouth is blackened  with          
profanity1 if the ,lord doth but look   
upon him and make bare his  arm of      
irresistible grace1 shall yet praise    
,god1 and bless his name1 and  live to  
his honor4 ,do not limit the ,holy ,one 
of ,israel4 ,persecuting ,saul  became  
loving ,paul1 and why should not that   
person be saved of whose  case you      
almost despair8 ,your husband may have  
many points which make  his case        
difficult1 but no case is desperate with
 ,god4 ,your son may have  offended both
 against heaven and against you1 but    
,god can save the most  hardened4 ,the  
sharpest frost of obstinate sin must    

yield to the thaw of  grace4 ,even huge 
icebergs of crime must melt in the      
,gulf-stream of  infinite love4    ,poor
 sinner1 ,i cannot leave this point     
without a word to you4 ,perhaps  the    
,master has sent the frost to you1 and  
you think it will never end4  ,let me   
encourage you to hope1 and yet more1 to 
pray for gracious  visitations4 ,miss   
,steele's verses will just suit your    
mournful yet  hopeful state4      ,stern
 winter throws his icy chains1          
,encircling nature round3    ,how bleak1
 how comfortless the plains1      ,late 
with gay verdure crown'd6      ,the sun 
withdraws his vital beams1      ,and    
light and warmth depart3    ,and1       
drooping lifeless1 nature seems      ,an
 emblem of my heart--      ,my heart1   
where mental winter reigns      ,in     
night's dark mantle clad1    ,confined  
in cold1 inactive chains2      ,how     
desolate and sad6      ,return1 ,o      
blissful sun1 and bring      ,thy       
soul-reviving ray2    ,this mental      

winter shall be spring1      ,this      
darkness cheerful day4    ,it is easy   
for ,god to deliver you4 ,he says1 ,i   
have blotted out like a  thick cloud thy
 transgressions4 ,i stood the other     
evening looking up at  a black cloud    
which was covering all the heavens1 and 
,i thought it would  surely rain2 ,i    
entered the house1 and when ,i came out 
again the sky was  all blue--the wind   
had driven the cloud away4 ,so may it be
 with your  soul4 ,it is an easy thing  
for the ,lord to put away sin from      
repenting  sinners4 ,all obstacles which
 hindered our pardon were removed by    
,jesus  when he died upon the tree1 and 
if you believe in him you will find that
  he has cast your sins into the depths 
of the sea4 ,if thou canst believe1  all
 things are possible to him that        
believeth4    #c4 ,the next thought     
concerning the ,lord's work in nature   
was the  variety of it4 ,frost produces 
a sort of trinity in unity--snow1       
hoarfrost1 ice2 and when the thaw comes 

its ways are many4 ,so it is with  ,god 
in the heart4 ,conviction comes not     
alike to all4 ,some convictions  fall as
 the snow from heaven3 you never hear   
the flakes descend1 they  alight so     
gently one upon the other4 ,there are   
soft-coming convictions2  they are felt1
 but we can scarcely tell when we began 
to feel them4 ,a  true work of          
repentance may be of the gentlest kind4 
,on the other hand1  the ,lord casteth  
forth his ice like morsels1 the         
hailstones rattle  against the window1  
and you think they will surely force    
their way into  the room1 and so to many
 persons convictions come beating down  
till they  remind you of hailstones4    
,there is variety4 ,it is as true a     
frost which  produces the noiseless snow
 as that which brings forth the terrible
  hail4 ,why should you want hailstones 
of terror8 ,be thankful that ,god has   
visited you1 but do not dictate to him  
the way of his working4    ,with regard 
to the gospel thaw4 ,if you may but be  

pardoned by ,jesus1 do  not stipulate as
 to the manner of his grace4 ,thaw is   
universal and  gradual1 but its         
commencement is not always discernible4 
,the chains of  winter are unloosed by  
degrees3 the surface ice and snow melt1 
and by  and by the warmth permeates the 
entire mass till every rock of ice gives
  way4 ,but while thaw is universal and 
visible in its effects you cannot  see  
the mighty power which is doing all     
this4 ,even so you must not  expect to  
discern the ,spirit of ,god4 ,you will  
find him gradually  operating upon the  
entire man1 enlightening the            
understanding1 freeing  the will1       
delivering the heart from fear1         
inspiring hope1 waking up the  whole    
spirit1 gradually and universally       
working upon the mind and  producing the
 manifest effects of comfort1 and hope1 
and peace2 but you  can no more see the 
,spirit of ,god than you can see the    
south wind4 ,the  effect of his power is
 to be felt1 and when you feel it1 do   

not marvel  if it be somewhat different 
from what others have experienced4      
,after  all1 there is a singular        
likeness in snow and hoarfrost and ice1 
and so  there is a remarkable sameness  
in the experience of all ,god's         
children2  but still there is a great   
variety in the inward operations of     
divine  grace4    #d4 ,we must next     
notice the rapidity of ,god's works1    
,his word runneth  very swiftly4 ,it did
 not take many days to get rid of the   
last snow4 ,a  contractor would take    
many a day to cart it away1 but ,god    
sendeth forth  his word1 and the snow   
and ice disappear at once4 ,so is it    
with the  soul3 the ,lord often works   
rapidly when he cheers the heart4 ,you  
may  have been a long time under the    
operation of his frosty law1 but there  
is no reason why you should be another  
hour under it4 ,if the ,spirit  enables 
you to trust in the finished work of    
,christ1 you may go out of  this house  
rejoicing that every sin is forgiven4   

,poor soul1 do not think  that the way  
from the horrible pit is to climb1 step 
by step1 to the  top4 ,oh no2 ,jesus can
 set your feet upon a rock ere the clock
 shall have  gone round the dial4 ,he   
can in an instant bring you from death  
to life1  from condemnation to          
justification4 ,to-day shall thou be    
with me in  ,paradise1 was spoken to a  
dying thief1 black and defiled with sin4
 ,only  believe in the atoning sacrifice
 of ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be   
saved4    #e4 ,our last thought upon the
 operation of ,god was his goodness in  
it  all4 ,what a blessing that ,god did 
not send us more law-work than he did6  
,who can stand before his cold8 ,oh6    
beloved1 when ,god has taken away  from 
man natural comfort1 and made him feel  
divine wrath in his soul1 it  is an     
awful thing4 ,speak of a haunted man2 no
 man need be haunted with a  worse ghost
 than the remembrance of his old sins4  
,the childish tale of  the sailor with  
the old man of the mountain on his back1

 who pressed him  more and more heavily1
 is more than realized in the history of
 the  troubled conscience4 ,if one sin  
do but leap on a man's back1 it will    
sink the sinner through every           
standing-place that he can possibly     
mount  upon2 he will go down1 down1     
under its weight1 till he sinks to the  
lowest depths of hell4 ,there is no     
place where sin can be borne till you   
get upon the ,rock of ,ages1 and even   
there the joy is not that you bear  it1 
but that ,jesus has borne it all for    
you4 ,the spirit would utterly  fail    
before the law1 if it had full sway4    
,thank ,god1 he stayeth his  rough wind 
in the day of his east wind4 ,at the    
same time1 how thankful  we may be1 that
 we ever felt the law-frost in our soul4
 ,the folly of  self-righteousness is   
killed by the winter of conviction4 ,we 
should  have been a thousand times more 
proud1 and foolish1 and worldly1 than we
  are1 if it had not been for the sharp 
frost with which the ,lord nipped  the  

growths of the flesh4    ,but how shall 
we thank him sufficiently for the thaw  
of his  lovingkindness8 ,how great the  
change which his mercy made in us as    
soon  as its beams had reached our soul6
 ,hardness vanished1 cold departed1     
warmth and love abounded1 and the       
life-floods leaped in their channels4   
,the ,lord visited us1 and we rose from 
our grave of despair1 even as the  seeds
 arise from the earth4 ,as the bulb of  
the crocus holds up its  golden cup to  
be filled with sunshine1 so did our     
new-born faith open  itself to the glory
 of the ,lord4 ,as the primrose peeps up
 from the sod  to gaze upon the sun1 so 
did our hope look forth for the promise1
 and  delight itself in the ,lord4      
,thank ,god that spring-tide has with   
many of  us matured into summer1 and    
winter has gone never to return4 ,we    
praise  the ,lord for this every day of 
our lives1 and we will praise him when  
time shall be no more in that sunny     
land--      ,where everlasting spring   

abides1      ,and never withering       
flowers4    ,a thread-like stream alone 
divides      ,that heavenly land from   
ours4    ,believe in the ,lord1 ye who  
shiver in the frost of the law1 and the 
thaw  of love shall soon bring you warm 
days of joy and peace4 ,so be it4       
,amen4          ,,the ,,corn ,,of       
,,wheat ,,dying ,,to ,,bring ,,forth    
,,fruit4    ,and ,jesus answered them1  
saying1 ,the hour is come1 that the ,son
 of man  should be glorified4 ,verily1  
verily1 ,i say unto you1 ,except a corn 
of  wheat fall into the ground and die1 
it abideth alone3 but if it die1 it     
bringeth forth much fruit4 ,he that     
loveth his life shall lose it3 and he   
that hateth his life in this world shall
 keep it unto life  eternal4--,,john    
#ab3bc-be4      ,,certain ,greeks       
desired to see ,jesus4 ,these were      
,gentiles and it was  remarkable that   
they should1 just at this time1 have    
sought an interview  with our ,lord4 ,i 
suppose that the words ,we would see    

,jesus did not  merely mean that they   
would like to look at him1 for that they
 could  have done in the public streets2
 but they would see him as we speak of  
seeing a person with whom we wish to    
hold a conversation4 ,they desired  to  
be introduced to him1 and to have a few 
words of instruction from  him4         
,these ,greeks were the advanced guard  
of that great multitude that no man  can
 number1 of all nations1 and people1 and
 tongues1 who are yet to come  to       
,christ4 ,the ,saviour would naturally  
feel a measure of joy at the  sight of  
them1 but he did not say much about it1 
for his mind was  absorbed just then    
with thoughts of his great sacrifice and
 its results2  yet he took so much      
notice of the coming of these ,gentiles 
to him that  it gave a color to the     
words which are here recorded by his    
servant  ,john4    ,i notice that the   
,saviour here displays his broad        
humanity1 and  announces himself as the 
,son of man4 ,he had done so before1 but

 here  with new intent4 ,he says1 ,the  
hour is come1 that the ,son of man      
should  be glorified4 ,not as the ,son  
of ,david does he here speak of himself1
  but as the ,son of man4 ,no longer    
does he make prominent the ,jewish  side
 of his mission1 though as a preacher he
 was not sent to save the  lost sheep of
 the house of ,israel2 but as the dying 
,saviour he speaks of  himself as one of
 the race1 not the ,son of ,abraham1 or 
of ,david1 but  the ,son of man3 as much
 brother to the ,gentile as to the ,jew4
 ,let us  never forget the broad        
humanity of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,in him   
all kindreds  of the earth are joined in
 one1 for he is not ashamed to bear the 
nature  of our universal manhood2 black 
and white1 prince and pauper1 sage and  
savage1 all see in his veins the one    
blood by which all men are  constituted 
one family4 ,as the ,son of man ,jesus  
is near akin to every  man that lives4  
,now1 too1 that the ,greeks were come1  
our ,lord speaks somewhat of his  glory 

as approaching4 ,the hour is come1 saith
 he1 that the ,son of  man should be    
glorified4 ,he does not say that the    
,son of man should be  crucified1 though
 that was true1 and the crucifixion must
 come before  the glorification2 but the
 sight of those first-fruits from among 
the  ,gentiles makes him dwell upon his 
glory4 ,though he remembers his death1  
he speaks rather of the glory which     
would grow out of his great  sacrifice4 
,remember1 brethren1 that ,christ is    
glorified in the souls  that he saves4  
,as a physician wins honor by those he  
heals1 so the  ,physician of souls gets 
glory out of those who come to him4     
,when these  devout ,greeks came1       
saying1 ,sirs1 we would see ,jesus1     
though a mere  desire to see him is only
 as the green blade1 yet he rejoiced in 
it as  the pledge of the harvest1 and he
 saw in it the dawn of the glory of his 
cross4    ,i think1 too1 that the coming
 of these ,greeks somewhat led the      
,saviour  to use the metaphor of the    

buried corn4 ,we are informed that wheat
 was  largely mixed up with ,grecian    
mysteries1 but that is of small         
importance4 ,it is more to the point    
that our ,saviour was then undergoing   
the process which would burst the       
,jewish husk in which1 if ,i may use    
such terms1 his human life had been     
enveloped4 ,i mean this3 aforetime  our 
,lord said that he was not sent save to 
the lost sheep of the house  of ,israel1
 and when the ,syrophenician woman      
pleaded for her daughter he  reminded   
her of the restricted character of his  
commission as a prophet  among men4     
,when he sent out the seventy1 he bade  
them not to go into the  cities of the  
,samaritans1 but to seek after the house
 of ,israel only4  ,now1 however1 that  
blessed corn of wheat is breaking       
through its outer  integument4 ,even    
before it is put into the ground to die 
the divine corn  of wheat begins to show
 its living power1 and the true ,christ 
is being  manifested4 ,the ,christ of   

,god1 though assuredly the ,son of      
,david1 was1  on the ,father's side1    
neither ,jew nor ,gentile1 but simply   
man2 and the  great sympathies of his   
heart were with all mankind4 ,he        
regarded all  whom he had chosen as his 
own brethren without distinction of sex1
 or  nation1 or the period of the       
world's history in which they should    
live2  and1 at the sight of these       
,greeks1 the true ,christ came forth and
  manifested himself to the world as he 
had not done before4 ,hence1  perhaps1  
the peculiar metaphor which we have now 
to explain4    ,in our text1 dear       
friends1 we have two things upon which  
,i will speak  briefly1 as ,i am helped 
of the ,spirit4 ,first1 we have profound
  doctrinal teaching1 and1 secondly1 we 
have practical moral principle4         
,first1 we have ,,profound ,,doctrinal  
,,teaching4    ,our ,saviour suggested  
to his thoughtful disciples a number of 
what might  be called doctrinal         
paradoxes4    ,first1 that1 glorious as 

he was1 he was yet to be glorified4 ,the
 hour  is come1 that the ,son of man    
should be glorified4 ,jesus was always  
glorious4 ,it was a glorious thing for  
the human person of the ,son of man  to 
be personally one with the ,godhead4    
,our ,lord ,jesus had also great  glory 
all the while he was on earth1 in the   
perfection of his moral  character4 ,the
 gracious end for which he came here was
 real glory to  him3 his condescending  
to be the ,saviour of men was a great   
glorification of his loving character4  
,his way of going about his  work--the  
way in which he consecrated himself to  
his ,father and was  always about his   
,father's business1 the way in which he 
put aside ,satan  with his              
blandishments1 and would not be bribed  
by all the kingdoms of  the world--all  
this was his glory4 ,i should not speak 
incorrectly if ,i  were to say that     
,christ was really as to his moral      
nature never more  glorious than when   
throughout his life on earth he was     

obscure1  despised1 rejected1 and yet   
the faithful servant of ,god1 and the   
ardent  lover of the sons of men4 ,the  
apostle says1 ,the ,word was made flesh1
  and dwelt among us1 and we beheld his 
glory1 the glory as of the only         
begotten of the ,father1 full of grace  
and truth1 in which he refers not  only 
to the transfiguration1 in which there  
were special glimpses of the  divine    
glory1 but to our ,lord's tabernacling  
among men in the common  walks of life4 
,saintly1 spiritual minds beheld the    
glory of his life1  the glory of grace  
and truth such as never before had been 
seen in any  of the sons of men4 ,but   
though he was thus1 to all intents and  
purposes1  already glorious1 ,jesus had 
yet to be glorified4 ,something more was
 to  be added to his personal honor4    
,remember1 then1 that when you have the 
clearest conceptions of your ,lord1     
there is still a glory to be added to   
all that you can see even with the word 
of ,god in your hands4 ,glorious  as the

 living ,son of man had been1 there was 
a further glory to come  upon him       
through his death1 his resurrection1 and
 his entrance within  the veil4 ,he was 
a glorious ,christ1 and yet he had to be
 glorified4    ,a second paradox is     
this--that his glory was to come to him 
through  shame4 ,he says1 ,the hour is  
come1 that the ,son of man should be    
glorified1 and then he speaks of his    
death4 ,the greatest fulness of our     
,lord's glory arises out of his emptying
 himself1 and becoming obedient  to     
death1 even the death of the cross4 ,it 
is his highest reputation that  he made 
himself of no reputation4 ,his crown    
derives new lustre from his  cross2 his 
ever living is rendered more honorable  
by the fact of his  dying unto sin once4
 ,those blessed cheeks would never have 
been so fair  as they are in the eyes of
 his chosen if they had not once been   
spat  upon4 ,those dear eyes had never  
had so overpowering a glance if they had
  not once been dimmed in the agonies of

 death for sinners4 ,his hands are  as  
gold rings set with the beryl1 but their
 brightest adornments are the  prints of
 the cruel nails4 ,as the ,son of ,god  
his glory was all his own  by nature1   
but as ,son of man his present splendor 
is due to the cross1  and to the        
ignominy which surrounded it when he    
bore our sins in his own  body4 ,we must
 never forget this1 and if ever we are  
tempted to merge  the crucified ,saviour
 in the coming ,king we should feel     
rebuked by the  fact that thus we should
 rob our ,lord of his highest honor4    
,whenever you  hear men speak lightly of
 the atonement stand up for it at once1 
for out  of this comes the main glory of
 your ,lord and ,master4 ,they say1 ,let
 him  come down from the cross1 and we  
will believe on him4 ,if he did so what 
would remain to be believed8 ,it is on  
the cross1 it is from the cross1  it is 
through the cross that ,jesus mounts to 
his throne1 and the ,son of  man has a  
special honor in heaven to-day because  

he was slain and has  redeemed us to    
,god by his blood4    ,the next paradox 
is this--,jesus must be alone or abide  
alone4 ,notice  the text as ,i read it3 
,except a corn of wheat fall into the   
ground and  die1 and so gets alone1 it  
abideth alone4 ,the ,son of man must be 
alone in the grave1 or he will be alone 
in heaven4 ,he must fall into the       
ground like the corn of wheat1 and be   
there in the loneliness of death1  or   
else he will abide alone4 ,this is a    
paradox readily enough explained2  our  
,lord ,jesus ,christ as the ,son of man1
 unless he had trodden the  winepress   
alone1 unless beneath the olives of     
,gethsemane he had wrestled  on the     
ground1 and as it were sunk into the    
ground until he died1 if he  had not    
been there alone1 and if on the cross he
 had not cried1 ,my ,god1  my ,god1 why 
hast thou forsaken me8 so that he felt  
quite deserted and  alone1 like the     
buried corn of wheat--could not have    
saved us4 ,if he had  not actually died 

he would as man have been alone forever3
 not without  the eternal ,father and   
the divine ,spirit1 not without the     
company of  angels2 but there had not   
been another man to keep him company4   
,our ,lord  ,jesus cannot bear to be    
alone4 ,a head without its members is a 
ghastly  sight1 crown it as you may4    
,know ye not that the church is his     
body1 the  fulness of him that filleth  
all in all8 ,without his people ,jesus  
would  have been a shepherd without     
sheep2 surely it is not a very honorable
  office to be a shepherd without a     
flock4    ,he would have been a husband 
without his spouse2 but he loves his    
bride  so well that for this purpose did
 he leave his ,father and become one    
flesh with her whom he had chosen4 ,he  
clave to her1 and died for her2  and had
 he not done so he would have been a    
bridegroom without a bride4  ,this could
 never be4 ,his heart is not of the kind
 that can enjoy a  selfish happiness    
which is shared by none4 ,if you have   

read ,solomon's  ,song1 where the heart 
of the ,bridegroom is revealed1 you will
 have seen  that he desires the company 
of his love1 his dove1 his undefiled4   
,his  delights were with the sons of    
men4 ,simon ,stylites on the top of a   
pillar is not ,jesus ,christ2 the hermit
 in his cave may mean well1 but he      
finds no warrant for his solitude in him
 whose cross he professes to  venerate4 
,jesus was the friend of men1 not       
avoiding them1 but seeking  the lost4   
,it was truly said of him1 ,this man    
receiveth sinners1 and  eateth with     
them4 ,he draws all men unto him1 and   
for this cause he was  lifted up from   
the earth4 ,yet must this great         
attractive man have been  alone in      
heaven if he had not been alone in      
,gethsemane1 alone before  ,pilate1     
alone when mocked by soldiers1 and alone
 upon the cross4 ,if this  precious     
grain of wheat had not descended into   
the dread loneliness of  death it had   
remained alone1 but since he died he    

bringeth forth much  fruit4    ,this    
brings us to the fourth paradox--,christ
 must die to give life4  ,except a corn 
of wheat fall into the ground and die1  
it abideth alone3  but if it die1 it    
bringeth forth much fruit3 ,jesus must  
die to give  life to others4 ,persons   
who do not think confound dying with    
non-existence1 and living with          
existence--very1 very different things4 
,the soul that sinneth it shall die3 it 
shall never go out of  existence1 but it
 shall die by being severed from ,god   
who is its life4  ,there are many men   
who exist1 and yet have not true life1  
and shall not  see life1 but the wrath  
of ,god abideth on them4 ,the grain of  
wheat  when it is put into the ground   
dies2 do we mean that it ceases to be8  
,not at all4 ,what is death8 ,it is the 
resolution of anything possessing  life 
into its primary elements4 ,with us it  
is the body parting from the  soul2 with
 a grain of wheat it is the dissolving  
of the elements which  made up the corn4

 ,our divine ,lord when put into the    
earth did not see  corruption1 but his  
soul was parted from his body for a     
while1 and thus  he died2 and unless he 
had literally and actually died he could
 not have  given life to any of us4     
,beloved friends1 this teaches us where 
the vital point of ,christianity  lies1 
,christ's death is the life of his      
teaching4 ,see here3 if  ,christ's      
preaching had been the essential point1 
or if his example had  been the vital   
point1 he could have brought forth fruit
 and multiplied  ,christians by his     
preaching1 and by his example4 ,but he  
declares that1  except he shall die1 he 
shall not bring forth fruit4 ,am ,i told
 that this  was because his death would 
be the completion of his example1 and   
the  seal of his preaching8 ,i admit    
that it was so1 but ,i can conceive that
  if our ,lord had rather continued to  
live on--if he had been here  constantly
 going up and down the world preaching  
and living as he did1  and if he had    

wrought miracles as he did1 and put     
forth that  mysterious1 attracting      
power1 which was always with him1 he    
might have  produced a marvellous number
 of disciples4 ,if his teaching and     
living  had been the way in which       
spiritual life could have been bestowed1
  without an atonement1 why did not the 
,saviour prolong his life on earth8     
,but the fact is that no man among us   
can know anything about spiritual  life 
except through the atonement4 ,there is 
no way by which we can come  to a       
knowledge of ,god except through the    
precious blood of ,jesus ,christ1  by   
which we have access to the ,father4    
,if1 as some tell us1 the ethical  part 
of ,christianity is much more to be     
thought of than its peculiar  doctrines1
 then1 why did ,jesus die at all8 ,the  
ethical might have been  brought out    
better by a long life of holiness4 ,he  
might have lived on  till now if he had 
chosen1 and still have preached1 and    
still have set  an example among the    

sons of men2 but he assures us that only
 by death  could he have brought forth  
fruit4 ,what1 not with all that holy    
living8  ,no4 ,what1 not by that        
matchless teaching8 ,no4 ,not one among 
us could  have been saved from eternal  
death except an expiation had been      
wrought  by ,jesus' sacrifice4 ,not one 
of us could have been quickened into    
spiritual life except ,christ himself   
had died and risen from the dead4       
,brethren1 all the spiritual life that  
there is in the world is the  result of 
,christ's death4 ,we live under a       
dispensation which shadows  forth this  
truth to us4 ,life first came into the  
world by a creation3  that was lost in  
the garden4 ,since then1 the father of  
our race is ,noah1  and life by ,noah   
came to us by a typical death1 burial1  
and  resurrection4 ,noah went in unto   
the ark1 and was shut in1 and so buried4
  ,in that ark ,noah went among the     
dead1 himself enveloped in the rain and 
in the ark1 and he came out into a new  

world1 rising again1 as it were1  when  
the waters were assuaged4 ,that is the  
way of life to-day4 ,we are  dead with  
,christ1 we are buried with ,christ1 we 
are risen with ,christ2  and there is no
 real spiritual life in this world      
except that which has  come to us by the
 process of death1 burial1 and          
resurrection with  ,christ4 ,do you know
 anything about this1 dear friends8--for
 if you do  not1 you know not the life  
of ,god4 ,you know the theory1 but do   
you know  the experimental power of this
 within your own spirit8 ,whenever we   
hear  the doctrine of the atonement     
attacked1 let us stand up for it4 ,let  
us  tell the world that while we value  
the life of ,christ even more than  they
 do1 we know that it is not the example 
of ,christ that saves  anybody1 but his 
death for our sakes4 ,if the blessed    
,christ had lived  here all these       
nineteen hundred years1 without sin1    
teaching all his  marvellous precepts   
with his own sublime and simple         

eloquence1 yet he  had not produced one 
single atom of spiritual life among all 
the sons of  men4 ,without dying he     
brings forth no fruit4 ,if you want     
life1 my dear  hearer1 you will not get 
it as an unregenerate man by attempting 
to  imitate the example of ,christ4 ,you
 may get good of a certain sort that    
way1 but you will never obtain spiritual
 life and eternal salvation by  that    
method4 ,you must believe on ,jesus as  
dying for you4 ,you have to  understand 
that the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 ,god's
 dear ,son1 cleanses us  from all sin4  
,when you have learned that truth1 you  
shall study his life  with advantage2   
but unless you recognize that the grain 
of wheat is cast  into the ground1 and  
made to die1 you will never realize any 
fruit from  it in your own soul1 or see 
fruit in the souls of others4    ,one   
other blessed lesson of deep divinity is
 to be learnt from our  text3 it is     
this--since ,jesus ,christ did really   
fall into the ground  and die1 we may   

expect much as the result of it4 ,if it 
die1 it  bringeth forth much fruit4     
,some have a little ,christ1 and they   
expect  to see little things come of    
him4 ,i have met with good people who   
appear  to think that ,jesus ,christ    
died for the sound people who worship at
 ,zoar  ,chapel1 and1 perhaps1 for a few
 more who go to ,ebenezer in a          
neighboring  town1 and they hope that   
one day a chosen few--a scanty company  
indeed  they are1 and they do their best
 by mutual quarrelling to make them     
fewer--will glorify ,god for the        
salvation of a very small remnant4 ,i   
will not blame these dear brethren1 but 
,i do wish that their hearts were       
enlarged4 ,we do not yet know all the   
fruit that is to come out of our  ,lord 
,jesus4 ,may there not come a day when  
the millions of ,london shall  worship  
,god with one consent8 ,i look for a day
 when the knowledge of the  glory of    
,god shall cover the earth as the waters
 cover the sea1 when  kings shall fall  

down before the ,son of ,god1 and all   
nations shall call  him blessed4 ,it is 
too much to expect1 says one2 missions  
make very  slow progress4 ,i know all   
that1 but missions are not the seed3 all
 that  we look for is to come out of    
that corn of wheat which fell into the  
ground and died3 this is to bring forth 
much fruit4 ,when ,i think of my        
,master's blessed person as perfect ,son
 of ,god and ,son of man2 when ,i  think
 of the infinite glory which he laid    
aside1 and of the unutterable  pangs he 
bore1 ,i ask whether angels can compute 
the value of the  sacrifice he offered4 
,god only knows the love of ,god that   
was manifested  in the death of his     
,son1 and do you think that there will  
be all this  planning and working and   
sacrifice of infinite love1 and then an 
insignificant result8 ,it is not like   
,god that it should be so4 ,the  travail
 of the ,son of ,god shall not bring    
forth a scanty good4 ,the  result shall 
be commensurate with the means1 and the 

effect shall be  parallel with the      
cause4 ,the ,lord shall reign for ever  
and ever4  ,hallelujah6 ,ay1 as the     
groanings of the cross must have        
astounded  angels1 so shall the results 
of the cross amaze the seraphim1 and    
make  them admire the excess of glory   
which has arisen from the shameful death
  of their ,lord4 ,o beloved1 great     
things are to come out of our ,jesus    
yet4  ,courage1 you that are dispirited4
 ,be brave1 you soldiers of the cross4  
,victory awaits your banner4 ,wait      
patiently1 work hopefully1 suffer       
joyfully1 for the kingdom is the        
,lord's1 and he is the governor among   
the nations4    ,thus have ,i spoken    
upon profound divinity4    ,i close with
 a few words upon ,,practical           
,,instruction4 ,learn now that what  is 
true of ,christ is in measure true of   
every child of ,god3 ,except a  corn of 
wheat fall into the ground and die1 it  
abideth alone3 but if it  die1 it       
bringeth forth much fruit4 ,this is so  

far applicable to us1 as  the next verse
 indicates--,he that loveth his life    
shall lose it2 and he  that hateth his  
life in this world shall keep it unto   
life eternal4    ,first1 we must die if 
we are to live4 ,there is no spiritual  
life for  you1 for me1 for any man1     
except by dying into it4 ,have you a    
fine-spun  righteousness of your own8   
,it must die4 ,have you any faith in    
yourself8  ,it must die4 ,the sentence  
of death must be in yourself1 and then  
you  shall enter into life4 ,the        
withering power of the ,spirit of ,god  
must be  experienced before his         
quickening influence can be known3 ,the 
grass  withereth1 the flower fadeth3    
because the spirit of the ,lord bloweth 
upon it4 ,you must be slain by the sword
 of the ,spirit before you can be  made 
alive by the breath of the ,spirit4     
,next1 we must surrender everything to  
keep it4 ,he that loveth his  life shall
 lose it4 ,brother1 you can never have  
spiritual life1 hope1  joy1 peace1      

heaven1 except by giving everything up  
into ,god's hands4 ,you  shall have     
everything in ,christ when you are      
willing to have nothing of  your own4   
,you must ground your weapons of        
rebellion1 you must drop the  plumes of 
your pride1 you must give up into ,god's
 hand all that you are  and all that you
 have2 and if you do not thus lose      
everything in will1  you shall lose     
everything in fact2 indeed1 you have    
lost it already4 ,a  full surrender of  
everything to ,god is the only way to   
keep it4 ,some of  ,god's people find   
this literally true4 ,i have known a    
mother keep back  her child from ,god1  
and the child has died4 ,wealthy people 
have  worshipped their wealth1 and as   
they were ,god's people1 he has broken  
their idols into shivers4 ,you must lose
 your all if you would keep it1  and    
renounce your most precious thing if you
 would have it preserved to  you4       
,next1 we must lose self in order to    
find self4 ,he that hateth his  life    

shall keep it unto life eternal4 ,you   
must entirely give up living  for       
yourself1 and then you yourself shall   
live4 ,the man who lives for  himself   
does not live2 he loses the essence1 the
 pleasure1 the crown of  existence2 but 
if you live for others and for ,god you 
will find the life  of life4 ,seek ye   
first the kingdom of ,god and his       
righteousness1 and  all these things    
shall be added unto you4 ,there is no   
way of finding  yourself in personal joy
 like losing yourself in the joy of     
others4    ,once more3 if you wish to be
 the means of life to others1 you must  
in  your measure die yourself4 ,oh1 say 
you1 will it actually come to  death8   
,well1 it may not1 but you should be    
prepared for it if it  should4 ,who have
 most largely blessed the present age8  
,i will tell you4  ,i believe we owe our
 gospel liberties mainly to the poor men
 and women  who died at the stake for   
the faith4 ,call them ,lollards1        
,anabaptists1 or  what you will1 the men

 who died for it gave life to the holy  
cause4 ,some  of all ranks did this1    
from bishops downward to poor boys4     
,many of them  could not preach from the
 pulpit1 but they preached grander      
sermons from  the fagots than all the   
reformers could thunder from their      
rostrums4  ,they fell into the ground   
and died1 and the much fruit abides to  
this  day4 ,the self-sacrificing death  
of her saints was the life and increase 
of the church4 ,if we wish to achieve a 
great purpose1 establish a great  truth1
 and raise up a great agency for good1  
it must be by the surrender  of         
ourselves1 yea1 of our very lives to the
 one all-absorbing purpose4  ,not else  
can we succeed4 ,there is no giving out 
to others1 without  taking so much out  
of yourself4 ,he who serves ,god and    
finds that it is  easy work will find it
 hard work to give in his account at the
 last4 ,a  sermon that costs nothing is 
worth nothing2 if it did not come from  
the  heart it will not go to the heart4 

,take it as a rule that wear and tear   
must go on1 even to exhaustion1 if we   
are to be largely useful4 ,death        
precedes growth4 ,the ,saviour of others
 cannot save himself4 ,we must not1     
therefore1 grudge the lives of those who
 die under the evil climate of  ,africa1
 if they die for ,christ2 nor must we   
murmur if here and there  ,god's best   
servants are cut down by brain          
exhaustion3 it is the law of  divine    
husbandry that by death cometh increase4
    ,and you1 dear friend1 must not say1
 ,oh1 ,i cannot longer teach in the     
,sunday-school3 ,i work so hard all the 
week that ,i--,i--,i--shall ,i finish   
the sentence for you8 ,you work so hard 
for yourself all the week that  you     
cannot work for ,god one day in the     
week4 ,is that it8 ,no1 not quite  so1  
but ,i am so fagged4 ,very true1 but    
think of your ,lord4 ,he knew what      
weariness was for you1 and yet he       
wearied not in well-doing4 ,you will    
never come to sweat of blood as he did4 

,come1 dear friend1 will you be a  corn 
of wheat laid up on the shelf alone8    
,will you be like that wheat in  the    
mummy's hand1 unfruitful and forgotten1 
or would you grow8 ,i hear  you say1    
,sow me somewhere4 ,i will try to do so4
 ,let me drop you into  the             
,sunday-school field1 or into the       
,tract-lending acre1 or into the        
,street-preaching parcel of land4 ,but  
if ,i make any great exertion it  will  
half kill me4 ,yes2 and if it shall     
quite kill1 you will then prove  the    
text1 ,if it die1 it bringeth forth much
 fruit4 ,those who have  killed         
themselves of late in our ,lord's       
service are not so numerous that  we    
need be distressed by the fear that an  
enormous sacrifice of life is  likely to
 occur4 ,little cause is there just now 
to repress fanaticism1  but far more    
reason to denounce self-seeking4 ,o1 my 
brethren1 let us  rise to a condition of
 consecration more worthy of our ,lord  
and of his  glorious cause1 and         

henceforth may we be eager to be as the 
buried1  hidden1 dying1 yet             
fruit-bearing wheat for the glory of our
 ,lord4 ,thus  have ,i merely glanced at
 the text2 another day may it be our    
privilege  to dive into its depths4     
,,the ,,ploughman4    ,doth the         
ploughman plough all day to             
sow8--,,isaiah #bh3bd4      ,,unless    
they are cultivated1 fields yield us    
nothing but briers and  thistles4 ,in   
this we may see ourselves4 ,unless the  
great ,husbandman  shall till us by his 
grace1 we shall produce nothing that is 
good1 but  everything that is evil4 ,if 
one of these days ,i shall hear that a  
country has been discovered where wheat 
grows without the work of the  farmer1  
,i may then1 perhaps1 hope to find one  
of our race who will bring  forth       
holiness without the grace of ,god4     
,hitherto all land on which the  foot of
 man has trodden has needed labor and   
care2 and even so among men  the need of
 gracious tillage is universal4 ,jesus  

says to all of us1 ,ye  must be born    
again4 ,unless ,god the ,holy ,spirit   
breaks up the heart with  the plough of 
the law1 and sows it with the seed of   
the gospel1 not a  single ear of        
holiness will any of us produce1 even   
though we may be  children of godly     
parents1 and may be regarded as         
excellent moral people  by those with   
whom we live4    ,yes1 and the plough is
 needed not only to produce that which  
is good1  but to destroy that which is  
evil4 ,there are diseases which1 in the 
course of ages1 wear themselves out1 and
 do not appear again among men2  and    
there may be forms of vice1 which under 
changed circumstances1 do  not so much  
abound as they used to do2 but human    
nature will always  remain the same1 and
 therefore there will always be         
plentiful crops of  the weeds of sin in 
man's fields1 and nothing can keep these
 under but  spiritual husbandry1 carried
 on by the ,spirit of ,god4 ,you cannot 
destroy  weeds by exhortations1 nor can 

you tear out the roots of sin from the  
soul by moral suasion2 something sharper
 and more effectual must be  brought to 
bear upon them4 ,god must put his own   
right hand to the  plough1 or the       
hemlock of sin will never give place to 
the corn of  holiness4 ,good is never   
spontaneous in unrenewed humanity1 and  
evil is  never cut up till the          
ploughshare of almighty grace is driven 
through  it4    ,the text leads our     
thoughts in this direction1 and gives us
 practical  guidance through asking the 
simple question1 ,doth the ploughman    
plough  all day to sow8 ,this question  
may be answered in the affirmative1     
,yes1 in the proper season he does      
plough all day to sow2 and1  secondly1  
this text may more properly be answered 
in the negative1  ,no1 the ploughman    
does not plough every day to sow2 he has
 other work  to do according to the     
season4    ,i4 ,first1 our text may be  
,,answered ,,in ,,the                   
,,affirmative--,yes1 the  ploughman does

 plough all day to sow4    ,when it is  
ploughing time he keeps on at it till   
his work is done2 if it  requires one   
day1 or two days1 or twenty days to     
finish his fields1 he  continues at his 
task while the weather permits4 ,the    
perseverance of the  ploughman is       
instructive1 and it teaches us a double 
lesson4 ,when the  ,lord comes to plough
 the heart of man he ploughs all day1   
and herein is  his patience2 and1       
secondly1 so ought the ,lord's servants 
to labor all  day with men's hearts1 and
 herein is our perseverance4    ,doth   
the ploughman plough all day8 ,so doth  
,god plough the heart of  man1 and      
herein is his patience4 ,the team was in
 the field in the case  of some of us   
very early in the morning1 for our first
 recollections  have to do with         
conscience and the furrows of pain which
 it made in our  youthful mind4 ,when we
 were little children we woke in the    
night under a  sense of sin2 our        
father's teaching and our mother's      

prayers made deep  and painful          
impressions upon us1 and though we did  
not then yield our  hearts to ,god1 we  
were greatly stirred1 and all           
indifference to religion  was made      
impossible4 ,when we were boys at school
 the reading of a  chapter in the ,word 
of ,god1 or the death of a playmate1 or 
an address at  a ,bible-class1 or a     
solemn sermon1 so affected us that we   
were uneasy  for weeks4 ,the strivings  
of the ,spirit of ,god within urged us  
to think  of higher and better things4  
,though we quenched the ,spirit1 though 
we  stifled conviction1 yet we bore the 
marks of the ploughshare2 furrows  were 
made in the soul1 and certain foul weeds
 of evil were cut up by the  roots      
although no seed of grace was as yet    
sown in our hearts4 ,some have          
continued in this state for many years1 
ploughed but not sown2 but1  blessed be 
,god1 it was not so with others of us2  
for we had not left  boyhood before the 
good seed of the gospel fell upon our   

heart4 ,alas6  there are many who do not
 thus yield to grace1 and with them the 
ploughman ploughs all day to sow4 ,i    
have seen the young man coming to       
,london in his youth1 yielding to its   
temptations1 drinking in its  poisoned  
sweets1 violating his conscience1 and   
yet continuing unhappy in  it all1      
fearful1 unrestful1 stirred about even  
as the soil is agitated  by the plough4 
,in how many cases has this kind of work
 gone on for  years1 and all to no      
avail4 ,ah6 and ,i have known the man   
come to middle  life1 and still he has  
not received the good seed1 neither has 
the  ground of his hard heart been      
thoroughly broken up4 ,he has gone on in
  business without ,god2 day after day  
he has risen and gone to bed again  with
 no more religion than his horses3 and  
yet all this while there have  been     
ringing in his ears warnings of judgment
 to come1 and chidings of  conscience1  
so that he has not been at peace4 ,after
 a powerful sermon he  has not enjoyed  

his meals1 or been able to sleep1 for he
 has asked  himself1 ,what shall ,i do  
in the end thereof8 ,the ploughman has  
ploughed all day1 till the evening      
shadows have lengthened and the day  has
 faded to a close4 ,what a mercy it is  
when the furrows are at last  made ready
 and the good seed is cast in1 to be    
received1 nurtured1 and  multiplied a   
hundred fold4    ,it is mournful to     
remember that we have seen this         
ploughing continue  till the sun has    
touched the horizon and the night dews  
have begun to  fall4 ,even then the     
long-suffering ,god has followed up his 
work--ploughing1 ploughing1 ploughing1  
ploughing1 till darkness ended  all4 ,do
 ,i address any aged ones whose lease   
must soon run out8 ,i would             
affectionately beseech them to consider 
their position4 ,what6 ,threescore      
years old and yet unsaved8 ,forty years 
did ,god suffer the manners of  ,israel 
in the wilderness1 but he has borne with
 you for sixty years4  ,seventy years   

old1 and yet unregenerated6 ,ah1 my     
friend1 you will have  but little time  
in which to serve your ,saviour before  
you go to heaven4  ,but will you go     
there at all8 ,is it not growing        
dreadfully likely that  you will die in 
your sins and perish for ever8 ,how     
happy are those who  are brought to     
,christ in early life2 but still        
remember--      ,while the lamp holds   
out to burn1     ,the vilest sinner may 
return4    ,it is late1 it is very late1
 but is not too late4 ,the ploughman    
ploughs  all day2 and the ,lord waits   
that he may be gracious unto you4 ,i    
have  seen many aged persons converted1 
and therefore ,i would encourage other  
old folks to believe in ,jesus4 ,i once 
read a sermon in which a minister       
asserted that he had seldom known any   
converted who were over forty  years of 
age if they had been hearers of the     
gospel all their lives4  ,there is      
certainly much need to caution those who
 are guilty of delay1  but there must be

 no manufacturing of facts4 ,whatever   
that minister  might think1 or even     
observe1 my own observation leads me to 
believe  that about as many people are  
converted to ,god at one age as at      
another1  taking into consideration the 
fact that the young are much more       
numerous  than the old4 ,it is a        
dreadful thing to have remained an      
unbeliever all  these years2 but yet the
 grace of ,god does not stop short at a 
certain  age2 those who enter the       
vineyard at the eleventh hour shall have
 their  penny1 and grace shall be       
glorified in the old as well as in the  
young4  ,come along1 old friend1 ,jesus 
,christ invites you to come to him even 
now1 though you have stood out so long4 
,you have been a sadly tough  piece of  
ground1 and the ploughman has ploughed  
all day2 but if at last  the sods are   
turned1 and the heart is lying in       
ridges1 there is hope of  you yet4      
,doth the ploughman plough all day8 ,i  
answer--,yes1 however long the day  may 

be1 ,god in mercy ploughs still1 he is  
long-suffering1 and full of  tenderness 
and mercy and grace4 ,do not spurn such 
patience1 but yield to  the ,lord who   
has acted toward you with so much gentle
 love4    ,the text1 however1 not only  
sets forth patience on ,god's part1 but 
it  teaches perseverance on our part4   
,doth the ploughman plough all day8     
,yes1 he does2 then if ,i am seeking    
,christ1 ought ,i to be discouraged     
because ,i do not immediately find him8 
,the promise is1 ,he that asketh1       
receiveth2 and he that seeketh findeth2 
and to him that knocketh it  shall be   
opened4 ,there may be reasons why the   
door is not opened at our  first knock4 
,what then8 ,doth the ploughman plough  
all day8 ,then will ,i  knock all day4  
,it may be at the first seeking ,i may  
not find2 what then8  ,doth the         
ploughman plough all day8 ,then will ,i 
seek all day4 ,it may  happen that at my
 first asking ,i shall not receive2 what
 then8 ,doth the  ploughman plough all  

day8 ,then will ,i ask all day8         
,friends1 if you have  begun to seek the
 ,lord1 the short way is1 ,believe on   
the ,lord ,jesus  ,christ1 and thou     
shalt be saved4 ,do that at once4 ,in   
the name of ,god do  it at once1 and you
 are saved at once4 ,may the ,spirit of 
,god bring you  to faith in ,jesus1 and 
you are at once in the kingdom of       
,christ4 ,but if  peradventure in       
seeking the ,lord1 you are ignorant of  
this1 or do not  see your way1 never    
give up seeking2 get to the foot of the 
cross1 lay  hold of it1 and cry1 ,if ,i 
perish ,i will perish here4 ,lord1 ,i   
come to  thee in ,jesus ,christ for     
mercy1 and if thou art not pleased to   
look at  me immediately1 and forgive my 
sins1 ,i will cry to thee till thou     
dost4  ,when ,god's ,holy ,spirit brings
 a man to downright earnest prayer which
  will not take a denial1 he is not far 
from peace4 ,careless indifference  and 
shilly-shallying with ,god hold men in  
bondage4 ,they find peace when  their   

hearts are roused to strong resolve to  
seek until they find4 ,i  like to see   
men search the ,scriptures till they    
learn the way of  salvation1 and hear   
the gospel till their souls live by it4 
,if they are  resolved to drive the     
plough through doubts1 and fears1 and   
difficulties1 till they come to         
salvation1 they shall soon come to it by
  the grace of ,god4    ,the same is    
true in seeking the salvation of others4
 ,doth the ploughman  plough all day8   
,yes1 when it is ploughing-time4 ,then1 
so will ,i work  on1 and on1 and on4 ,i 
will pray and preach1 or pray and teach1
 however  long the day may be that ,god 
shall appoint me1 for--      ',tis all  
my business here below     ,the precious
 gospel seed to sow4    ,brother worker1
 are you getting a little weary8 ,never 
mind1 rouse  yourself1 and plough on for
 the love of ,jesus1 and dying men4 ,our
 day of  work has in it only the        
appointed hours1 and while they last let
 us  fulfil our task4 ,ploughing is hard

 work2 but as there will be no harvest  
without it1 let us just put forth all   
our strength1 and never flag till  we   
have performed our ,lord's will1 and by 
his holy ,spirit wrought  conviction in 
men's souls4 ,some soils are very stiff1
 and cling  together1 and the labor is  
heart-breaking2 others are like the     
unreclaimed waste1 full of roots and    
tangled bramble2 they need a steam      
plough1 and we must pray the ,lord to   
make us such1 for we cannot leave  them 
untilled1 and therefore we must put     
forth more strength that the  labor may 
be done4    ,i heard some time ago of a 
minister who called to see a poor man   
who was  dying1 but he was not able to  
gain admittance2 he called the next     
morning1 and some idle excuse was made  
so that he could not see him2 he  called
 again the next morning1 but he was     
still refused2 he went on till  he      
called twenty times in vain1 but on the 
twenty-first occasion he was  permitted 
to see the sufferer1 and by ,god's grace

 he saved a soul from  death4 ,why do   
you tell your child a thing twenty      
times8 asked some one  of a mother4     
,because1 said she1 ,i find nineteen    
times is not enough4  ,now1 when a soul 
is to be ploughed1 it may so happen that
 hundreds of  furrows will not do it4   
,what then8 ,why1 plough all day till   
the work is  done4 ,whether you are     
ministers1 missionaries1 teachers1 or   
private  soul-winners1 never grow weary1
 for your work is noble1 and the reward 
of it is infinite4 ,the grace of ,god is
 seen in our being permitted to  engage 
in such holy service2 it is greatly     
magnified in sustaining us in  it1 and  
it will be pre-eminently conspicuous in 
enabling us to hold out  till we can    
say1 ,i have finished the work which    
thou gavest me to do4    ,we prize that 
which costs us labor and service1 and we
 shall set all the  higher value upon   
the saved ones when the ,lord grants    
them to our  efforts4 ,it is good for us
 to learn the value of our sheaves by   

going  forth weeping to the sowing4     
,when you think of the ploughman's      
ploughing  all day1 be moved to plod on 
in earnest efforts to win souls4 ,seek--
      ,with cries1 entreaties1 tears to 
save     ,and snatch them from the fiery
 wave4    ,doth the ploughman plough all
 day for a little bit of oats or barley1
  and will not you plough all day for   
souls that shall live for ever1 if      
saved1 to adore the grace of ,god1 or   
shall live for ever1 if unsaved1 in     
outer darkness and woe8 ,oh1 by the     
terrors of the wrath to come and the    
glory that is to be revealed1 gird up   
your loins1 and plough all day4    ,i   
would beg all the members of our        
churches to keep their hands on the     
gospel plough1 and their eyes straight  
before them4 ,doth the ploughman  plough
 all day8 let ,christians do the same4  
,start close to the hedge1  and go right
 down to the bottom of the field4       
,plough as close to the  ditch as you   
can1 and leave small headlands4 ,what   

though there are  fallen women1 thieves1
 and drunkards in the slums around1 do  
not neglect  any of them2 for if you    
leave a stretch of land to the weeds    
they will  soon spread among the wheat4 
,when you have gone right to the end of 
the  field once1 what shall you do next8
 ,why1 just turn round1 and make for    
the place you started from4 ,and when   
you have thus been up and down1  what   
next8 ,why1 up and down again4 ,and what
 next8 ,why1 up and down  again4 ,you   
have visited that district with tracts2 
do it again1  fifty-two times in the    
year--multiply your furrows4 ,we must   
learn how to  continue in well doing4   
,your eternal destiny is to go on doing 
good for  ever and ever1 and it is well 
to go through a rehearsal here4 ,so just
  plough on1 plough on1 and look for    
results as the reward of continued      
perseverance4 ,ploughing is not done    
with a skip and jump2 the ploughman     
ploughs all day4 ,dash and flash are all
 very fine in some things1 but  not in  

ploughing2 there the work must be       
steady1 persistent1 regular4  ,certain  
persons soon give it up1 it wears out   
their gloves1 blisters  their soft      
hands1 tires their bones1 and makes them
 eat their bread  rather more in the    
sweat of their face than they care for4 
,those whom  the ,lord fills with his   
grace will keep to their ploughing year 
after  year1 and verily ,i say unto you1
 they shall have their reward4 ,doth the
  ploughman plough all day8 ,then let us
 do the same1 being assured that  one   
day every hill and valley shall be      
tilled and sown1 and every desert  and  
wilderness shall yield a harvest for our
 ,lord1 and the angel reapers  shall    
descend1 and the shouts of the          
harvest-home shall fill both earth  and 
heaven4    ,,ii4 ,but1 now1 somewhat    
briefly1 ,,the ,,text ,,may ,,be        
,,answered ,,in ,,the  ,,negative4 ,doth
 the ploughman plough all day to sow8   
,no1 he does not  always plough4 ,after 
he has ploughed he breaks the clods1    

sows1 reaps1  and threshes4 ,in the     
chapter before us you will see that     
other works of  husbandry are mentioned4
 ,the ploughman has many other things to
 do  beside ploughing4 ,there is an     
advance in what he does2 this teaches us
  that there is the like on ,god's part1
 and should be the like on ours4        
,first1 on ,god's part1 there is an     
advance in what he does4 ,doth the      
ploughman plough all day8 ,no1 he goes  
forward to other matters4 ,it may  be   
that in the case of some of you the     
,lord has been using certain  painful   
agencies to plough you4 ,you are feeling
 the terrors of the law1  the bitterness
 of sin1 the holiness of ,god1 the      
weakness of the flesh1  and the shadow  
of the wrath to come4 ,is this going to 
last forever8 ,will  it continue till   
the spirit fails and the soul expires8  
,listen3 ,doth  the ploughman plough all
 day8 ,no1 he is preparing for something
  else--he ploughs to sow4 ,thus doth   
the ,lord deal with you2 therefore be   

of good courage1 there is an ending to  
the wounding and slaying1 and  better   
things are in store for you4 ,you are   
poor and needy1 and you seek  water1 and
 there is none and your tongue faileth  
for thirst2 but the  ,lord will hear    
you1 and deliver you4 ,he will not      
contend forever1  neither will he be    
always wroth4 ,he will turn again1 and  
he will have  compassion upon us4 ,he   
will not always make furrows by his     
chiding1 he  will come and cast in the  
precious corn of consolation1 and water 
it  with the dews of heaven and smile   
upon it with the sunlight of his  grace2
 and there shall soon be in you1 first  
the blade1 then the ear1  after that the
 full corn in the ear1 and in due season
 you shall joy as  with the joy of      
harvest4 ,o ye who are sore wounded in  
the place of  dragons1 ,i hear you cry1 
,doth ,god always send terror and       
conviction of  sin8 ,listen to this3 ,if
 ye be willing and obedient1 ye shall   
eat the  good of the land1 and what is  

the call of ,god to the willing and     
obedient but this3 ,believe on the ,lord
 ,jesus ,christ and thou shalt be       
saved4 ,thou shalt be saved now1 find   
peace now1 if thou wilt have done  with 
thyself and all looking to thine own    
good works to save thee1 and  wilt turn 
to him who paid the ransom for thee upon
 the tree4 ,the ,lord is  gentle and    
tender and full of compassion1 he will  
not always chide1  neither will he keep 
his anger for ever4 ,many of your doubts
 and fears  come of unbelief1 or of     
,satan1 or of the flesh1 and are not of 
,god at  all4 ,blame him not for what he
 does not send1 and does not wish you to
  suffer4 ,his mind is for your peace1  
not for your distress2 for thus he      
speaks3 ,comfort ye1 comfort ye1 my     
people1 saith your ,god4 ,speak ye      
comfortably to ,jerusalem1 and cry unto 
her1 that her warfare is  accomplished1 
that her iniquity is pardoned4 ,i have  
blotted out1 as a  thick cloud1 thy     
transgressions1 and1 as a cloud1 thy    

sins3 return unto  me2 for ,i have      
redeemed thee4 ,he has smitten1 but he  
will smile2 he has  wounded1 but he will
 heal2 he has slain1 but he will make   
alive2  therefore turn unto him at once 
and receive comfort at his hands4 ,the  
ploughman does not plough for ever1 else
 would he reap no harvest2 and  ,god is 
not always heart-breaking1 he also draws
 near on heart-healing  errands4    ,you
 see1 then1 that the great husbandman   
advances from painful agencies1  and ,i 
want you to mark that he goes on to     
productive work in the  hearts of his   
people4 ,he will take away the furrows1 
you shall not see  them1 for the corn   
will cover them with beauty4 ,as she    
that was in  travail remembers no more  
her sorrow for joy that a man is born   
into the  world1 so shall you1 who are  
under the legal rod1 remember no more   
the  misery of conviction1 for ,god will
 sow you with grace1 and make your      
soul1 even your poor1 barren soul1 to   
bring forth fruit unto his praise  and  

glory4 ,oh6 says one1 ,i wish that would
 come true to me4 ,it will4  ,doth the  
ploughman plough all day to sow8 ,you   
expect by-and-by to see  ploughed fields
 clothed with springing corn2 and you   
may look to see  repentant hearts       
gladdened with forgiveness4 ,therefore1 
be of good  courage4    ,you shall      
advance1 also1 to a joyful experience4  
,see that ploughman2  he whistles as he 
ploughs1 he does not own much of this   
world's goods1  but yet he is merry4 ,he
 looks forward to the day when he will  
be on the  top of the big wagon1 joining
 in the shout of the harvest home1 and  
so  he ploughs in hope1 expecting a     
crop4 ,and1 dear soul1 ,god will yet joy
  and rejoice over you when you believe 
in ,jesus ,christ1 and you1 too1  shall 
be brimful of joy4 ,be of good cheer1   
the better portion is yet to  come1     
press forward to it4 ,gospel sorrowing  
leads on to gospel hoping1  believing1  
rejoicing1 and the rejoicing knows no   
end4 ,god will not  chasten all day1 but

 he will lead you on from strength to   
strength1 from  glory unto glory1 till  
you shall be like himself4 ,this1 then1 
is the  advance that there is in ,god's 
work among men1 from painful agencies to
  productive work and joyful experience4
    ,but what if the ploughing should   
never lead to sowing2 what if you       
should be disturbed in conscience1 and  
should go on to resist it all8  ,then   
,god will make another advance1 but it  
will be to put up the plough1  and to   
command the clouds that they rain no    
rain upon the land1 and then  its end is
 to be burned4 ,oh6 man1 there is       
nothing more awful than for  your soul  
to be left to go out of cultivation2    
,god himself giving you  up4 ,surely    
that is hell4 ,he that is unholy will be
 unholy still4 ,the law  of fixity of   
character will operate eternally1 and no
 hand of the  merciful ,one shall come  
near to till the soul again4 ,what worse
 than  this can happen8    ,we conclude 
by saying that this advance is a lesson 

to us2 for we1  too1 are to go forward4 
,doth the ploughman plough all day8 ,no1
 he  ploughs to sow1 and in due time he 
sows4 ,some churches seem to think  that
 all they have to do is to plough2 at   
least1 all they attempt is a  kind of   
scratching of the soil1 and talking of  
what they are going to  do4 ,it is fine 
talk1 certainly2 but doth the ploughman 
plough all day8  ,you may draw up a     
large programme and promise great       
things2 but pray do  not stop there4    
,don't be making furrows all day2 do get
 to your sowing4  ,i fancy that those   
who promise most perform the least4 ,men
 who do much  in the world have no      
programme at first1 their course works  
itself out  by its own inner force by   
the grace of ,god2 they do not propose  
but  perform4 ,they do not plough all   
day to sow1 but they are like our       
,lord's  servant in the parable of whom 
he saith1 the sower went forth to sow4  
,let the ministers of ,christ also      
follow the rule of advance4 ,let us go  

from preaching the law to preaching the 
gospel4 ,doth the ploughman  plough all 
day8 ,he does plough2 he would not sow  
in hope if he had not  first prepared   
the ground4 ,robbie ,flockart1 who      
preached for years in  the ,edinboro'   
streets1 says1 ,it is in vain to sew    
with the silk thread  of the gospel1    
unless you use the sharp needle of the  
law4 ,some of my  brethren do not care  
to preach eternal wrath and its terrors4
 ,this is a  cruel mercy1 for they ruin 
souls by hiding from them their ruin4   
,if they  must needs try to sew without 
a needle1 ,i cannot help it2 but ,i do  
not  mean to be so foolish myself2 my   
needle may be old-fashioned1 but it is  
sharp1 and when it carries with it the  
silken thread of the gospel1 ,i am  sure
 good work is done by it4 ,you cannot   
get a harvest if you are afraid  of     
disturbing the soil1 nor can you save   
souls if you never warn them of  hell   
fire4 ,we must tell the sinner what ,god
 has revealed about sin1  righteousness1

 and judgment to come4 ,still1 brethren1
 we must not plough  all day4 ,no1 no1  
the preaching of the law is only        
preparatory to the  preaching of the    
gospel4 ,the stress of our business lies
 in proclaiming  glad tidings4 ,we are  
not followers of ,john the ,baptist1 but
 of ,jesus  ,christ2 we are not rugged  
prophets of woe1 but joyful heralds of  
grace4  ,be not satisfied with revival  
services1 and stirring appeals1 but     
preach  the doctrines of grace so as to 
bring out the full compass of covenant  
truth4 ,ploughing has had its turn1 now 
for planting and watering4  ,reproof may
 now give place to consolation4 ,we are 
first to make  disciples of men1 and    
then to teach them to observe all things
  whatsoever ,jesus has commanded us4   
,we must pass on from the rudiments to  
the higher truths1 from laying          
foundations to further upbuilding4      
,and now1 another lesson to those of you
 who are as yet hearers and  nothing    
more4 ,i want you to go from ploughing  

to something better1  namely1 from      
hearing and fearing to believing4 ,how  
many years some of  you have been       
hearing the gospel6 ,do you mean to     
continue in that state  for ever8 ,will 
you never believe in him of whom you    
hear so much8 ,you  have been stirred up
 a good deal2 the other night you went  
home almost  broken-hearted2 ,i should  
think you are ploughed enough by this   
time2 and  yet you have not received the
 seed of eternal life1 for you have not 
believed in the ,lord ,jesus4 ,it is    
dreadful to be always on the brink of   
everlasting life1 and yet never to be   
alive4 ,it will be an awful thing  to be
 almost in heaven1 and yet forever shut 
out4 ,it is a wretched thing  to rush   
into a railway station just in time to  
see the train steaming  out2 ,i had much
 rather be half-an-hour behind time4 ,to
 lose a train by  half-a-second is most 
annoying4 ,alas1 if you go on as you    
have done for  years1 you will have your
 hand on the latch of heaven1 and yet be

 shut  out4 ,you will be within a       
hair's-breadth of glory1 and yet be     
covered  with eternal shame4 ,o beware  
of being so near to the kingdom1 and yet
  lost2 almost1 but not altogether      
saved4 ,god grant that you may not be   
among those who are ploughed1 and       
ploughed1 and ploughed1 and yet never   
sown4 ,it will be of no avail at the    
last to cry1 ,lord1 we have eaten  and  
drunk in thy presence1 and thou hast    
taught in our streets4 ,we had a  seat  
at the chapel1 we attended the services 
on week-nights as well as  on ,sundays1 
we went to prayer-meetings1 we joined a 
,bible-class1 we  distributed tracts1 we
 subscribed our guinea to the funds1 we 
gave up  every open sin1 we used a form 
of prayer1 and read a chapter of the    
,bible every day4 ,all these things may 
be done1 and yet there may be no  saving
 faith in the ,lord ,jesus4 ,take heed  
lest your ,lord should answer1  ,with   
all this1 your heart never came to me2  
therefore1 depart from me1  ,i never    

knew you4 ,if ,jesus once knows a man he
 always knows him4 ,he can  never say to
 me1 ,i never knew you1 for he has known
 me1 as his poor  dependant1 a beggar   
for years at his door4 ,some of you have
 been all  that is good except that you 
never came into contact with ,christ1   
never  trusted him1 never knew him4 ,ah 
me1 how sad your state6 ,will it be     
always so8    ,lastly1 ,i would say to  
you who are being ploughed and are      
agitated about  your souls1 ,go at once 
to the next stage of believing4 ,oh6 if 
people did  but know how simple a thing 
believing is1 surely they would believe4
  ,alas1 they do not know it1 and it    
becomes all the more difficult to them  
because in itself it is so easy4 ,the   
difficulty of believing lies in  there  
being no difficulty in it4 ,if the      
prophet had bid thee do some  great     
thing1 wouldst thou not have done it8   
,oh1 yes1 you would have  done it1 and  
you would have thought it easy too2 but 
when he simply  says1 ,wash1 and be     

clean1 there is a difficulty with pride 
and self4  ,if you can truly say that   
you are willing to abase your pride1 and
 do  anything which the ,lord bids you1 
then ,i pray you understand that there  
is no further preparation required1 and 
believe in ,jesus at once4 ,may  the    
,holy ,spirit make you sick of self1 and
 ready to accept the gospel4  ,the word 
is nigh thee1 let it be believed2 it is 
in thy mouth1 let it be  swallowed down2
 it is in thy heart1 let it be trusted4 
,with your heart  believe in ,jesus1 and
 with your mouth make confession of him1
 and you  shall be saved4 ,a main part  
of faith lies in the giving up of all   
other  confidences4 ,o give up at once  
every false hope4 ,i tried once to show 
what faith was by quoting ,dr4 ,watts's 
lines3      ,a guilty1 weak1 and        
helpless worm1      ,on thy kind arms ,i
 fall4    ,be thou my strength1 and     
righteousness1      ,my ,jesus and my   
all4    ,i tried to represent faith as  
falling into ,christ's arms1 and ,i     

thought  ,i made it so plain that the   
wayfaring man could not err therein4    
,when ,i  had finished preaching1 a     
young man came to me and said1 ,but1    
sir1 ,i  cannot fall upon ,christ's     
arms4 ,i replied at once1 ,tumble into  
them  anyhow2 faint away into ,christ's 
arms1 or die into ,christ's arms1 so    
long as you get there4 ,many talk of    
what they can do and what they  cannot  
do1 and ,i fear they miss the vital     
point4 ,faith is leaving off  can-ing   
and cannot-ing1 and leaving it all to   
,christ1 for he can do  all things1     
though you can do nothing4 ,doth the    
ploughman plough all  day to sow8 ,no1  
he makes progress1 and goes from        
ploughing to sowing4  ,go1 and do thou  
likewise2 sow unto the ,spirit the      
precious seed of faith  in ,christ1 and 
the ,lord will give thee a joyous       
harvest4          ,,ploughing ,,the     
,,rock4    ,shall horses run upon the   
rock8 will one plough there with        
oxen8--,,amos  #f3ab4      ,,these      

expressions are proverbs1 taken from the
 familiar sayings of the  east country4 
,a proverb is generally a sword with two
 edges1 or1 if ,i  may so say1 it has   
many edges1 or is all edge1 and hence it
 may be  turned this way and that way1  
and every part of it will have force and
  point4 ,a proverb has often many      
bearings1 and you cannot always tell    
what was the precise meaning of him who 
uttered it4 ,the connection would       
abundantly tolerate two senses in this  
place4 ,an ancient commentator  asserts 
that it has seven meanings1 and that any
 one of them would be  consistent with  
the context4 ,i cannot deny the         
assertion1 and if it be  correct it is  
only one among many instances of the    
manifold wisdom of  the ,word of ,god4  
,like those curiously carved ,chinese   
balls in which  there is one ball within
 another1 so in many a holy text there  
is sense  within sense1 teaching within 
teaching1 and each one worthy of the    
,spirit of ,god4    ,the first sense of 

the text upon which ,i would say just a 
word or two is  this3 ,the prophet is   
expostulating with ungodly men upon     
their pursuit  of happiness where it    
never can be found4 ,they were          
endeavoring to grow  rich and great and 
strong by oppression4 ,the prophet says1
 ,ye have  turned judgment into gall1   
and the fruit of righteousness into     
hemlock4  ,justice was bought and sold  
among them1 and the book of the law was 
made  the instrument of fraud4 ,yet1    
says the prophet1 there is no gain to   
be gotten in this way--no real profit1  
no true happiness4 ,as well may  horses 
run upon a rock1 and oxen plough the    
sand2 it is labor in vain4    ,if any of
 you try to content yourselves with this
 world1 any hope to  find a heaven in   
the midst of your business and your     
family without  looking upward for it1  
you labor in vain4 ,if you hope to find 
pleasure  in sin1 and think that it will
 go well with you if you despise the law
  of ,god1 you will make a great        

mistake4 ,you might as well seek for    
roses  in the grottoes of the sea1 or   
look for pearls on the pavements of the 
city4 ,you will find what your soul     
requires nowhere but in ,god4 ,to seek  
after happiness in evil deeds is to     
plough a rock of granite4 ,to labor     
after true prosperity by dishonest means
 is as useless as to till the  sandy    
shore4 ,wherefore do you spend your     
money for that which is not  bread1 and 
your labor for that which satisfieth    
not8 ,young man1 you are  killing       
yourself with ambition2 you seek your   
own honor and emolument1  and this is a 
poor1 poor object for an immortal soul4 
,and you1 too1 sir1  are wearing out    
your life with care2 your mind and body 
both fail you in  endeavoring to amass  
riches1 as if a man's life consisted in 
the  abundance of the things which he   
possesses2 you are ploughing a rock2    
your cares will not bring you joy of    
heart or content of spirit2 your  toil  
will end in failure4 ,and you1 too1 who 

labor to weave a  righteousness by your 
works apart from ,christ and fancy that 
with the  diligent use of outward       
ceremonies you may be able to do the    
work of the  ,holy ,spirit upon your own
 heart1 you1 too1 are ploughing         
thankless  rock4 ,the strength of fallen
 nature exerted at its utmost can never 
save  a soul4 ,why1 then1 plough the    
rock any longer8 ,give over the foolish 
task4    ,so far1 ,i believe1 we have   
not misread the text1 but have mentioned
 a  very probable meaning of the words2 
still another strikes me1 which ,i      
think equally suitable1 and upon it ,i  
shall dwell1 by ,god's help4    ,it is  
this4 ,god will not always send his     
ministers to call men to  repentance4   
,when men's hearts remain obdurate1 and 
they do not and will  not repent1 then  
,god will not always deal with them in  
mercy4 ,my ,spirit  shall not always    
strive with man4 ,there is a time of    
ploughing1 but  when it is evident that 
the heart is wilfully hardened1 then    

wisdom  itself suggests to mercy that   
she should give over her efforts4 ,shall
  horses run upon the rock8 will one    
plough there with oxen8 ,no1 there is  a
 limit to the efforts of kindness1 and  
in fulness of time the labor  ceases1   
and the rock remains unploughed         
henceforth and for ever4      ,i4       
,taking that sense1 we shall speak upon 
it1 and remark1 first1 that  ,,ministers
 ,,labor ,,to ,,break ,,up ,,men',s     
,,hearts2 the wise preacher tries by the
  power of the ,holy ,ghost to break up 
the hard clods of the heart1 so that  it
 may receive the heavenly seed4    ,many
 truths are used like sharp ploughshares
 to break up the heart4 ,men  must be   
made to feel that they have sinned1 and 
they must be led to  repent of sin4     
,they must receive ,christ1 not with the
 head only1 but  with the heart2 for    
with the heart man believeth unto       
righteousness4  ,there must be emotion2 
we must cut into the heart with the     
ploughshare  of the law4 ,a farmer who  

is too tender-hearted to tear and harrow
 the  land will never see a harvest4    
,here is the failing of certain divines1
  they are afraid of hurting any one's  
feelings1 and so they keep clear of  all
 the truths which are likely to excite  
fear or grief4 ,they have not a  sharp  
ploughshare on their premises1 and are  
never likely to have a  stack in their  
rickyard4 ,they angle without hooks for 
fear of hurting  the fish1 and fire     
without bullets out of respect to the   
feelings of the  birds4 ,this kind of   
love is real cruelty to men's souls4 ,it
 is much the  same as if a surgeon      
should permit a patient to die because  
he would not  pain him with the lancet1 
or by the necessary removal of a limb4  
,it is a  terrible tenderness which     
leaves men to sink into hell rather than
  distress their minds4 ,it is pleasant 
to prophesy smooth things1 but woe  unto
 the man who thus degrades himself4 ,is 
this the spirit of ,christ8  ,did he    
conceal the sinner's peril8 ,did he cast

 doubt upon the  unquenchable fire and  
the undying worm8 ,did he lull souls    
into slumber  by smooth strains of      
flattery8 ,nay1 but with honest love and
 anxious  concern he warned men of the  
wrath to come1 and bade them repent or  
perish4 ,let the servant of the ,lord   
,jesus in this thing follow his         
,master1 and plough deep with a sharp   
ploughshare1 which will not be  balked  
by the hardest clods4 ,this we must     
school ourselves to do4 ,if we  really  
love the souls of men1 let us prove it  
by honest speech4 ,the hard  heart must 
be broken1 or it will still refuse the  
,saviour who was sent  to bind up the   
broken-hearted4 ,there are some things  
which men may or  may not have1 and yet 
may be saved2 but those things which go 
with the  ploughing of the heart are    
indispensable2 there must be a holy fear
 and  a humble trembling before ,god2   
there must be an acknowledgment of guilt
  and a penitent petition for mercy2    
there must1 in a word1 be a thorough    

ploughing of the soul before we can     
expect the seed to bring forth  fruit4  
,,ii4 ,but the text indicates to us that
 ,,at ,,times ,,ministers ,,labor ,,in  
,,vain4  ,shall horses run upon the     
rock8 will one plough there with oxen8  
,in a  short time a ploughman feels     
whether the plough will go or not1 and  
so  does the minister4 ,he may use the  
very same words in one place which he   
has used in another1 but he feels in the
 one place great joy and  hopefulness in
 preaching1 while with another audience 
he has heavy work1  and little hope4    
,the plough in the last case seems to   
jump out of the  furrow2 and a bit of   
the share is broken off now and then4   
,he says to  himself1 ,i do not know how
 it is1 but ,i do not get on at this1   
and he  finds that his ,master has sent 
him to work upon a particularly heavy   
soil4 ,all laborers for ,christ know    
that this is occasionally the case4     
,you must have found it so in a         
,sunday-school class1 or in a cottage   

meeting1 or in any other gathering where
 you have tried to teach and  preach    
,jesus4 ,you have said to yourself every
 now and then1 ,now ,i am  ploughing a  
rock4 ,before1 ,i turned up rich mould  
which a yoke of oxen  might plough with 
ease1 and a horse might even run at the 
work2 but now  the horse may tug1 and   
the oxen may wearily toil till they gall
 their  shoulders1 but they cannot cut a
 furrow2 the rock is stubborn to the    
last degree4    ,there are such hearers 
in all congregations4 ,they are as iron1
 and yet  they are side by side with a  
fine plot of ground4 ,their sister1     
their  brother1 their son1 their        
daughter1 all these have readily felt   
the  power of the gospel2 but they do   
not feel it4 ,they hear it              
respectfully2 and they so far allow it  
free course that they permit it  to go  
in at one ear and out at the other1 but 
they will have nothing  more to do with 
it4 ,they would not like to be          
,sabbath-breakers and stop  away from   

worship2 they therefore do the gospel   
the questionable  compliment of coming  
where it is preached and then refusing  
to regard  it4 ,they are hard1 hard1    
hard bits of rock1 the plough does not  
touch  them4    ,many1 on the other     
hand1 are equally hard2 but it is in    
another way4 ,the  impression made by   
the word is not deep or permanent4 ,they
 receive it  with joy1 but they do not  
retain it4 ,they listen with attention1 
but it  never comes to practice with    
them4 ,they hear about repentance1 but  
they  never repent4 ,they hear about    
faith1 but they never believe4 ,they are
  good judges of what the gospel is1 and
 yet they have never accepted it  for   
themselves4 ,they will not eat2 but     
still they insist that good bread  shall
 be put on the table4 ,they are great   
sticklers for the very things  which    
they personally reject4 ,they are moved 
to feeling2 they shed tears             
occasionally2 but still their hearts are
 not really broken up by the  word4     

,they go their way1 and forget what     
manner of men they are4 ,they  are      
rocky-hearted through and through2 all  
our attempts to plough them  are        
failures4    ,now this is all the worse1
 because certain of these rocky-hearted 
people  have been ploughed for years1   
and have become harder instead of       
softer4  ,once or twice ploughing1 and a
 broken share or two1 and a disappointed
  ploughman or two1 we might not mind1  
if they would yield at last2 but  these 
have since their childhood known the    
gospel and never given way  before its  
power4 ,it is a good while since their  
childhood now with some  of them4 ,their
 hair is turning gray1 and they         
themselves are getting  feeble with     
years4 ,they have been entreated and    
persuaded times beyond  number1 but     
labor has been lost upon them4 ,in fact1
 they used to feel  the word1 in a      
certain fashion1 far more years ago than
 they do now4 ,the  sun1 which softens  
wax1 hardens clay1 and the same gospel  

which has  brought others to tenderness 
and repentance has exercised a contrary 
effect upon them1 and made them more    
careless about divine things than  they 
were in their youth4 ,this is a mournful
 state of things1 is it not8    ,why are
 certain men so extremely rocky8 ,some  
are so from a peculiar  stolidity of    
nature4 ,there are many people in the   
world whom you cannot  very well move1  
they have a great deal of granite in    
their constitution1  and are more nearly
 related to ,mr4 ,obstinate than to ,mr4
 ,pliable4 ,now1 ,i  do not think badly 
of these people1 because one knows what 
it is to  preach to an excitable people1
 and to get them all stirred1 and to    
know  that in the end they are none the 
better2 whereas some of the more  stolid
 and immovable people when they are     
moved are moved indeed2 when  they do   
feel they feel intensely1 and they      
retain any impression that is  made4 ,a 
little chip made in granite by very hard
 blows will abide there1  while the     

lashing of water1 which is easy enough1 
will leave no trace  even for a moment4 
,it is a grand thing to get hold of a   
fine piece of  rock and to exercise     
faith about it4 ,the ,lord's own hammer 
has mighty  power to break1 and in the  
breaking great glory comes to the ,most 
,high4    ,worse still1 certain men are 
hard because of their infidelity--not   
heart-infidelity all of it1 but an      
infidelity which springs out of a       
desire not to believe1 which has helped 
them to discover difficulties4  ,these  
difficulties exist1 and were meant to   
exist1 for there would be no  room for  
faith if everything were as plain as the
 nose on one's face4  ,these persons    
have gradually come to doubt1 or to     
think that they doubt1  essential       
truths1 and this renders them impervious
 to the gospel of  ,christ4    ,a much  
more numerous body are orthodox enough1 
but hard-hearted for all  that4         
,worldliness hardens a man in every way4
 ,it often dries up all  charity to the 

poor1 because the man must make money1  
and he thinks that  the poor-rates are  
sufficient excuse for neglecting the    
offices of  charity4 ,he has no time to 
think of the next world2 he must spend  
all  his thoughts upon the present one4 
,money is tight1 and therefore he must  
hold it tight2 and when money brings in 
little interest1 he finds  therein a    
reason for being the more niggardly4 ,he
 has no time for  prayer1 he must get   
down to the counting-house4 ,he has no  
time for  reading his ,bible1 his ledger
 wants him4 ,you may knock at his door1 
but  his heart is not at home2 it is in 
the counting-house1 wherein he lives    
and moves and has his being4 ,his god is
 his gold1 his bliss is his  business1  
his all in all is himself4 ,what is the 
use of preaching to  him8 ,as well may  
horses run upon a rock1 or oxen drag a  
plough across a  field sheeted with iron
 a mile thick4    ,with some1 too1 there
 is a hardness1 produced by what ,i     
might almost  call the opposite of stern

 worldliness1 namely1 a general levity4 
,they  are naturally butterflies        
flitting about and doing nothing4 ,they 
never  think1 or want to think4 ,half a 
thought exhausts them1 and they must    
needs be diverted1 or their feeble minds
 will utterly weary4 ,they live  in a   
round of amusement4 ,to them the world  
is a stage1 and all the men  and women  
only players4 ,it is of little use to   
preach to them2 there is  no depth of   
earth in their superficial nature2      
beneath a sprinkling of  shifting       
worthless sand lies an impenetrable rock
 of utter stupidity and  senselessness4 
,i might thus multiply reasons why some 
are harder than  others1 but it is a    
well-assured fact that they are so1 and 
there ,i  leave the matter4      ,,iii4 
,i shall now ask everybody to judge     
whether the running of horses  upon a   
rock and the ploughing there with oxen  
shall always be continued4  ,i assert   
that ,,it ,,is ,,unreasonable ,,to      
,,expect ,,that ,,god',s ,,servants     

,,should  ,,always ,,continue ,,to      
,,labor ,,in ,,vain4 ,these people have 
been preached to1  taught1 instructed1  
admonished1 expostulated with1 and      
advised2 shall  this unrecompensed work 
be always performed8 ,we have given them
 a fair  trial2 what do reason and      
prudence say8 ,are we bound to persevere
 till  we are worn out by this          
unsuccessful work8 ,we will ask it of   
men who  plough their own farms2 do they
 recommend perseverance when failure is 
certain8 ,shall horses run upon the     
rock8 ,shall one plough there with      
oxen8 ,surely not for ever4    ,i think 
we shall all agree that labor in vain   
cannot be continued for  ever if we     
consider the ploughman4 ,he does not    
want to be much  considered2 but still  
his ,master does not overlook him4 ,see 
how weary he  grows when the work       
discourages him4 ,he goes to his ,master
 with1 ,who  hath believed our report1  
and to whom is the arm of the ,lord     
revealed8  ,why hast thou sent me1 says 

he1 to a people that have ears but hear 
not8 ,they sit as thy people sit1 and   
they hear as thy people hear1 and  then 
they go their way and they forget every 
word that is spoken1 and  they obey not 
the voice of the ,lord4 ,see how        
disappointed the preacher  becomes4 ,it 
is always hard work when you appear to  
get no forwarder1  although you do your 
utmost4 ,no man1 whoever he may be1     
likes to be set  upon work which appears
 to be altogether a waste of time and   
effort4 ,to  his own mind it seems to   
have a touch of the ridiculous about it1
 and he  fears that he will be despised 
of his fellows for aiming at the        
impossible4 ,shall it always be the lot 
of ,god's ministers to be trifled  with8
 ,will the great ,husbandman bid his    
ploughmen spill their lives for  nought8
 ,must his preachers continue to cast   
pearls before swine8 ,if the            
consecrated workers are so bidden by    
their ,lord they will persevere in      
their painful task2 but their ,master is

 considerate of them1 and ,i ask  you   
also to consider whether it is          
reasonable to expect a zealous  heart to
 be for ever occupied with the salvation
 of those who never  respond to its     
anxiety8 ,shall the horses always plough
 upon the rock8  ,shall the oxen always 
labor there8    ,again1 there is the    
,master to be considered4 ,the ,lord--is
 he always to  be resisted and provoked8
 ,many of you have had eternal life set 
before  you as the result of believing  
in ,jesus2 and you have refused to      
believe4 ,it is a wonder that my ,lord  
has not said to me1 ,you have done  your
 duty with them2 never set ,christ      
before them again2 my ,son shall  not be
 insulted4 ,if you offer a beggar in the
 street a shilling and he  will not have
 it1 you cheerfully put it into your    
purse and go your way2  you do not      
entreat him to have his wants relieved4 
,but1 behold1 our ,god  in mercy begs   
sinners to come to him1 and implores    
them to accept his  ,son4 ,in his       

condescension he even stands like a     
salesman in the market1  crying1 ,ho1   
every one that thirsteth1 come ye to the
 waters1 and he  that hath no money2    
come1 buy wine and milk without money   
and without  price4 ,in another place he
 says of himself1 ,all day long have ,i 
stretched out my hands to a disobedient 
and gainsaying generation4 ,if  the     
,lord of mercy has been refused so long 
in the sight of you who  reverence him1 
does not some indignation mingle with   
your pity1 and  while you love sinners  
and would have them saved1 do you not   
feel in  your heart that there must be  
an end to such insulting behavior8 ,i   
ask  even the careless to think of the  
matter in this light1 and if they do    
not respect the ploughman1 yet let them 
have regard to his ,master4    ,and     
then1 again1 there are so many other    
people who are needing the  gospel1 and 
who would receive it if they had it1    
that it would seem to  be wise to leave 
off wearying oneself about those who    

despise it4 ,what  did our ,lord say8   
,he said that if the mighty things which
 had been done  in ,bethsaida and       
,chorazin had been done in ,tyre and    
,sidon1 they would  have repented4 ,what
 is more wonderful still1 he says that  
if he had  wrought the same miracles in 
,sodom and ,gomorrah which were wrought 
in  ,capernaum1 they would have repented
 in sackcloth and ashes4 ,does it not   
occur to us at once to give the word to 
those who will have it1 and  leave the  
despisers to perish in their own        
wilfulness8 ,does not reason  say1 ,let 
us send this medicine where there are   
sick people who will  value it8         
,thousands of people are willing to hear
 the gospel4 ,see how  they crowd       
wherever the preacher goes--how they    
tread upon one another  in their anxiety
 to listen to him2 and if these people  
who hear him  every day will not receive
 his message1 in ,god's name1 saith he1 
let  me go where there is a probability 
of finding soil that can be  ploughed4  

,shall horses run upon the rock8 ,will  
one plough there with  oxen8 ,must ,i   
work always where nothing comes of it8  
,does not reason  say1 let the word go  
to ,china1 to ,hindostan1 or to the     
utmost parts of  the earth1 where they  
will receive it2 for those who have it  
preached in  the corners of their       
streets despise it8    ,i shall not     
lengthen this argument1 but shall       
solemnly put the question  again4 ,would
 any of you continue to pursue an object
 when it has proved  to be hopeless8 ,do
 you wonder that when the ,lord has sent
 his servants  to speak kind1 gracious1 
tender words1 and men have not heard1 he
 says  to them1 ,they are joined unto   
their idols2 let them alone8 ,there is a
  boundary to the patience of men1 and  
we soon arrive at it2 and assuredly     
there is a limit1 though it is long     
before we outrun it1 to the patience  of
 ,god4 ,at length1 he says1 it is       
enough4 ,my ,spirit shall no longer     
strive with them4 ,if the ,lord says    

this can any of us complain8 ,is not    
this the way of wisdom8 ,does not       
prudence itself dictate it8 ,any        
thoughtful mind will say1 ,ay1 ay1 a    
rock cannot be ploughed for ever4       
,,iv4 ,fourthly4 ,,there ,,must ,,be    
,,an ,,alteration1 then1 and that       
speedily4 ,the  oxen shall be taken off 
from such toil4 ,it can be easily done1 
and done  soon4 ,it can be effected in  
three ways4    ,first1 the unprofitable 
hearer can be removed so that he shall  
no more  hear the gospel from the lips  
of his best approved minister4 ,there is
 a  preacher who has some sort of power 
over him2 but as he rejects his         
testimony1 and remains impenitent1 the  
man shall be removed to another  town1  
where he shall hear monotonous          
discourses which will not touch  his    
conscience4 ,he shall go where he shall 
be no longer persuaded and  entreated2  
and there he will sleep himself into    
hell4 ,that may be  readily enough done2
 perhaps some of you are making         

arrangements even  now for your own     
removal from the field of hope4         
,another way is to take away the        
ploughman4 ,he has done his work as best
  he could1 and he shall be released    
from his hopeless task4 ,he is weary4   
,let him go home4 ,the soil would not   
break up1 but he could not help  that2  
let him have his wage4 ,he has broken   
his plough at the work2 let  him go home
 and hear his ,lord say1 ,well done4 ,he
 was willing to keep  on at the         
disheartening labor as long as his      
,master bade him2 but it is  evidently  
useless1 therefore let him go home1 for 
his work is done4 ,he  has been sore    
sick1 let him die1 and enter into his   
rest4 ,this is by no  means improbable4 
,or1 there may happen something else4   
,the ,lord may say1 ,that piece of  work
 shall never trouble the ploughman any  
more4 ,i will take it away4  ,and he may
 take it away in this fashion3 the man  
who has heard the  gospel1 but rejected 
it1 will die4 ,i pray my ,master that he

 will not  suffer any one of you to die 
in your sins1 for then we cannot reach  
you  any more1 or indulge the faintest  
hope for you4 ,no prayer of ours can    
follow you into eternity4 ,there is one 
name by which you may be saved1  and    
that name is sounded in your ears--the  
name of ,jesus2 but if you  reject him  
now1 even that name will not save you4  
,if you do not take  ,jesus to be your  
,saviour he will appear as your judge4  
,i pray you1 do  not destroy your own   
souls by continuing to be obstinate     
against  almighty love4    ,god grant   
that some better thing may happen4 ,can 
nothing else be done8  ,this soil is    
rock2 can we not sow it without breaking
 it8 ,no4 ,without  repentance there is 
no remission of sin4 ,but is there not a
 way of  saving men without the grace of
 ,god8 ,the ,lord ,jesus did not say so2
 but  he said1 ,he that believeth and is
 baptized shall be saved1 but he that   
believeth not shall be damned4 ,he did  
not hint at a middle course or  hold out

 a larger hope2 but he declared ,he that
 believeth not shall  be damned1 and so 
he must be4 ,dream not of a back door to
 heaven1 for  the ,lord has provided    
none4    ,what then8 ,shall the preacher
 continue his fruitless toil8 ,if there 
is  only half a hope left him1 he is    
willing to go on and say1 ,hear1 ye     
deaf1 and see1 ye blind1 and live1 ye   
dead4 ,he will even so speak this  day1 
for his ,master bids him preach the     
gospel to every creature2 but it  will  
be hard work to repeat the word of      
exhortation for years to those  who will
 not hear it4    ,happily there is one  
other turn which affairs may take4      
,there is a ,god  in heaven1 let us pray
 to him to put forth his power4 ,jesus  
is at his  side1 let us invoke his      
interposition4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is     
almighty1 let  us call for his aid4     
,brothers who plough and sisters who    
pray1 cry to  the ,master for help4 ,the
 horse and the ox evidently fail1 but   
there  remains ,one above who is able to

 work great marvels4 ,did he not once   
speak to the rock1 and turn the flint   
into a stream of water8 ,let us  pray   
him to do the same now4    ,and1 oh1 if 
there is one who feels and mourns that  
his heart is like a  piece of rock1 ,i  
am glad he feels it2 for he who feels   
that his heart is  a rock gives some    
evidence that the flint is being        
transformed4 ,o rock1  instead of       
smiting thee1 as ,moses smote the rock  
in the wilderness and  erred therein1 ,i
 would speak to thee4 ,o rock1 wouldst  
thou become like  wax8 ,o rock1 wouldst 
thou dissolve into rivers of repentance8
 ,hearken to  ,god's voice6 ,o rock1    
break with good desire6 ,o rock1        
dissolve with  longing after ,christ1   
for ,god is working upon thee now4 ,who 
knows but at  this very moment thou     
shall begin to crumble down4 ,dost thou 
feel the  power of the ,word8 ,does the 
sharp ploughshare touch thee just now8  
,break  and break again1 till by        
contrition thou art dissolved1 for then 

will  the good seed of the gospel come  
to thee1 and thou shalt receive it into 
thy bosom1 and we shall all behold the  
fruit thereof4 ,and so ,i will  fling   
one more handful of good corn1 and have 
done4 ,if thou desirest  eternal life1  
trust ,jesus ,christ1 and thou art saved
 at once4 ,look unto  me1 and be ye     
saved1 all the ends of the earth1 says  
,christ1 for ,i am  ,god1 and beside me 
there is none else4 ,he that believeth  
in him hath  everlasting life4 ,like as 
,moses lifted up the serpent in the     
wilderness1 even so must the ,son of man
 be lifted up3 that whosoever  believeth
 in him should not perish1 but have     
eternal life4    ,o ,lord1 break up the 
rock1 and let the seed drop in among its
 broken  substance1 and get thou a      
harvest from the dissolved granite1 at  
this  time1 for ,jesus ,christ's sake4  
,amen4          ,,the ,,parable ,,of    
,,the ,,sower4    ,and when much people 
were gathered together1 and were come to
 him out  of every city1 he spake by a  

parable3 a sower went out to sow his    
seed3  and as he sowed1 some fell by the
 wayside2 and it was trodden down1 and  
the fowls of the air devoured it4 ,and  
some fell upon a rock2 and as soon  as  
it was sprung up1 it withered away1     
because it lacked moisture4 ,and  some  
fell among thorns2 and the thorns sprang
 up with it and choked it4  ,and other  
fell on good ground1 and sprang up1 and 
bare fruit an  hundredfold4 ,and when he
 had said these things1 he cried1 ,he   
that hath  ears to hear1 let him        
hear4--,,luke #h3d-h4      ,,in our     
country1 when a sower goes forth to his 
work1 he generally enters  into an      
enclosed field1 and scatters the seed   
from his basket along  every ridge and  
furrow2 but in the ,east1 the           
corn-growing country1 hard  by a small  
town1 is usually an open area4 ,it is   
divided into different  properties1 but 
there are no visible divisions1 except  
the ancient  landmarks1 or perhaps      
ridges of stones4 ,through these open   

lands there  are footpaths1 the most    
frequented being called the highways4   
,you must  not imagine these highways to
 be like our macadamized roads2 they are
  merely paths1 trodden tolerably hard4 
,here and there you notice by-ways1     
along which travellers who wish to avoid
 the public road may journey  with a    
little more safety when the main road is
 infested with robbers2  hasty          
travellers also strike out short cuts   
for themselves1 and so open  fresh      
tracks for others4 ,when the sower goes 
forth to sow he finds a  plot of ground 
scratched over with the primitive       
,eastern plough2 he  aims at scattering 
his seed there most plentifully2 but a  
path runs  through the centre of his    
field1 and unless he is willing to leave
 a  broad headland1 he must throw a     
handful upon it4 ,yonder1 a rock crops  
out in the midst of the ploughed land1  
and the seed falls on its shallow  soil4
 ,here is a corner full of the roots of 
nettles and thistles1 and he  flings a  

little here2 the corn and the nettles   
come up together1 and the  thorns being 
the stronger soon choke the seed1 so    
that it brings forth  no fruit unto     
perfection4 ,the recollection that the  
,bible was written in  the ,east1 and   
that its metaphors and allusions must be
 explained to us  by ,eastern           
travellers1 will often help us to       
understand a passage far  better than if
 we think of ,english customs4    ,the  
preacher of the gospel is like the      
sower4 ,he does not make his seed2  it  
is given him by his divine ,master4 ,no 
man could create the smallest  grain    
that ever grew upon the earth1 much less
 the celestial seed of  eternal life4   
,the minister goes to his ,master in    
secret1 and asks him to  teach him his  
gospel1 and thus he fills his basket    
with the good seed of  the kingdom4 ,he 
then goes forth in his ,master's name   
and scatters  precious truth4 ,if he    
knew where the best soil was to be      
found1 perhaps  he might limit himself  

to that which had been prepared by the  
plough of  conviction2 but not knowing  
men's hearts1 it is his business to     
preach  the gospel to every creature--to
 throw a handful on the hardened heart1 
and another on the mind which is        
overgrown with the cares and pleasures  
of the world4 ,he has to leave the seed 
in the care of the ,lord who gave  it to
 him1 for he is not responsible for the 
harvest1 he is only  accountable for the
 care and industry with which he does   
his work4 ,if no  single ear should ever
 make glad the reaper1 the sower will be
 rewarded  by his ,master if he had     
planted the right seed with careful     
hand4 ,if it  were not for this fact    
with what despairing agony should we    
utter the  cry of ,esaias1 ,who hath    
believed our report8 and to whom is the 
arm of  the ,lord revealed8    ,our duty
 is not measured by the character of our
 hearers1 but by the  command of our    
,god4 ,we are bound to preach the       
gospel1 whether men will  hear1 or      

whether they will forbear4 ,it is ours  
to sow beside all waters4  ,let men's   
hearts be what they may the minister    
must preach the gospel to  them2 he must
 sow the seed on the rock as well as in 
the furrow1 on the  highway as well as  
in the ploughed field4    ,i shall now  
address myself to the four classes of   
hearers mentioned in  our ,lord's       
parable4 ,we have1 first of all1 those  
who are represented by  the way-side1   
those who are hearers only2 then those  
represented by  the stony ground2 these 
are transiently impressed1 but the word 
produces no lasting fruit2 then1 those  
among thorns1 on whom a good  impression
 is produced1 but the cares of this     
life1 and the  deceitfulness of riches1 
and the pleasures of the world choke the
 seed2  and lastly1 that small          
class--,god be pleased to multiply it   
exceedingly--that small class of good   
ground hearers1 in whom the ,word       
brings forth abundant fruit4      ,i4   
,first of all1 ,i address myself to     

those hearts which are like the         
,,way-,,side3 ,some fell by the wayside2
 and it was trodden down1 and the  fowls
 of the air devoured it4 ,many of you do
 not go to the place of  worship        
desiring a blessing4 ,you do not intend 
to worship ,god1 or to be  affected by  
anything that you hear4 ,you are like   
the highway1 which was  never intended  
to be a cornfield4 ,if a single grain of
 truth should fall  into your heart and 
grow it would be as great a wonder as   
for corn to  grow up in the street4 ,if 
the seed shall be dexterously scattered1
 some  of it will fall upon you1 and    
rest for a while upon your thoughts4    
',tis  true you will not understand it2 
but1 nevertheless1 if it be placed      
before you in an interesting style1 you 
will talk about it till some  more      
congenial entertainment shall attract   
you4 ,even this slender  benefit is     
brief1 for in a little season you will  
forget all that you  have heard4 ,would 
to ,god we could hope that our words    

would tarry with  you2 but we cannot    
hope it1 for the soil of your heart is  
so hard beaten  by continual traffic1   
that there is no hope of the seed       
finding a living  root-hold4 ,satan is  
constantly passing over your heart with 
his company  of blasphemies1 lusts1     
lies1 and vanities4 ,the chariots of    
pride roll  along it1 and the feet of   
greedy mammon tread it till it is hard  
as  adamant4 ,alas6 for the good seed1  
it finds not a moment's respite2  crowds
 pass and repass2 in fact1 your soul is 
an exchange1 across which  continually  
hurry the busy feet of those who make   
merchandise of the  souls of men4 ,you  
are buying and selling1 but you little  
think that you  are selling the truth1  
and that you are buying your soul's     
destruction4  ,you have no time1 you    
say1 to think of religion4 ,no1 the road
 of your  heart is such a crowded       
thoroughfare1 that there is no room for 
the  wheat to spring up4 ,if it did     
begin to germinate1 some rough foot     

would  crush the green blade ere it     
could come to perfection4 ,the seed has 
occasionally lain long enough to begin  
to sprout1 but just then a new  place of
 amusement has been opened1 and you have
 entered there1 and as  with an iron    
heel1 the germ of life that was in the  
seed was crushed  out4 ,corn could not  
grow in ,cornhill or ,cheapside1 however
 excellent the  seed might be2 your     
heart is just like those crowded        
thoroughfares2 for  so many cares and   
sins throng it1 and so many proud1 vain1
 evil1  rebellious thoughts against ,god
 pass through it1 that the seed of truth
  cannot grow4    ,we have looked at    
this hard roadside1 let us now describe 
what becomes  of the good word1 when it 
falls upon such a heart4 ,it would have 
grown  if it had fallen on right soil1  
but it has dropped into the wrong place1
  and it remains as dry as when it fell 
from the sower's hand4 ,the word of  the
 gospel lies upon the surface of such a 
heart1 but never enters it4  ,like the  

snow1 which sometimes falls upon our    
streets1 drops upon the  wet pavement1  
melts1 and is gone at once1 so is it    
with this man4 ,the  word has not time  
to quicken in his soul2 it lies there an
 instant1 but  it never strikes root1 or
 takes the slightest effect4    ,why do 
men come to hear if the word never      
enters their hearts8 ,that has  often   
puzzled us4 ,some hearers would not be  
absent on the ,sunday on any  account2  
they are delighted to come up with us to
 worship1 but yet the  tear never       
trickles down their cheek1 their soul   
never mounts up to  heaven on the wings 
of praise1 nor do they truly join in our
 confessions  of sin4 ,they do not think
 of the wrath to come1 nor of the future
 state  of their souls4 ,their heart is 
as iron2 the minister might as well     
speak  to a heap of stones as preach to 
them4 ,what brings these senseless      
sinners here8 ,surely we are as hopeful 
of converting lions and leopards  as    
these untamed1 insensible hearts4 ,oh   

feeling6 thou art fled to  brutish      
beasts1 and men have lost their reason6 
,do these people come to  our assemblies
 because it is respectable to attend a  
place of worship8  ,or is it that their 
coming helps to make them comfortable in
 their sins8  ,if they stopped away     
conscience would prick them2 but they   
come hither  that they may flatter      
themselves with the notion that they are
  religious4 ,oh6 my hearers1 your case 
is one that might make an angel  weep6  
,how sad to have the sun of the gospel  
shining on your faces1 and  yet to have 
blind eyes that never see the light6    
,the music of heaven is  lost upon you1 
for you have no ears to hear4 ,you can  
catch the turn of a  phrase1 you can    
appreciate the poetry of an             
illustration1 but the hidden  meaning1  
the divine life1 you do not perceive4   
,you sit at the  marriage-feast1 but you
 eat not of the dainties2 the bells of  
heaven  ring with joy over ransomed     
spirits1 but you live unransomed1       

without  ,god1 and without ,christ4     
,though we plead with you1 and pray for 
you1 and  weep over you1 you still      
remain as hardened1 as careless1 and as 
thoughtless as ever you were4 ,may ,god 
have mercy on you1 and break up  your   
hard hearts1 that his word may abide in 
you4    ,we have not1 however1 completed
 the picture4 ,the passage tells us that
  the fowls of the air devoured the     
seed4 ,is there here a wayside hearer8  
,perhaps he did not mean to hear this   
sermon1 and when he has heard it he     
will be asked by one of the wicked to   
come into company4 ,he will go with  the
 tempter1 and the good seed will be     
devoured by the fowls of the air4       
,plenty of evil ones are ready to take  
away the gospel from the heart4  ,the   
devil himself1 that prince of the air1  
is eager at any time to  snatch away a  
good thought4 ,and then the devil is not
 alone--he has  legions of helpers4 ,he 
can set a man's wife1 children1 friends1
  enemies1 customers1 or creditors1 to  

eat up the good seed1 and they will  do 
it effectually4 ,oh1 sorrow upon sorrow1
 that heavenly seed should  become      
devil's meat2 that ,god's corn should   
feed foul birds6    ,o my hearers1 if   
you have heard the gospel from your     
youth1 what  wagon-loads of sermons have
 been wasted on you6 ,in your younger   
days1  you heard old ,dr4 ,so-and-so1   
and the dear old man was wont to pray   
for  his hearers till his eyes were red 
with tears6 ,do you recollect those     
many ,sundays when you said to yourself1
 ,let me go to my chamber and  fall on  
my knees and pray8 ,but you did not2 the
 fowls of the air ate up  the seed1 and 
you went on to sin as you had sinned    
before4 ,since then1  by some strange   
impulse1 you are very rarely absent from
 ,god's house2  but now the seed of the 
gospel falls into your soul as if it    
dropped  upon an iron floor1 and nothing
 comes of it4 ,the law may be thundered 
at  you2 you do not sneer at it1 but it 
never affects you4 ,jesus ,christ may   

be lifted up2 his dear wounds may be    
exhibited2 his streaming blood may  flow
 before your very eyes1 and you may be  
bidden with all earnestness  to look to 
him and live2 but it is as if one should
 sow the sea-shore4  ,what shall ,i do  
for you8 ,shall ,i stand here and rain  
tears upon this  hard highway8 ,alas6 my
 tears will not break it up2 it is      
trodden too  hard for that4 ,shall ,i   
bring the gospel plough8 ,alas6 the     
ploughshare  will not enter ground so   
solid4 ,what shall we do8 ,o ,god1 thou 
knowest  how to melt the hardest heart  
with the precious blood of ,jesus4 ,do  
it  now1 we beseech thee1 and thus      
magnify thy grace1 by causing the good  
seed to live1 and to produce a heavenly 
harvest4      ,,ii4 ,i shall now turn to
 the second class of hearers3 ,and some 
fell upon  a ,,rock2 and as soon as it  
was sprung up1 it withered away1 because
 it  lacked moisture4 ,you can easily   
picture to yourselves that piece of     
rock in the midst of the field thinly   

veiled with soil2 and of course  the    
seed falls there as it does everywhere  
else4 ,it springs up1 it  hastens to    
grow1 it withers1 it dies4 ,none but    
those who love the souls  of men can    
tell what hopes1 what joys1 and what    
bitter disappointments  these stony     
places have caused us4 ,we have a class 
of hearers whose  hearts are hard1 and  
yet they are apparently the softest and 
most  impressible of men4 ,while other  
men see nothing in the sermon1 these men
  weep4 ,whether you preach the terrors 
of the law or the love of ,calvary1     
they are alike stirred in their souls1  
and the liveliest impressions are       
apparently produced4 ,such may be       
listening now4 ,they have resolved1 but 
they have procrastinated4 ,they are not 
the sturdy enemies of ,god who  clothe  
themselves in steel1 but they seem to   
bare their breasts1 and lay  them open  
to the minister4 ,rejoiced in heart1 we 
shoot our arrows there1  and they appear
 to penetrate2 but1 alas1 a secret armor

 blunts every  dart1 and no wound is    
felt4 ,the parable speaks of this       
character thus3  ,some fell upon stony  
places1 where they had not much earth3  
and  forthwith they sprung up1 because  
they had no deepness of earth4 ,or as   
another passage explains it3 ,and these 
are they likewise which are sown  on    
stony ground2 who1 when they have heard 
the word1 immediately receive  it with  
gladness2 and have no root in           
themselves1 and so endure but for  a    
time3 afterward1 when affliction or     
persecution ariseth for the word's      
sake1 immediately they are offended4    
,have we not thousands of hearers  who  
receive the word with joy8 ,they have no
 deep convictions1 but they  leap into  
,christ on a sudden1 and profess an     
instantaneous faith in him1  and that   
faith has all the appearance of being   
genuine4 ,when we look at  it1 the seed 
has really sprouted4 ,there is a kind of
 life in it1 there  is apparently a     
green blade4 ,we thank ,god that a      

sinner is brought back1  a soul is born 
to ,god4 ,but our joy is premature2 they
 sprang up on a  sudden1 and received   
the word with joy1 because they had no  
depth of  earth1 and the self-same cause
 which hastened their reception of the  
seed also causes them1 when the sun is  
risen with his fervent heat1 to  wither 
away4 ,these men we see every day in the
 week4 ,they come to join  the church2  
they tell us a story of how they heard  
us preach on  such-and-such an occasion1
 and1 oh1 the word was so blessed to    
them1  they never felt so happy in their
 lives6 ,oh1 sir1 ,i thought ,i must    
leap  from my seat when ,i heard about a
 precious ,christ1 and ,i believed on   
him  there and then2 ,i am sure ,i did4 
,we question them as to whether they    
were ever convinced of sin4 ,they think 
they were2 but one thing they  know1    
they feel a great pleasure in religion4 
,we put it to them4 ,do you  think you  
will hold on8 ,they are confident that  
they shall4 ,they hate  the things they 

once loved1 they are sure they do4      
,everything has become  new to them4    
,and all this is on a sudden4 ,we       
enquire when the good work  began4 ,we  
find it began when it ended1 that is to 
say1 there was no  previous work1 no    
ploughing of the soil1 but on a sudden  
they sprang  from death to life1 as if a
 field should be covered with wheat by  
magic4  ,perhaps we receive them into   
the church2 but in a week or two they   
are  not so regular as they used to be4 
,we gently reprove them1 and they       
explain that they meet with such        
opposition in religion that they are    
obliged to yield a little4 ,another     
month and we lose them altogether4  ,the
 reason is that they have been laughed  
at or exposed to a little  opposition1  
and they have gone back4 ,and what1     
think you1 are the  feelings of the     
minister8 ,he is like the husbandman1   
who sees his field  all green and       
flourishing1 but at night a frost nips  
every shoot1 and  his hoped-for gains   

are gone4 ,the minister goes to his     
chamber1 and  casts himself on his face 
before ,god1 and cries1 ,i have been    
deceived2  my converts are fickle1 their
 religion has withered as the green     
herb4  ,in the ancient story ,orpheus is
 said to have had such skill upon the   
lyre1 that he made the oaks and stones  
to dance around him4 ,it is a  poetical 
fiction1 and yet hath it sometimes      
happened to the minister1  that not only
 have the godly rejoiced1 but men1 like 
oaks and stones1  have danced from their
 places4 ,alas6 they have been oaks and 
stones  still4 ,hushed is the lyre4 ,the
 oak returns to its rooting-place1 and  
the  stone casts itself heavily to the  
earth4 ,the sinner1 who1 like ,saul1 was
  among the prophets1 goes back to plan 
mischief against the ,most ,high4    ,if
 it is bad to be a wayside hearer1 ,i   
cannot think it is much better to  be   
like the rock4 ,this second class of    
hearers certainly gives us more  joy    
than the first4 ,a certain company      

always comes round a new minister2  and 
,i have often thought it is an act of   
,god's kindness that he allows  these   
people to gather at the first1 while the
 minister is young1 and  has but few to 
stand by him2 these persons are easily  
moved1 and if the  minister preaches    
earnestly they feel it1 and they love   
him1 and rally  round him1 much to his  
comfort4 ,but time1 that proves all     
things1  proves them4 ,they seemed to be
 made of true metal2 but when they are  
put  into the fire to be tested1 they   
are consumed in the furnace4 ,some of   
the shallow kind are here now4 ,i have  
looked at you when ,i have been         
preaching1 and ,i have often thought1   
,that man one of these days will  come  
out from the world1 ,i am sure he will4 
,i have thanked ,god for him4  ,alas1 he
 is the same as ever4 ,years and years  
have we sowed him in vain1  and it is to
 be feared it will be so to the end1 for
 he is without  depth1 and without the  
moisture of the ,spirit4 ,shall it be   

so8 ,must ,i  stand over the mouth of   
your open sepulchre1 and think1 ,here   
lies a  shoot which never became an ear1
 a man in whom grace struggled but never
  reigned1 who gave some hopeful spasms 
of life and then subsided into  eternal 
death8 ,god save you6 ,oh6 may the      
,spirit deal with you  effectually1 and 
may you1 even you1 yet bring forth fruit
 unto ,god1 that  ,jesus may have a     
reward for his sufferings4      ,,iii4  
,i shall briefly treat of the third     
class1 and may the ,spirit of ,god      
assist me to deal faithfully with you4  
,and some fell among ,,thorns2 and  the 
thorns sprang up with it1 and choked it4
 ,now1 this was good soil4  ,the two    
first characters were bad2 the wayside  
was not the proper place1  the rock was 
not a congenial situation for the growth
 of any plant2 but  this is good soil1  
for it grows thorns4 ,wherever a thistle
 will spring  up and flourish1 there    
would wheat flourish too4 ,this was fat1
 fertile  soil2 it was no marvel        

therefore that the husbandman dealt     
largely  there1 and threw handful after 
handful upon that corner of the field4  
,see how happy he is when in a month or 
two he visits the spot4 ,the seed  has  
sprung up4 ,true1 there's a suspicious  
little plant down there of  about the   
same size as the wheat4 ,oh6 he thinks1 
that's not much1 the  corn will outgrow 
that4 ,when it is stronger it will choke
 these few  thistles that have          
unfortunately mixed with it4 ,ay1 ,mr4  
,husbandman1 you  do not understand the 
force of evil1 or you would not thus    
dream6 ,he  comes again1 and the seed   
has grown1 there is even the corn in the
 ear2  but the thistles1 the thorns1 and
 the briers have become inter-twisted   
with one another1 and the poor wheat can
 hardly get a ray of sunshine4  ,it is  
so choked with thorns every way1 that it
 looks quite yellow2 the  plant is      
starved4 ,still it perseveres in        
growing1 and it does seem as if  it     
would bring forth a little fruit4 ,alas1

 it never comes to anything4  ,with it  
the reaper never fills his arm4    ,we  
have this class very largely among us4  
,these hear the word and  understand    
what they hear4 ,they take the truth    
home2 they think it over2  they even go 
the length of making a profession of    
religion4 ,the wheat  seems to spring   
and ear2 it will soon come to           
perfection4 ,be in no  hurry1 these men 
and women have a great deal to see      
after2 they have the  cares of a large  
concern2 their establishment employs so 
many hundred  hands2 do not be deceived 
as to their godliness--they have no time
 for  it4 ,they will tell you that they 
must live2 that they cannot neglect     
this world2 that they must anyhow look  
out for the present1 and as for  the    
future1 they will render it all due     
attention by-and-by4 ,they  continue to 
attend gospel-preaching1 and the poor   
little stunted blade  of religion keeps 
on growing after a fashion4 ,meanwhile  
they have grown  rich1 they come to the 

place of worship in a carriage1 they    
have all  that heart can wish4 ,ah6 now 
the seed will grow1 will it not8 ,no1   
no4  ,they have no cares now2 the shop  
is given up1 they live in the country2  
they have not to ask1 ,where shall the  
money come from to meet the next  bill8 
or how shall they be able to provide for
 an increasing family4  ,now they have  
too much instead of too little1 for they
 have riches1  and they are too wealthy 
to be gracious4 ,but1 says one1 they    
might  spend their riches for ,god4     
,certainly they might1 but they do not1 
for  riches are deceitful4 ,they have to
 entertain much company1 and chime in   
with the world1 and so ,christ and his  
church are left in the lurch4    ,yes1  
but they begin to spend their riches1   
and they have surely got over  that     
difficulty1 for they give largely to the
 cause of ,christ1 and they  are        
munificent in charity2 the little blade 
will grow1 will it not8 ,no1  for now   
behold the thorns of pleasure4 ,their   

liberality to others  involves          
liberality to themselves2 their         
pleasures1 amusements1 and  vanities    
choke the wheat of true religion2 the   
good grains of gospel  truth cannot grow
 because they have to attend that       
musical party1 that  ball1 and that     
soire1 and so they cannot think of the  
things of ,god4 ,i  know several        
specimens of this class4 ,i knew one1   
high in court circles1  who has         
confessed to me that he wished he were  
poor1 for then he might  enter the      
kingdom of heaven4 ,he has said to me1  
,ah6 sir1 these  politics1 these        
politics1 ,i wish ,i were rid of them1  
they are eating the  life out of my     
heart4 ,i cannot serve ,god as ,i would4
 ,i know of another1  overloaded with   
riches1 who has said to me1 ,ah6 sir1 it
 is an awful  thing to be rich2 one     
cannot keep close to the ,saviour with  
all this  earth about him4    ,ah6 my   
dear readers1 ,i will not ask for you   
that ,god may lay you on a  bed of      

sickness1 that he may strip you of all  
your wealth1 and bring  you to beggary2 
but1 oh1 if he were to do it1 and you   
were to save your  souls1 it would be   
the best bargain you could ever make4   
,if those mighty  ones who now complain 
that the thorns choke the seed could    
give up all  their riches and pleasures1
 if they that fare sumptuously every day
  could take the place of ,lazarus at   
the gate1 it were a happy change for    
them if their souls might be saved4 ,a  
man may be honorable and rich1 and  yet 
go to heaven2 but it will be hard work1 
for ,it is easier for a  camel to go    
through the eye of a needle1 than for a 
rich man to enter  into the kingdom of  
heaven4 ,god does make some rich men    
enter the  kingdom of heaven1 but hard  
is their struggle4 ,steady1 young man1  
steady6 ,hurry not to climb to wealth6  
,it is a place where many heads are     
turned4 ,do not ask ,god to make you    
popular2 they that have popularity  are 
wearied by it4 ,cry with ,agur1 ,give me

 neither poverty nor riches4  ,god give 
me to tread the golden mean1 and may ,i 
ever have in my heart  that good seed1  
which shall bring forth fruit a         
hundredfold to his own  glory4          
,,iv4 ,i now close with the last        
character1 namely1 the ,,good ,,ground4 
,of the  good soil1 as you will mark1 we
 have but one in four4 ,will one in four
  of our hearers1 with well-prepared    
heart1 receive the ,word8    ,the ground
 is described as good2 not that it was  
good by nature1 but  it had been made   
good by grace4 ,god had ploughed it2 he 
had stirred it  up with the plough of   
conviction1 and there it lay in ridge   
and furrow  as it should lie4 ,when the 
gospel was preached1 the heart received 
it1  for the man said1 ,that is just the
 blessing ,i want4 ,mercy is what a     
needy sinner requires4 ,so that the     
preaching of the gospel was ,,the  thing
 to give comfort to this disturbed and  
ploughed soil4 ,down fell the  seed to  
take good root4 ,in some cases it       

produced fervency of love1  largeness of
 heart1 devotedness of purpose of a     
noble kind1 like seed  which produces a 
hundredfold4 ,the man became a mighty   
servant for ,god1  he spent himself and 
was spent4 ,he took his place in the    
vanguard of  ,christ's army1 stood in   
the hottest of the battle1 and did deeds
 of  daring which few could             
accomplish--the seed produced a         
hundredfold4 ,it  fell into another     
heart of like character2 the man could  
not do the  most1 but still he did much4
 ,he gave himself to ,god1 and in his   
business  he had a word to say for his  
,lord2 in his daily walk he quietly     
adorned  the doctrine of ,god his       
,saviour--he brought forth sixtyfold4   
,then it  fell on another1 whose        
abilities and talents were but small2 he
 could  not be a star1 but he would be a
 glow-worm2 he could not do as the      
greatest1 but he was content to do      
something1 however humble4 ,the seed    
had brought forth in him tenfold1       

perhaps twentyfold4 ,how many are there 
of this sort here8 ,is there one who    
prays within himself1 ,god be  merciful 
to me a sinner8 ,the seed has fallen in 
the right spot4 ,soul1  thy prayer shall
 be heard4 ,god never sets a man longing
 for mercy  without intending to give   
it4 ,does another whisper1 ,oh that ,i  
might be  saved8 ,believe on the ,lord  
,jesus ,christ1 and thou1 even thou1    
shalt be  saved4 ,hast thou been the    
chief of sinners8 ,trust ,christ1 and   
thy  enormous sins shall vanish as the  
millstone sinks beneath the flood4 ,is  
there no one here that will trust the   
,saviour8 ,can it be possible that  the 
,spirit is entirely absent8 that he is  
not moving in one soul8 not  begetting  
life in one spirit8 ,we will pray that  
he may now descend1 that  the word may  
not be in vain4          ,,the          
,,principal ,,wheat4    ,the principal  
wheat4--,,isaiah #bh3be4      ,,the     
prophet mentions it as a matter of      
wisdom on the part of the  husbandman1  

that ,,he ,,knows ,,what ,,is ,,the     
,,principal ,,thing ,,to ,,cultivate1   
and  makes it his principal care4 ,the  
text1 with the connection1 runs thus3   
,does not the husbandman cast in the    
principal wheat8 ,he does not go to  the
 granary and take out wheat1 and cummin1
 and barley1 and rye1 and  fling these  
about right and left1 but he estimates  
the value of each  grain1 and arranges  
them in his mind accordingly4 ,he does  
not think that  cummin and caraway1     
which he merely grows to give a flavor  
to his meal1  are of half such          
importance as his bread-corn2 and1      
though rye and  barley have their       
values1 yet he does not reckon that even
 these are  equal to what he calls the  
principal wheat4 ,he is a man of        
discretion1  he arranges things2 he     
places the most important crop in the   
front rank1  and spends upon it the most
 care4    ,here let us learn a lesson4  
,do keep things distinct in your        
minds--not  huddled and muddled by a    

careless thoughtlessness4 ,do not live a
  confused life1 without care and       
discretion1 running all things into one2
  but sort things out1 and divide and   
distinguish between the precious and    
the vile4 ,see what this is worth1 and  
what the other is worth1 and set  your  
matters in rank and order1 making some  
of them principal1 and  others of them  
inferior4 ,i suggest to you young people
 especially that1  in starting life1 you
 say to yourselves1 ,what shall we live 
for8 ,there  is a principal thing for   
which we ought to live1 what shall it   
be8 ,have  you turned over that         
question1 or have you gone at it hit or 
miss8 ,what  are you living for8 ,what  
is your principal aim8 ,is it going to  
be that  of the old gentleman in ,horace
 who said to his boy1 ,get money3 get it
  honestly1 if you can2 but1 by all     
means1 get money4 ,will you be a        
money-spinner8 ,shall coin be your      
principal corn8 ,or will you choose a   
life of pleasure--a short life and a    

merry one1 as so many fools have  said  
to their great sorrow8 ,is it in        
dissipation that your life is to be     
spent8 ,are thistles to be your         
principal crop8 ,because there is a     
pleasure in looking at a ,scotch        
thistle1 do you intend to grow acres of 
pleasurable vice8 ,and will you make    
your bed upon them when you come to     
die8 ,search and see what is worthy of  
being the principal object in  life2    
and1 when you have found it out1 then   
beseech the ,holy ,spirit to  help you  
to choose that one thing1 and to give   
all your powers and  faculties to the   
cultivation of it4 ,the farmer1 who     
finds that wheat  ought to be his       
principal crop1 makes it so1 and lays   
himself out with  that end in view2     
learn from this to have a main object1  
and to give  your whole mind to it4     
,this farmer was wise1 because he       
counted that to be principal which was  
the most needful4 ,his family could do  
without cummin1 which was but a         

flavoring4 ,perhaps the mistress might  
complain1 or the cook might  grumble1   
but that did not signify so much as it  
would do if the children  cried for     
bread4 ,they certainly must have wheat1 
for bread is the staff  of life4 ,it is 
bread that strengtheneth man's heart1   
and therefore the  farmer must grow     
wheat if he does not grow anything else4
 ,that which is  necessary he regarded  
as the principal thing4 ,is not this    
common sense8  ,if we were wisely to sit
 down and estimate1 should we not say1  
,to be  forgiven my sins1 to be right   
with ,god1 to be holy1 to be fit to live
  eternally in heaven1 is the greatest1 
the most needful thing for me1 and      
therefore ,i will make it the principal 
object of my pursuit8 ,a creature       
cannot be satisfied unless he is        
answering the end for which he is       
created2 and the end of every           
intelligent creature is first1 to       
glorify  ,god1 and next1 to enjoy ,god4 
,what a bliss it must be to enjoy ,god  

himself for ever and ever6 ,other things
 may be desirable1 but this thing  is   
needful4 ,a competence of income1 a     
measure of esteem among men1 a  degree  
of health--all these are the flavoring  
of life1 but to be saved  in the ,lord  
with an everlasting salvation is life   
itself4 ,jesus ,christ  is the bread by 
which our soul's best life is sustained4
 ,oh1 that we  were all wise enough to  
feel that to be one with ,christ is the 
one thing  needful2 that to be at peace 
with ,god is the principal thing2 that  
to be  brought into harmony with the    
,most ,high is the true music of our    
being4  ,other herbs may take their     
place in due order1 but grace is the    
principal wheat1 and we must cultivate  
it4    ,this farmer was wise1 because he
 made that to be the principal thing    
which was the most fit to be so4 ,of    
course1 barley is useful as food1  for  
nations have lived on barley bread1 and 
lived healthily too2 and rye  has been  
the nutriment of millions2 neither have 

they starved on oats  and other grains4 
,still1 give me a piece of wheaten      
bread1 for it is the  best staff for    
life's journey4 ,this farmer knew that  
wheat was the most  fitting food for    
man1 and so he did not put the inferior 
grain1 which  might act as a substitute1
 into the prominent place2 but he gave  
his  wheat the preference4 ,he did not  
say1 the principal barley1 or the       
principal rye1 much less the principal  
cummin1 or the principal  fitches1 but  
the principal wheat4    ,and what is    
there1 brethren1 that is so fit for the 
heart1 the mind1 the  soul of man1 as to
 know ,god and his ,christ8 ,other      
mental foods1 such as  the fruits of    
knowledge1 and the dainties of science1 
excellent though  they may be--are      
inferior nutriment and unsuitable to    
build up the inner  manhood4 ,in my ,god
 and my ,saviour1 ,i find my heaven and 
my all4 ,my soul  sits down to a crumb  
of truth about ,jesus1 and finds great  
satisfaction  in living upon it4 ,the   

more we can know ,god1 and enjoy ,god1  
and become  like to ,god1 and the more  
,christ is our daily bread1 the more do 
we  perceive the fitness of all this to 
our new-born natures4 ,o beloved1  make 
that to be your principal object which  
is the fittest pursuit of an  immortal  
mind4      ,religion is the chief       
concern      ,of mortals here below2    
,may ,i its great importance learn1     
,its sovereign virtue know6      ,more  
needful this than glittering wealth1    
,or aught the world bestows3    ,not    
reputation1 food1 or health1      ,can  
give us such repose4    ,moreover1 this 
farmer was wise1 because he made that   
the principal  thing which was the most 
profitable4 ,under certain              
circumstances1 in  our own country1     
wheat is not the most profitable thing  
which a man can  grow2 but1 ordinarily1 
it is the best crop that the earth      
yields1 and  therefore the text speaks  
of the principal wheat4 ,our            
grandfathers  used to rely upon the     

wheat stack to pay their rent4 ,they    
looked to  their corn as the arm of     
their strength2 and though it is not so 
now1 it  always was so of old1 and      
perhaps it may yet be so again4 ,anyhow1
 the  figure holds good with regard to  
true religion4 ,that is the most        
profitable thing4 ,i am told that rich  
men find it very hard to get hold  of   
anything which yields five per cent1    
nowadays2 but this blessed fear  of the 
,lord is an extraordinarily profitable  
investment1 for it does not  yield a    
hundred per cent1 or a thousand per     
cent1 but a man begins with  nothing and
 all things become his by faith4 ,being 
freely discharged of  our sins1 we are  
by overflowing grace greatly enriched1  
so that we  number among our possessions
 heaven itself1 ,christ himself1 ,god   
himself4  ,all things are ours4 ,oh1    
what a blessed crop to sow6 ,what a     
harvest  comes of it6 ,godliness is     
profitable for the life that now is1 and
 for  that which is to come4 ,godliness 

is a blessing to a man's body1 it keeps 
him from drunkenness and vice2 and it is
 a blessing to his soul1 it  makes him  
sweet and pure4 ,it is a blessing to him
 every way4 ,if ,i had to  die like a   
dog1 ,i would like to live like a       
,christian4 ,if there were no           
hereafter1 yet still1 for comfort and   
for joy1 give me the life of one  who   
strives to live like ,christ4 ,there is 
a practical everyday truth in  the      
verse--      ',tis religion that can    
give     ,sweetest pleasures while we   
live2     ',tis religion must supply    
,solid comfort when we die4    ,only    
that religion must not be of the common 
sort2 it must have for its  root a      
hearty faith in ,jesus ,christ4 ,see ye 
to it4 ,our religion must be  either    
everything or nothing1 either first or  
nowhere4 ,make it the  principal wheat1 
and it will richly repay you4      ,,ii4
 ,secondly1 the husbandman is a lesson  
to us because ,,he ,,gives ,,this       
,,principal ,,thing ,,the ,,principal   

,,place4 ,i find that the ,hebrew is    
rendered  by some eminent scholars1 ,he 
puts the wheat into the principal place4
  ,that little handful of cummin for the
 wife to flavor the cakes with he  grows
 in a corner2 and the various herbs he  
places in their proper  borders4 ,the   
barley he sets in its plot1 and the rye 
in its acre2 but if  there is a good bit
 of rich soil--the best he has--he      
appropriates it to  the principal wheat4
 ,he gives his choicest fields to that  
which is to be  the main means of his   
living4    ,now1 here is a lesson for   
you and for me4 ,let us give to true    
godliness  our principal powers and     
abilities4 ,let us give to the things of
 ,god our  best and most intense        
thought4 ,i pray you1 do not take       
religion at  second hand from what ,i   
tell you1 or from what somebody else    
tells you2  but think it over4 ,read1   
mark1 learn1 and inwardly digest the    
word of  ,god4 ,the thoughtful          
,christian is the growing ,christian4   

,remember1 the  service of ,god deserves
 our first consideration and endeavor4  
,we are  poor things at our prime1 but  
we ought to give the ,lord nothing short
 of  our best4 ,god would not have us   
serve him heedlessly1 but he would have 
us use all the brain and intellect and  
mind that we have in studying and       
practising his word4 ,acquaint now      
thyself with him1 and be at peace4      
,meditate upon these things4 ,give      
thyself wholly to them4 ,if your mind   
is more clear and active at one time    
than at another1 then sow the  principal
 wheat4 ,if you feel more fresh and more
 inclined to think at  one time of the  
day than at another1 let your mind then 
go towards the  best things4    ,be     
sure1 also1 to yield to this subject    
your most earnest love4 ,the  best field
 in the little estate of manhood is not 
the head1 but the  heart2 sow the       
principal wheat there4 ,oh1 to have true
 religion in the  heart2 to love what we
 know--intensely to love it2 to hold it 

fast as  with the grip of life and      
death--never to let it go6 ,the ,lord   
says1 ,my  son1 give me thy heart1 and  
he will not be contented with anything  
less  than our heart4 ,oh1 when your    
zeal is most burning1 and your love is  
most fervent1 let the warmth and the    
fervency all go towards the ,lord  your 
,god1 and to the service of him who has 
redeemed you with his  precious blood4  
,let the principal wheat have the       
principal part of your  nature4 ,towards
 ,god and his ,christ also turn your    
most fervent  desires4 ,when you enlarge
 your desire1 desire ,christ2 when you  
become  ambitious let your ambition be  
all for ,god4 ,let your hunger and your 
thirst be after righteousness4 ,let your
 aspirations and your longings be  all  
towards holiness1 and the things that   
shall make you like to ,christ4  ,give  
to this principal wheat your principal  
desires4    ,then let the ,lord have the
 attentive respect of your life4 ,let   
the  principal wheat be sown in every   

action4 ,if we are truly ,christians we 
must be as much ,christians outside the 
church as in it4 ,we shall try to  make 
our eating and our drinking1 and        
everything we do1 tend to the  glory of 
,god4 ,draw no line between the secular 
and the religious part of  your conduct1
 but let the secular be made religious  
by a devout desire  to glorify ,god in  
the one as much as in the other4 ,let us
 worship ,god  in the commonest duties  
of life1 even as they do who stand      
before his  throne4 ,so it ought to be4 
,let us sow the principal wheat in all  
the  fields of our conversation1 in     
business1 in the family1 among our      
friends1 and with our children4 ,may we 
each one feel1 ,for me to live is       
,christ4 ,i cannot live without ,christ1
 or for anything but ,christ4 ,let  your
 whole nature yield itself to ,jesus1   
and to none else4    ,we should give to 
this principal wheat our most earnest   
labors4 ,we  should spend ourselves for 
the spread of the gospel4 ,a ,christian 

man  ought to lay himself out to serve  
,jesus4 ,i hate to see a professing man 
zealous in politics and lukewarm in     
devotion2 all on fire at a parish       
vestry1 and chill as winter when he     
comes to a prayer-meeting4 ,some fly    
like eagles when they are serving the   
world1 but they have a broken wing  in  
the service of ,god4 ,this should not   
be4 ,if anything could rouse us  up1 and
 make the lion within us roar in his    
strength1 it should be when  we confront
 the foes of ,jesus or fight in his     
cause4 ,our ,lord's service  is the     
principal wheat1 let us labor most in   
connection with it4    ,this1 ,i think1 
should also take possession of us so as 
to lead to our  greatest sacrifices4    
,the love of ,christ ought to be so     
strong as to  swallow up self1 and make 
sacrifice our daily joy4 ,for ,christ's 
name's  sake we should be willing to    
endure poverty1 reproach1 slander1      
exile1  death4 ,nothing should be dear  
to a ,christian in comparison with      

,christ4  ,now1 ,i will put it to you   
whether it is so or no4 ,is the love of 
,jesus  the principal wheat with us8    
,are we giving our religion the chief   
place  or not8 ,i am afraid some people 
treat religion as certain gentlemen     
treat an off-hand farm2 they put a      
bailiff into it1 and only give an  eye  
to it now and then4 ,their minister is  
the bailiff1 and they expect  him to see
 to it for them4 ,these off-hand farms  
are losing concerns4  ,look at these    
half-and-half brethren4 ,they have      
religion8 ,certainly4 ,but  they are    
like the man of whom the child spoke at 
the ,sunday-school4 ,is  your father a  
,christian8 said the teacher4 ,yes1 said
 the child1 but  he has not worked much 
at it lately4 ,i could point out several
 of this  sort1 who are sowing their    
wheat very sparingly1 and choosing the  
most  barren patch to sow it in4 ,they  
profess to be ,christians1 but religion 
is a tenth-rate article on their farm4  
,some have a large acreage for the      

world1 and a poor little plot for       
,christ4 ,they are growers of worldly   
pleasure and self-indulgence1 and they  
sow a little religion by the  roadside  
for appearance sake4 ,this will not do4 
,god will not thus be  mocked4 ,if we   
despise him and his truth we shall be   
lightly esteemed4 ,o  come let us give  
our principal time1 talent1 thought1    
effort to that  which is the chief      
concern of immortal spirits4 ,may we    
imitate the  husbandman who gives the   
principal wheat the principal place in  
his  farm4      ,,iii4 ,let us learn a  
third lesson4 ,,the ,,husbandman        
,,selects ,,the ,,principal             
,,seed-,,corn ,,when ,,he ,,is ,,sowing 
,,his ,,wheat4 ,when a farmer is setting
 aside  wheat for sowing1 he does not   
choose the tail corn and the worst of   
his  produce1 but if he is a sensible   
man he likes to sow the best wheat in   
the world4 ,many farmers search the     
country round for a good sample of      
wheat for sowing1 for they do not expect

 to get a good harvest out of  bad seed4
 ,the husbandman is taught of ,god to   
put into the ground the  principal      
wheat4 ,let me learn that if ,i am going
 to sow to the ,lord  and to be a       
,christian1 ,i should sow the best kind 
of ,christianity4    ,i should try to do
 this1 first1 by believing the          
weightiest doctrines4  ,i would believe 
not this ism1 nor that1 but the         
unadulterated truth  which ,jesus       
taught2 for a holy character will only  
grow by the ,spirit of  ,god out of true
 doctrine4 ,falsehood breeds sin3 truth 
begets and fosters  holiness4 ,you and  
,i therefore ought to select our seed   
carefully1 and  cast out all error4 ,if 
we are wise we shall think most of the  
most  important truths1 for ,i have     
known people attach the greatest        
importance  to the smallest things4     
,they fight over the fitches1 and leave 
the wheat  to the crows4 ,as for me1    
those who will may dispute over vials   
and  trumpets1 ,i shall mainly preach   

the doctrine of the precious blood and  
the glorious truths of substitution and 
atonement4 ,these doctrines are  the    
principal wheat1 and therefore these    
shall have my choice4    ,next to that1 
we ought to sow the noblest examples4   
,many men are  dwarfed because they     
choose a bad model to start with4 ,they 
imitate dear  old ,mr4 ,so-and-so till  
they grow wonderfully like him with the 
best of  him left out4 ,a minister      
happens to be of a gloomy turn of mind1 
and he  preaches the deep experience of 
the children of ,god1 and in consequence
  a band of good people think it their  
duty to be melancholy4 ,why need  they  
fall into a ditch because their leader  
has splashed himself8 ,we  should never 
copy any man's infirmities4 ,to be like 
,paul there is no  need to have weak    
eyes2 to be like ,thomas there is no    
necessity to  doubt4 ,if you copy any   
good man1 there is a point at which you 
ought to  stop short4 ,if ,i must have a
 human model1 ,i would prefer one of the

  bravest of the saints of ,god2 but oh 
how much better to follow that  perfect 
pattern which you have in ,christ       
,jesus6    ,we should sow the best wheat
 by seeing that we have the purest      
spirit4  ,alas6 how soon do spirits     
become soiled by self or pride1 or      
despondency  or sloth1 or some earthly  
taint4 ,but what a grand thing it is to 
live in  the spirit of ,christ6 ,may we 
be humble1 lowly1 bold1                 
self-sacrificing1  pure1 chaste1 and    
holy4    ,and1 then1 there is one more  
mode of sowing selected seed4 ,we should
  endeavor to live in the closest       
communion with ,god4 ,a dear brother    
prayed just now that we might have as   
much grace as we were capable of        
receiving1 and that ,god would bring us 
into such a state that we might  not    
hinder him in anything which he willed  
to do by us4 ,this is a good  prayer4   
,it should be our desire to rise to the 
highest form of spiritual  life4 ,if you
 sow this principal wheat1 get the best 

sort of it4 ,there is  a spirit and a   
spirit2 and there are doctrines and     
doctrines2 the best  is the best for    
you4 ,o young men1 if you mean to have  
piety1 go in for  it thoroughly4 ,do not
 sneak through the world as if you were 
ashamed of  your ,lord4 ,if you are     
,christ's1 show your colors4 ,rally to  
his banner1  gather to his trumpet call1
 and then stand up1 stand up for ,jesus4
 ,if  there is any manhood in you1 this 
great cause calls for it all2 exhibit   
it1 and may the ,spirit of ,god help you
 so to do4      ,,iv4 ,fourthly1 ,,the  
,,husbandman ,,grows ,,the ,,principal  
,,wheat ,,with ,,the  ,,principal       
,,care4 ,some critics say that the      
proper translation is that the          
husbandman plants his wheat in rows4 ,it
 is said that the large crops in        
,palestine in olden time were due to the
 fact that they planted the  wheat4     
,they set it in lines1 so that it was   
not checked or suffocated  by its being 
too thick in one place1 neither was     

there any fear of its  being too thin in
 another4 ,the wheat was planted1 and   
then streams of  water were turned by   
the foot to each particular plant4 ,no  
wonder1  therefore1 that the land       
brought forth abundantly4    ,we should 
give our principal care to the principal
 thing4 ,our godliness  should be       
carried out with discretion and care4   
,brethren1 are we careful  enough as to 
our religious walk8 ,have you ever      
searched to the bottom of  your         
profession8 ,why do you happen to be    
members of a certain church8  ,your     
mother was so4 ,well1 there is some good
 in that reason1 but not  enough to     
justify you in the sight of ,god4 ,i    
pray you judge your  standing4 ,if any  
,christian minister is afraid to urge   
you to this duty1  ,i stand in doubt of 
him4 ,i am not at all afraid4 ,i beg you
 to examine  all that ,i teach you1 for 
,i would not like to be responsible for 
another  man's creed4 ,like the         
,bereans1 search and see whether these  

things be  according to ,scripture or   
not4 ,one of the greatest blessings that
 could  come upon the church would be a 
searching spirit which would refer      
everything to the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,if
 they speak not according to this  word 
it is because there is no light in them4
 ,do your service to ,god as  carefully 
as the eastern farmer planted his wheat1
 when he set it in  rows with great     
orderliness and exactness4 ,you serve a 
precise ,god1  therefore serve him      
precisely4 ,he is a jealous ,god1       
therefore be jealous  of the least taint
 of error or will-worship4    ,take     
care1 also1 that you water every part of
 your religion1 as the  farmer watered  
each plant4 ,pray for grace from on high
 that you may  never be parched and     
dried up4 ,perform to your faith1 to    
your hope1 to  your love1 and to all the
 plants that are in your soul every     
other  service which the husbandman     
renders to his wheat4 ,give grace your  
principal care1 for it deserves it4     

,v4 ,with this ,i close4 ,do this1      
because ,,from ,,this ,,you ,,may       
,,expect ,,your  ,,principal ,,crop4 ,if
 religion be the principal thing1 you   
may look to  religion for your principal
 reward4 ,the harvest will come to you  
in  various ways4 ,you will make the    
greatest success in this life if you    
wholly live to the glory of ,god4       
,success or failure must much depend    
upon the fitness of our object4 ,it is  
of no use my attempting to sing1  for ,i
 shall never be able to conduct a choir4
 ,i could not succeed in  that1 but if  
,i preach1 ,i may succeed1 for that is  
my work4 ,now you1  ,christian man1 if  
you try to live to the world you will   
not prosper1 for  you are not fitted for
 it4 ,grace has spoiled you for sin4 ,if
 you live to  ,god with all your heart  
you will succeed in it1 for ,god has    
made you on  purpose for it4 ,as he made
 the fish for the water1 and the birds  
for the  air1 so he made the believer   
for holiness1 and for the service of    

,god2  and you will be out of your      
element1 a fish out of water1 or a bird 
in  the stream1 if you leave the service
 of ,god4 ,the ,eastern farmer's        
prosperity hinges on his wheat1 and     
yours upon your devotion to ,god4 ,it   
is to ,godliness that you must look for 
your joy4 ,is there any bliss like  the 
bliss of knowing that you are in        
,christ1 and are the beloved of the     
,lord8 ,it is to your religion that you 
must look for comfort on a sick  and    
dying bed1 and you may be there very    
soon4    ,in the world to come what a   
crop1 what a harvest will come of       
serving  the ,lord6 ,what will come out 
of all else8 ,what but mere smoke8 ,a   
man has  made a million of money1 and he
 is dead4 ,what has he got by his       
wealth8  ,a man's fame rings throughout 
the earth as a great and successful     
warrior1 and he is dead4 ,what has he as
 the result of all his honors8 ,to  live
 to the world is like playing with boys 
in the street for halfpence1  or with   

babes for bits of platter and oyster    
shells4 ,life for ,god is  real and     
substantial1 but all else is waste4 ,let
 us think so1 and gird  up our loins to 
serve the ,lord4 ,may the divine ,spirit
 help us to sow  the principal wheat1   
and to live in joyful expectation of    
reaping a  happy harvest according to   
the promise1 ,they that sow in tears    
shall  reap in joy4          ,,spring   
,,in ,,the ,,heart4    ,thou waterest   
the ridges thereof abundantly3 thou     
settlest the furrows  thereof3 thou     
makest it soft with showers3 thou       
blessest the springing                  
thereof4--,,psalm #fe3aj4      ,,though 
other seasons excel in fulness1 spring  
must always bear the palm  for freshness
 and beauty4 ,we thank ,god when the    
harvest hours draw near1  and the golden
 grain invites the sickle1 but we ought 
equally to thank  him for the rougher   
days of spring1 for these prepare the   
harvest4 ,april  showers are mothers of 
the sweet ,may flowers1 and the wet and 

cold of  winter are the parents of the  
splendor of summer4 ,god blesses the    
springing thereof1 or else it could not 
be said1 ,thou crownest the year  with  
thy goodness4 ,there is as much         
necessity for divine benediction in     
spring as for heavenly bounty in summer2
 and1 therefore1 we should  praise ,god 
all the year round4    ,spiritual spring
 is a very blessed season in a church4  
,then we see  youthful piety developed1 
and on every hand we hear the joyful cry
 of  those who say1 ,we have found the  
,lord4 ,our sons are springing up as    
the grass and as willows by the         
water-courses4 ,we hold up our hands in 
glad astonishment and cry1 ,who are     
these that fly as a cloud and as  doves 
to their windows8 ,in the revival days  
of a ,church1 when ,god is  blessing her
 with many conversions1 she has great   
cause to rejoice in  ,god and to sing1  
,thou blessest the springing thereof4   
,i intend to take the text in reference 
to individual cases4 ,there is a  time  

of springing of grace1 when it is just  
in its bud1 just breaking  through the  
dull cold earth of unregenerate nature4 
,i desire to talk a  little about that1 
and concerning the blessing which the   
,lord grants to  the green blade of     
new-born godliness1 to those who are    
beginning to  hope in the ,lord4        
,i4 ,first1 ,i shall have a little to   
say about ,,the ,,work ,,previous ,,to  
,,the  ,,springing ,,thereof4    ,it    
appears from the text that there is work
 for ,god alone to do before  the       
springing comes1 and we know that there 
is work for ,god to do  through us as   
well4    ,there is work for us to do4   
,before there can be a springing up in  
the  soul of any1 there must be         
ploughing1 harrowing1 and sowing4 ,there
  must be a ploughing1 and we do not    
expect that as soon as ever we plough   
we shall reap the sheaves4 ,blessed be  
,god1 in many cases1 the reaper         
overtakes the ploughman1 but we must not
 always expect it4 ,in some  hearts ,god

 is long in preparing the soul by       
conviction3 the law with its  ten black 
horses drags the ploughshare of         
conviction up and down the  soul till   
there is no one part of it left         
unfurrowed4 ,conviction goes  deeper    
than any plough to the very core and    
centre of the spirit1 till  the spirit  
is wounded4 ,the ploughers make deep    
furrows indeed when ,god  puts his hand 
to the work3 the soil of the heart is   
broken in pieces in  the presence of the
 ,most ,high4    ,then comes the sowing4
 ,before there can be a springing up it 
is  certain that there must be something
 put into the ground1 so that after  the
 preacher has used the plough of the    
law1 he applies to his ,master  for the 
seed-basket of the gospel4 ,gospel      
promises1 gospel doctrines1  especially 
a clear exposition of free grace and the
 atonement1 these are  the handfuls of  
corn which we scatter broadcast4 ,some  
of the grain falls  on the highway1 and 
is lost2 but other handfuls fall where  

the plough  has been1 and there abide4  
,then comes the harrowing work4 ,we do  
not expect to sow seed and then  leave  
it3 the gospel has to be prayed over4   
,the prayer of the preacher  and the    
prayer of the ,church make up ,god's    
harrow to rake in the seed  after it is 
scattered1 and so it is covered up      
within the clods of the  soul1 and is   
hidden in the heart of the hearer4      
,now there is a reason why ,i dwell upon
 this1 namely1 that ,i may exhort  my   
dear brethren who have not seen success1
 not to give up the work1 but  to hope  
that they have been doing the ploughing1
 and sowing1 and  harrowing work1 and   
that the harvest is to come4 ,i mention 
this for yet  another reason1 and that  
is1 by way of warning to those who      
expect to  have a harvest without this  
preparatory work4 ,i do not believe that
 much  good will come from attempts at  
sudden revivals made without previous   
prayerful labor4 ,a revival to be       
permanent must be a matter of growth1   

and the result of much holy effort1     
longing1 pleading1 and watching4 ,the   
servant of ,god is to preach the gospel 
whether men are prepared for it  or not2
 but in order to large success1 depend  
upon it there is a  preparedness        
necessary among the hearers4 ,upon some 
hearts warm earnest  preaching drops    
like an unusual thing which startles but
 does not  convince2 while in other     
congregations1 where good gospel        
preaching has  long been the rule1 and  
much prayer has been offered1 the words 
fall  into the hearers' souls and bring 
forth speedy fruit4 ,we must not expect 
to have results without work4 ,there is 
no hope of a church having an  extensive
 revival in its midst unless there is   
continued and importunate  waiting upon 
,god1 together with earnest laboring1   
intense anxiety1 and  hopeful           
expectation4    ,but there is also a    
work to be done which is beyond our     
power4 ,after  ploughing1 sowing1 and   
harrowing1 there must come the shower   

from  heaven4 ,thou visitest the earth  
and waterest it1 says the ,psalmist4 ,in
  vain are all our efforts unless ,god  
shall bless us with the rain of his     
,holy ,spirit's influence4 ,o ,holy     
,spirit6 thou1 and thou alone1 workest  
wonders in the human heart1 and thou    
comest from the ,father and the ,son  to
 do the ,father's purposes1 and to      
glorify the ,son4    ,three effects are 
spoken of4 ,first1 we are told he waters
 the ridges4  ,as the ridges of the     
field become well saturated through and 
through  with the abundant rain1 so ,god
 sends his ,holy ,spirit till the whole 
heart of man is moved and influenced by 
his divine operations4 ,the             
understanding is enlightened1 the       
conscience is quickened1 the will is    
controlled1 the affections are inflamed2
 all these powers1 which ,i may  call   
the ridges of the heart1 come under the 
divine working4 ,it is ours  to deal    
with men as men1 and bring to bear upon 
them gospel truth1 and  to set before   

them motives that are suitable to move  
rational creatures2  but1 after all1 it 
is the rain from on high which alone can
 water the  ridges3 there is no hope of 
the heart being savingly affected except
 by  divine operations4    ,next1 it is 
added1 ,thou settlest the furrows1 by   
which some think  it is meant that the  
furrows are drenched with water4 ,others
 think there  is an allusion here to the
 beating down of the earth by heavy rain
 till  the ridges become flat1 and by   
the soaking of the water are settled    
into  a more compact mass4 ,certain it  
is that the influences of ,god's ,spirit
  have a humbling and settling effect   
upon a man4 ,he was unsettled once  like
 the earth that is dry and crumbly1 and 
blown about and carried away  with every
 wind of doctrine2 but as the earth when
 soaked with wet is  compacted and knit 
together1 so the heart becomes solid and
 serious  under the power of the        
,spirit4 ,as the high parts of the ridge
 are beaten  down into the furrows1 so  

the lofty ideas1 the grand schemes1 and 
carnal  boastings of the heart begin to 
level down1 when the ,holy ,spirit comes
  to work upon the soul4 ,genuine       
humility is a very gracious fruit of the
  ,spirit4 ,to be broken in heart is the
 best means of preparing the soul  for  
,jesus4 ,a broken and a contrite heart1 
,o ,god1 thou wilt not  despise4        
,brethren1 always be thankful when you  
see high thoughts of man  brought down2 
this settling the furrows is a very     
gracious preparatory  work of grace4    
,yet again1 it is added1 ,thou makest it
 soft with showers4 ,man's  heart is    
naturally hardened against the gospel2  
like the ,eastern soil1  it is hard as  
iron if there be no gracious rain4 ,how 
sweetly and  effectively does the       
,spirit of ,god soften the man through  
and through6  ,he is no longer towards  
the ,word what he used to be3 he feels  
everything1 whereas once he felt        
nothing4 ,the rock flows with water2 the
  heart is dissolved in tenderness1 the 

eyes are melted into tears4    ,all this
 is ,god's work4 ,i have said already   
that ,god works through us1  but still  
it is ,god's immediate work to send down
 the rain of his grace  from on high4   
,perhaps he is at work upon some of you1
 though as yet  there is no springing up
 of spiritual life in your souls4       
,though your  condition is still a sad  
one1 we will hope for you that ere long 
there  shall be seen the living seed of 
grace sending up its tender green shoot 
above the soil1 and may the ,lord bless 
the springing thereof4      ,,ii4 ,in   
the second place1 let us deliver ,a     
,,brief ,,description ,,of ,,the        
,,springing ,,thereof4    ,after the    
operations of the ,holy ,spirit have    
been quietly going on for a  certain    
season as pleaseth the great ,master and
 ,husbandman1 then there  are signs of  
grace4 ,remember the apostle's words1   
,first the blade1 then  the ear1 then   
the full corn in the ear4 ,some of our  
friends are greatly  disturbed because  

they cannot see the full corn in the ear
 in  themselves4 ,they suppose that1 if 
they were the subjects of a divine      
work1 they would be precisely like      
certain advanced ,christians with whom  
it is their privilege to commune1 or of 
whom they may have read in  biographies4
 ,beloved1 this is a very great mistake4
 ,when first grace  enters the heart1 it
 is not a great tree covering with its  
shadow whole  acres1 but it is the least
 of all seeds1 like a grain of mustard  
seed4  ,when it first rises upon the    
soul1 it is not the sun shining at high 
noon1 but it is the first dim ray of    
dawn4 ,are you so simple as to  expect  
the harvest before you have passed      
through the springing-time8 ,i  shall   
hope that by a very brief description of
 the earliest stage of  ,christian      
experience you may be led to say1 ,i    
have gone as far as  that1 and then ,i  
hope you may be able to take the comfort
 of the text  to yourselves3 ,thou      
blessest the springing thereof4    ,what

 then is the springing up of piety in   
the heart8 ,we think it is  first seen  
in sincerely earnest desires after      
salvation4 ,the man is  not saved1 in   
his own apprehension1 but he longs to   
be4 ,that which was  once a matter of   
indifference is now a subject of intense
 concern4 ,once  he despised            
,christians1 and thought them needlessly
 earnest2 he thought  religion a mere   
trifle1 and he looked upon the things of
 time and sense  as the only substantial
 matters2 but now how changed he is6 ,he
 envies  the meanest ,christian1 and    
would change places with the poorest    
believer  if he might but be able to    
read his title clear to mansions in the 
skies4 ,now worldly things have lost    
dominion over him1 and spiritual  things
 are uppermost4 ,once with the          
unthinking many1 he cried1 ,who will    
show us any good8 but now he cries1     
,lord1 lift thou up the light of  thy   
countenance upon me4 ,once it was the   
corn and the wine to which he  looked   

for comfort1 but now he looks to ,god   
alone4 ,his rock of refuge  must be     
,god1 for he finds no comfort elsewhere4
 ,his holy desires1 which  he had years 
ago1 were like smoke from the chimney1  
soon blown away2 but  now his longings  
are permanent1 though not always        
operative to the same  degree4 ,at times
 these desires amount to a hungering and
 a thirsting  after righteousness1 and  
yet he is not satisfied with these      
desires1 but  wishes for a still more   
anxious longing after heavenly things4  
,these  desires are among the first     
springings of divine life in the soul4  
,the springing thereof shows itself next
 in prayer4 ,it is prayer  now4 ,once it
 was the mocking of ,god with holy      
sounds unattended by the  heart2 but    
now1 though the prayer is such that he  
would not like a human  ear to hear him1
 yet ,god approves it1 for it is the    
talking of a spirit  to a ,spirit1 and  
not the muttering of lips to an unknown 
,god4 ,his  prayers1 perhaps1 are not   

very long3 they do not amount to more   
than  this1 ,oh6 ,ah6 ,would to ,god6   
,lord1 have mercy upon me1 a sinner6    
and such-like short ejaculations2 but1  
then1 they are prayers4 ,behold  he     
prayeth1 does not refer to a long       
prayer2 it is quite as sure a  proof of 
spiritual life within1 if it only refers
 to a sigh or to a  tear4 ,these        
groanings that cannot be uttered1 are   
among the  springings thereof4    ,there
 will also be manifest a hearty love for
 the means of grace1 and  the house of  
,god4 ,the ,bible1 long unread1 which   
was thought to be of  little more use   
than an old almanac1 is now treated with
 great  consideration2 and though the   
reader finds little in it that comforts 
him just now1 and much that alarms him1 
yet he feels that it is the book  for   
him1 and he turns to its pages with     
hope4 ,when he goes up to ,god's  house1
 he listens eagerly1 hoping that there  
may be a message for him4  ,before1 he  
attended worship as a sort of pious     

necessity incumbent upon  all           
respectable people2 but now he goes up  
to ,god's house that he may  find the   
,saviour4 ,once there was no more       
religion in him than in the  door which 
turns upon its hinges2 but now he enters
 the house praying1  ,lord1 meet with my
 soul1 and if he gets no blessing1 he   
goes away  sighing1 ,o that ,i knew     
where ,i might find him1 that ,i might  
come even  to his seat4 ,this is one of 
the blessed signs of the springing      
thereof4    ,yet more cheering is       
another1 namely1 that the soul in this  
state has  faith in ,jesus ,christ1 at  
least in some degree4 ,it is not a faith
  which brings great joy and peace1 but 
still it is a faith which keeps  the    
heart from despair1 and prevents its    
sinking under a sense of sin4  ,i have  
known the time when ,i do not believe   
any man living could see  faith in me1  
and when ,i could scarcely perceive any 
in myself1 and yet ,i  was bold to say1 
with ,peter1 ,lord1 thou knowest all    

things1 thou  knowest that ,i love thee4
 ,what man cannot see1 ,christ can see4 
,many  people have faith in the ,lord   
,jesus ,christ1 but they are so much    
engaged  in looking at it that they do  
not see it4 ,if they would look to      
,christ  and not to their own faith1    
they would not only see ,christ but see 
their  own faith too2 but they measure  
their faith1 and it seems so little when
  they contrast it with the faith of    
full-grown ,christians1 that they fear  
it is not faith at all4 ,oh1 little one1
 if thou hast faith enough to  receive  
,christ1 remember the promise1 ,to as   
many as received him1 to  them gave he  
power to become the sons of ,god4 ,poor1
 simple1  weak-hearted1 and troubled    
one1 look to ,jesus and answer1 ,can    
such a  ,saviour suffer in vain8 ,can   
such an atonement be offered in vain8   
,canst  thou trust him1 and yet be cast 
away8 ,it cannot be4 ,it never was in   
the  ,saviour's heart to shake off one  
that did cling to his arm4 ,however     

feeble the faith1 he blesses the        
springing thereof4 ,the difficulty      
raises partly from misapprehension and  
partly from want of confidence in  ,god4
 ,i say misapprehension3 now if like    
some ,londoners you had never  seen corn
 when it is green1 you would cry out1   
,what6 ,do you say that  yonder green   
stuff is wheat8 ,yes1 the farmer says1  
that is wheat4  ,you look at it again   
and you reply1 ,why1 man alive1 that is 
nothing but  grass4 ,you do not mean to 
tell me that this grassy stuff will ever
  produce a loaf of bread such as ,i see
 in the baker's window2 ,i cannot       
conceive it4 ,no1 you could not conceive
 it1 but when you get  accustomed to it1
 it is not at all wonderful to see the  
wheat go through  certain stages2 first 
the blade1 then the ear1 and afterwards 
the full  corn in the ear4 ,some of you 
have never seen growing grace1 and do   
not  know anything about it4 ,when you  
are newly converted you meet with       
,christians who are like ripe golden    

ears1 and you say1 ,i am not like  them4
 ,true1 you are no more like them than  
that grassy stuff in the  furrows is    
like full-grown wheat2 but you will grow
 like them one of  these days4 ,you must
 expect to go through the blade period  
before you  get to the ear period1 and  
in the ear period you will have doubts  
whether you will ever come to the full  
corn in the ear2 but you will  arrive at
 perfection in due time4 ,thank ,god    
that you are in ,christ at  all4        
,whether ,i have much faith or little   
faith1 whether ,i can do much  for      
,christ or little for ,christ1 is not   
the first question2 ,i am saved1  not on
 account of what ,i am1 but on account  
of what ,jesus ,christ is2 and  if ,i am
 trusting to him1 however little in     
,israel ,i may be1 ,i am as safe  as the
 brightest of the saints4    ,i have    
said1 however1 that mixed with          
misapprehension there is a great  deal  
of unbelief4 ,i cannot put it all down  
to an ignorance that may be  forgiven3  

for there is sinful unbelief too4 ,o    
sinner1 why do you not  trust ,jesus    
,christ8 ,poor1 quickened1 awakened     
conscience1 ,god gives you  his word    
that he who trusts in ,christ is not    
condemned1 and yet you are  afraid that 
you are condemned6 ,this is to give ,god
 the lie6 ,be ashamed  and confounded   
that you should ever have been guilty of
 doubting the  veracity of ,god4 ,all   
your other sins do not grieve ,christ so
 much as the  sin of thinking that he is
 unwilling to forgive you1 or the sin of
  suspecting that if you trust him he   
will cast you away4 ,do not slander  his
 gracious character4 ,do not cast a slur
 upon the generosity of his  tender     
heart4 ,he saith1 ,him that cometh to me
 ,i will in no wise cast  out4 ,come in 
the faith of his promise1 and he will   
receive you just  now4    ,i have thus  
given some description of the springing 
thereof4      ,,iii4 ,thirdly1 according
 to the text1 ,,there ,,is ,,one ,,who  
,,sees ,,this  ,,springing4 ,thou1      

,lord--thou blessest the springing      
thereof4    ,i wish that some of us had 
quicker eyes to see the beginning of    
grace in  the souls of men2 for want of 
this we let slip many opportunities of  
helping the weaklings4 ,if a woman had  
the charge of a number of children  that
 were not her own1 ,i do not suppose she
 would notice all the  incipient stages 
of disease2 but when a mother nurses her
 own dear  children1 as soon as ever    
upon the cheek or in the eye there is a 
token  of approaching sickness1 she     
perceives it at once4 ,i wish we had    
just as  quick an eye1 because just as  
tender a heart1 towards precious souls4 
,i  do not doubt that many young people 
are weeks and even months in  distress1 
who need not be1 if you who know the    
,lord were a little more  watchful to   
help them in the time of their sorrow4  
,shepherds are up all  night at lambing 
time to catch up the lambs as soon as   
they are born1  and take them in and    
nurse them2 and we1 who ought to be     

shepherds for  ,god1 should be looking  
out for all the lambs1 especially at    
seasons when  there are many born into  
,god's great fold1 for tender nursing is
 wanted  in the first stages of the new 
life4 ,god1 however1 when his servants  
do  not see the springing thereof1 sees 
it all4    ,now1 you silent1 retired    
spirits1 who dare not speak to father or
  mother1 or brother or sister1 this    
text ought to be a sweet morsel to  you4
 ,thou blessest the springing thereof1  
which proves that ,god sees  you and    
your new-born grace4 ,the ,lord sees the
 first sign of penitence4  ,though you  
only say to yourself1 ,i will arise and 
go to my ,father1  your ,father hears   
you4 ,though it is nothing but a desire1
 your ,father  registers it4 ,thou      
puttest my tears into thy bottle4 ,are  
they not in  thy book8 ,he is watching  
your return2 he runs to meet you1 and   
puts his  arms about you1 and kisses you
 with the kisses of his accepting love4 
,o  soul1 be encouraged with that       

thought1 that up in the chamber or down 
by  the hedge1 or wherever it is that   
thou hast sought secrecy1 ,god is       
there4 ,dwell on the thought1 ,thou ,god
 seest me4 ,that is a precious          
text--,all my desire is before thee2 and
 here is another sweet one1  ,the ,lord 
taketh pleasure in them that fear him1  
in them that hope in  his mercy4 ,he can
 see you when you only hope in his      
mercy1 and he takes  pleasure in you if 
you have only begun to fear him4 ,here  
is a third  choice word1 ,thou wilt     
perfect that which concerneth me4 ,have 
you a  concern about these things8 ,is  
it a matter of soul-concern with you to 
be reconciled to ,god1 and to have an   
interest in ,jesus' precious blood8  ,it
 is only the springing thereof1 but he  
blesses it4 ,it is written1 ,a  bruised 
reed he will not break1 and the smoking 
flax he will not quench1  till he bring 
forth judgment unto victory4 ,there     
shall be victory for  you1 even before  
the judgment-seat of ,god1 though as yet

 you are only  like the flax that smokes
 and gives no light1 or like the reed   
that is  broken1 and yields no music4   
,god sees the first springing of grace4 
,,iv4 ,a few words upon a fourth point3 
,,what ,a ,,misery ,,it ,,would ,,be1   
,,if ,,it  ,,were ,,possible1 ,,to      
,,have ,,this ,,springing ,,without     
,,god',s ,,blessing6    ,the text says1 
,thou blessest the springing thereof4   
,we must1 just a  moment1 by way of     
contrast1 think of how the springing    
would have been  without the blessing4  
,suppose we were to see a revival among 
us without  ,god's blessing4 ,it is my  
conviction that there are revivals which
 are  not of ,god at all1 but are       
produced by excitement merely4 ,if there
 be no  blessing from the ,lord1 it will
 be all a delusion1 a bubble blown up   
into the air for a moment1 and then gone
 to nothing4 ,we shall only see  the    
people stirred1 to become the more dull 
and dead afterwards2 and  this is a     
great mischief to the church4    ,in the

 individual heart1 if there should be a 
springing up without ,god's  blessing1  
there would be no good in it4 ,suppose  
you have good desires1  but no blessing 
on these desires1 they will only        
tantalize and worry  you2 and then1     
after a time1 they will be gone1 and you
 will be more  impervious than you were 
before to religious convictions2 for1 if
  religious desires are not of ,god's   
sending1 but are caused by  excitement1 
they will probably prevent your giving a
 serious hearing to  the ,word of ,god  
in times to come4 ,if convictions do not
 soften they will  certainly harden4 ,to
 what extremities have some been driven 
who have had  springings of a certain   
sort which have not led them to ,christ6
 ,some  have been crushed by despair4   
,they tell us that religion crowds the  
madhouse3 it is not true2 but there is  
no doubt whatever that  religiousness of
 a certain kind has driven many a man   
out of his mind4  ,the poor souls have  
felt their wound but have not seen the  

balm4 ,they  have not known ,jesus4     
,they have had a sense of sin and       
nothing more4  ,they have not fled for  
refuge to the hope which ,god has set   
before them4  ,marvel not if men do go  
mad when they refuse the ,saviour4 ,it  
may come as  a judicial visitation of   
,god upon those men who1 when in great  
distress  of mind1 will not fly to      
,christ4 ,i believe it is with some just
  this--you must either fly to ,jesus1  
or else your burden will become  heavier
 and heavier until your spirit will     
utterly fail4 ,this is not the  fault of
 religion1 it is the fault of those who 
will not accept the  remedy which       
religion presents4 ,a springing up of   
desires without ,god's  blessing would  
be an awful thing1 but we thank him that
 we are not left  in such a case4       
,v4 ,and now ,i have to dwell upon ,,the
 ,,comforting ,,thought ,,that ,,god    
,,does  ,,bless ,,the ,,springing       
,,thereof4 ,i wish to deal with you who 
are tender  and troubled2 ,i want to    

show that ,god does bless your          
springing4 ,he  does it in many ways4   
,frequently he does it by the cordials  
which he brings4 ,you have a few  very  
sweet moments3 you cannot say that you  
are ,christ's1 but at times  the bells  
of your heart ring very sweetly at the  
mention of his name4  ,the means of     
grace are very precious to you4 ,when   
you gather to the  ,lord's worship you  
feel a holy calm1 and you go away from  
the service  wishing that there were    
seven ,sundays in the week instead of   
one4 ,by the  blessing of ,god the ,word
 has just suited your case1 as if the   
,lord had  sent his servants on purpose 
to you3 you lay aside your crutches for 
awhile1 and you begin to run4 ,though   
these things have been sadly  transient1
 they are tokens for good4    ,on the   
other hand1 if you have had none of     
these comforts1 or few of  them1 and the
 means of grace have not been           
consolations to you1 ,i want  you to    
look upon that as a blessing4 ,it may be

 the greatest blessing  that ,god can   
give us to take away all comforts on the
 road1 in order to  quicken our running 
towards the end4 ,when a man is flying  
to the ,city of  ,refuge to be protected
 from the man-slayer1 it may be an act  
of great  consideration to stay him for 
a moment that he may quench his thirst  
and  run more swiftly afterwards2 but   
perhaps1 in a case of imminent peril1   
it may be the kindest thing neither to  
give him anything to eat or to  drink1  
nor invite him to stop for a moment1 in 
order that he may fly  with undiminished
 speed to the place of safety4 ,the     
,lord may be blessing  you in the       
uneasiness which you feel4 ,inasmuch as 
you cannot say that  you are in ,christ1
 it may be the greatest blessing which  
heaven can give  to take away every     
other blessing from you1 in order that  
you may be  compelled to fly to the     
,lord4 ,you perhaps have a little of    
your  self-righteousness left1 and while
 it is so you cannot get joy and        

comfort4 ,the royal robe which ,jesus   
gives will never shine brilliantly  upon
 us till every rag of our own goodness  
is gone4 ,perhaps you are not  empty    
enough1 and ,god will never fill you    
with ,christ till you are4 ,fear  often 
drives men to faith4 ,have you never    
heard of a person walking in  the fields
 into whose bosom a bird has flown      
because pursued by the  hawk8 ,poor1    
timid thing1 it would not have ventured 
there had not a  greater fear compelled 
it4 ,all this may be so with you2 your  
fears may  be sent to drive you more    
swiftly and more closely to the         
,saviour1 and  if so1 ,i see in these   
present sorrows the signs that ,god is  
blessing  the springing thereof4    ,in 
looking back upon my own springing ,i   
sometimes think ,god blessed me  then in
 a lovelier way than now4 ,though ,i    
would not willingly return to  that     
early stage of my spiritual life1 yet   
there were many joys about  it4 ,an     
apple tree when loaded with apples is a 

very comely sight3 but  give me1 for    
beauty1 the apple tree in bloom4 ,the   
whole world does not  present a more    
lovely sight than an apple blossom4     
,now1 a full-grown  ,christian laden    
with fruit is a comely sight1 but still 
there is a  peculiar loveliness about   
the young ,christian4 ,let me tell you  
what that  blessedness is2 you have     
probably now a greater horror of sin    
than  professors who have known the     
,lord for years2 they might wish that   
they  felt your tenderness of           
conscience4 ,you have now a graver sense
 of duty1  and a more solemn fear of the
 neglect of it1 than some who are       
further  advanced4 ,you have also a     
greater zeal than many3 you are now     
doing your  first works for ,god1 and   
burning with your first love2 nothing is
 too  hot or too heavy for you3 ,i pray 
that you may never decline1 but always  
advance4    ,and now to close4 ,i think 
there are three lessons for us to learn4
  ,first1 let older saints be very      

gentle and kind to young believers4     
,god blesses the springing thereof--mind
 that you do the same4 ,do not  throw   
cold water upon young desires3 do not   
snuff out young believers  with hard    
questions4 ,while they are babes and    
need the milk of the ,word1  do not be  
choking them with your strong meat2 they
 will eat strong meat  by-and-by1 but   
not just yet4 ,remember1 ,jacob would   
not overdrive the  lambs2 be equally    
prudent4 ,teach and instruct them1 but  
let it be with  gentleness and          
tenderness1 not as their superiors1 but 
as nursing  fathers for ,christ's sake4 
,god1 you see1 blesses the springing    
thereof--may he bless it through you6   
,the next thing ,i have to say is1      
fulfil the duty of gratitude4  ,beloved1
 if ,god blesses the springing thereof  
we ought to be grateful  for a little   
grace4 ,if you have only seen the first 
shoot peeping up  through the mould be  
thankful1 and you shall see the green   
blade waving  in the breeze2 be thankful

 for the ankle-deep verdure and you     
shall soon  see the commencement of the 
ear2 be thankful for the first green    
ears  and you shall see the flowering of
 the wheat1 and by-and-by its  ripening1
 and the joyous harvest4    ,the last   
lesson is one of encouragement4 ,if ,god
 blesses the springing  thereof1 dear   
beginners1 what will he not do for you  
in after days8 ,if  he gives you such a 
meal when you break your fast1 what     
dainties will be  on your table when he 
says to you1 ,come and dine2 and what a 
banquet  will he furnish at the supper  
of the ,lamb6 ,o troubled one6 let the  
storms which howl and the snows which   
fall1 and the wintry blasts that  nip   
your springing1 all be forgotten in this
 one consoling thought1 that  ,god      
blesses your springing1 and whom ,god   
blesses none can curse4 ,over  your     
head1 dear1 desiring1 pleading1         
languishing soul1 the ,lord of  heaven  
and earth pronounces the blessing of the
 ,father1 and the ,son1 and  the ,holy  

,spirit4 ,take that blessing and rejoice
 in it evermore4 ,amen4          ,,farm 
,,laborers4    ,i have planted1 ,apollos
 watered2 but ,god gave the increase4   
,so then  neither is he that planteth   
anything1 neither he that watereth2 but 
,god  that giveth the increase4 ,now he 
that planteth and he that watereth are  
one3 and every man shall receive his own
 reward according to his own  labor4    
,for we are laborers together with ,god3
 ye are ,god's  husbandry4--#a          
,,corinthians #c3f-i4      ,i ,,shall   
begin at the end of my text1 because ,i 
find it to be the easiest  way of       
mapping out my discourse4 ,we shall     
first remark that the church  is ,god's 
farm3 ,ye are ,god's husbandry4 ,in the 
margin of the revised  version we read1 
,ye are ,god's tilled ground1 and that  
is the very  expression for me4 ,ye are 
,god's tilled ground1 or farm4 ,after we
 have  spoken of the farm we will next  
say a little upon the fact that the     
,lord employs laborers on his estate3   

and when we have looked at the          
laborers--such poor fellows as they     
are--we will remember that ,god  himself
 is the great worker3 ,we are laborers  
together with ,god4      ,i4 ,we begin  
by considering that ,,the ,,church ,,is 
,,god',s ,,farm4 ,the ,lord has  made   
the church his own by his sovereign     
choice4 ,he has also secured  it unto   
himself by purchase1 having paid for it 
a price immense4 ,the  ,lord's portion  
is his people2 ,jacob is the lot of his 
inheritance4  ,every acre of ,god's farm
 cost the ,saviour a bloody sweat1 yea1 
the blood  of his heart4 ,he loved us1  
and gave himself for us3 that is the    
price  he paid4 ,henceforth the church  
is ,god's freehold1 and he holds the    
title  deeds of it4 ,it is our joy to   
feel that we are not our own1 we are    
bought with a price4 ,the church is     
,god's farm by choice and purchase4     
,and now he has made it his by          
enclosure4 ,it lay exposed aforetime as 
part of an open common1 bare and barren1

 covered with thorns and  thistles1 and 
the haunt of every wild beast2 for we   
were by nature the  children of wrath1  
even as others4 ,divine foreknowledge   
surveyed the  waste1 and electing love  
marked out its portion with a full line 
of  grace1 and thus set us apart to be  
the ,lord's own estate forever4 ,in due 
time effectual grace came forth with    
power1 and separated us from the  rest  
of mankind1 as fields are hedged and    
ditched to part them from the  open     
heath4 ,hath not the ,lord declared that
 he hath chosen his vineyard  and fenced
 it8      ,we are a garden wall'd       
around1     ,chosen and made peculiar   
ground2     ,a little spot1 enclosed by 
grace     ,out of the world's wide      
wilderness4    ,the ,lord has also made 
this farm evidently his own by          
cultivation4  ,what more could he have  
done for his farm8 ,he has totally      
changed the  nature of the soil3 from   
being barren he hath made it a fruitful 
land4  ,he hath ploughed it1 and digged 

it1 and fattened it1 and watered it1 and
  planted it with all manner of flowers 
and fruits4 ,it hath already  brought   
forth to him many a pleasant cluster1   
and there are brighter  times to come1  
when angels shall shout the harvest     
home1 and ,christ  shall see of the     
travail of his soul1 and shall be       
satisfied4    ,this farm is preserved by
 the ,lord's continual protection4 ,not 
only  did he enclose it1 and cultivate  
it by his miraculous power1 to make it  
his own farm1 but he continually        
maintains possession of it4 ,i the      
,lord do keep it2 ,i will water it every
 moment3 lest any hurt it1 ,i will  keep
 it night and day4 ,if it were not for  
,god's continual power her  hedges would
 soon be thrown down1 and wild beasts   
would devour her  fields4 ,wicked hands 
are always trying to break down her     
walls and lay  her waste again1 so that 
there should be no true church in the   
world2  but the ,lord is jealous for his
 land1 and will not allow it to be      

destroyed4 ,a church would not long     
remain a church if ,god did not         
preserve it unto himself4 ,what if ,god 
should say1 ,i will take away the  hedge
 thereof1 and it shall be eaten up2 and 
break down the wall  thereof1 and it    
shall be trodden down8 ,what a          
wilderness it would  become4 ,what saith
 he8 ,go ye now unto my place which was 
in ,shiloh1  where ,i set my name at the
 first1 and see what ,i did to it for   
the  wickedness of my people ,israel4   
,go ye to ,jerusalem1 where of old was  
the city of his glory and the shrine of 
his indwelling1 and what is left  there 
to-day8 ,go ye to ,rome1 where once     
,paul preached the gospel with  power3  
what is it now but the centre of        
idolatry8 ,the ,lord may remove  the    
candlestick1 and leave a place that was 
bright as day to become  black as       
darkness itself4 ,hence ,god's farm     
remains a farm because he is  ever in it
 to prevent its returning to its former 
wildness4 ,omnipotent  power is as      

needful to keep the fields of the church
 under cultivation  as to reclaim them  
at the first4    ,inasmuch as the church
 is ,god's own farm1 he expects to      
receive a  harvest from it4 ,the world  
is waste1 and he looks for nothing from 
it2  but we are tilled land1 and        
therefore a harvest is due from us4     
,barrenness suits the moorland1 but to a
 farm it would be a great  discredit4   
,love looks for returns of love2 grace  
given demands gracious  fruit4 ,watered 
with the drops of the ,saviour's bloody 
sweat1 shall we  not bring forth a      
hundredfold to his praise8 ,kept by the 
eternal ,spirit  of ,god1 shall there   
not be produced in us fruits to his     
glory8 ,the  ,lord's husbandry upon us  
has shown a great expenditure of cost1  
and  labor1 and thought2 ought there not
 to be a proportionate return8 ,ought   
not the ,lord to have a harvest of      
obedience1 a harvest of holiness1 a     
harvest of usefulness1 a harvest of     
praise8 ,shall it not be so8 ,i think   

some churches forget that an increase is
 expected from every field of  the      
,lord's farm1 for they never have a     
harvest or even look for one4  ,farmers 
do not plough their lands or sow their  
fields for amusement2  they mean        
business1 and plough and sow because    
they desire a harvest4 ,if  this fact   
could but enter into the heads of some  
professors1 surely they  would look at  
things in a different light2 but of late
 it has seemed as  if we thought that   
,god's church was not expected to       
produce anything1  but existed for her  
own comfort and personal benefit4       
,brethren1 it must  not be so2 the great
 ,husbandman must have some reward for  
his husbandry4  ,every field must yield 
its increase1 and the whole estate must 
bring  forth to his praise4 ,we join    
with the bride in the ,song in saying1  
,my  vineyard1 which is mine1 is before 
me3 thou1 ,o ,solomon1 must have        
thousand1 and those that keep the fruit 
thereof two hundred4    ,but ,i come    

back to the place from which ,i started4
 ,this farm is1 by  choice1 by purchase1
 by enclosure1 by cultivation1 by       
preservation1  entirely the ,lord's4    
,see1 then1 the injustice of allowing   
any of the  laborers to call even a part
 of the estate his own4 ,when a great   
man  has a large farm of his own1 what  
would he think if ,hodge the ploughman  
should say1 ,look here1 ,i plough this  
farm1 and therefore it is mine3 ,i      
shall call this field ,hodge's ,acres8  
,no1 says ,hobbs1 ,i reaped that  land  
last harvest1 and therefore it is mine1 
and ,i shall call it ,hobbs's  ,field4  
,what if all the other laborers became  
,hodgeites and ,hobbsites1  and so      
parcelled out the farm among them8 ,i   
think the landlord would  soon eject the
 lot of them4 ,the farm belongs to its  
owner1 and let it be  called by his     
name2 but it is absurd to call it by the
 names of the men  who labor upon it4   
,shall insignificant nobodies rob ,god  
of his glory8  ,remember how ,paul put  

it3 ,who then is ,paul1 and who is      
,apollos8 ,is  ,christ divided8 was     
,paul crucified for you8 or were ye     
baptized in the  name of ,paul8 ,the    
entire church belongs to him who has    
chosen it in his  sovereignty1 bought it
 with his blood1 fenced it by his grace1
  cultivated it by his wisdom1 and      
preserved it by his power4 ,there is but
  one church on the face of the earth1  
and those who love the ,lord should     
keep this truth in mind4 ,paul is a     
laborer1 ,apollos is a laborer1 ,cephas 
is a laborer2 but the farm is not       
,paul's1 not so much as a rood of it1   
nor does a single parcel of land belong 
to ,apollos1 or the smallest  allotment 
to ,cephas2 for ,ye are ,christ's4 ,the 
fact is that in this  case the laborers 
belong to the land1 and not the land to 
the laborers3  ,for all things are      
yours2 whether ,paul1 or ,apollos1 or   
,cephas4 ,we  preach not ourselves1 but 
,christ ,jesus the ,lord2 and ourselves 
your  servants for ,jesus' sake4        

,,ii4 ,we have now to notice1 as our    
second head1 that ,,the ,,great         
,,husbandman  ,,employs ,,laborers4 ,by 
human agency ,god ordinarily works out  
his  designs4 ,he can1 if he pleases1 by
 his ,holy ,spirit get directly at the  
hearts of men1 but that is his business1
 and not ours2 we have to do  with such 
words as these3 ,it pleased ,god by the 
foolishness of  preaching to save them  
that believe4 ,the ,master's commission 
is not1  ,sit still and see the ,spirit 
of ,god convert the nations2 but1 ,go ye
  into all the world and preach the     
gospel to every creature4 ,observe      
,god's method in supplying the race with
 food4 ,in answer to the prayer1  ,give 
us this day our daily bread1 he might   
have bidden the clouds drop  manna1     
morning by morning1 at each man's door2 
but he sees that it is  for our good to 
work1 and so he uses the hands of the   
ploughman and the  sower for our supply4
 ,god might cultivate his chosen farm1  
the church1  by miracle1 or by angels2  

but in great condescension he blesses   
her  through her own sons and daughters4
 ,he employs us for our own good2 for   
we who are laborers in his fields       
receive much more good for ourselves    
than we bestow4 ,labor develops our     
spiritual muscle and keeps us in        
health4 ,unto me1 says ,paul1 who am    
less than the least of all saints1  is  
this grace given1 that ,i should preach 
among the ,gentiles the  unsearchable   
riches of ,christ4    ,our great ,master
 means that every laborer on his farm   
should receive  some benefit from it1   
for he never muzzles the mouth of the ox
 that  treadeth out the corn4 ,the      
laborer's daily bread comes out of the  
soil4  ,though he works not for himself1
 but for his ,master1 yet still he has  
his portion of food4 ,in the ,lord's    
granary there is seed for the sower1    
but there is also bread for the eater4  
,however disinterestedly we may  serve  
,god in the husbandry of his church1 we 
are ourselves partakers of  the fruit4  

,it is a great condescension on ,god's  
part that he uses us at  all1 for we are
 poor tools at the best1 and more       
hindrance than help4    ,the laborers   
employed by ,god are all occupied upon  
needful work4  ,notice3 ,i have planted1
 ,apollos watered4 ,who beat the big    
drum1 or  blew his own trumpet8 ,nobody4
 ,on ,god's farm none are kept for      
ornamental  purposes4 ,i have read some 
sermons which could only have been meant
 for  show1 for there was not a grain of
 gospel in them4 ,they were ploughs     
with the share left out1 drills with no 
wheat in the box1 clod-crushers  made of
 butter4 ,i do not believe that our ,god
 will ever pay wages to men  who only   
walk about his grounds to show          
themselves4 ,orators who display  their 
eloquence in the pulpit are more like   
gypsies who stray on the  farm to pick  
up chickens1 than honest laborers who   
work to bring forth a  crop for their   
master4 ,many of the members of our     
churches live as if  their only business

 on the farm was to pluck blackberries  
or gather wild  flowers4 ,they are great
 at finding fault with other people's   
ploughing  and mowing2 but not a hand's 
turn will they do themselves4 ,come on1 
my  good fellows4 ,why stand ye all the 
day idle8 ,the harvest is plenteous1    
and the laborers are few4 ,you who think
 yourselves more cultivated than        
ordinary people1 if you are indeed      
,christians1 must not strut about and   
despise those who are hard at work4 ,if 
you do1 ,i shall say1 ,that person  has 
mistaken his master2 he may probably be 
in the employ of some  gentleman farmer1
 who cares more for show than profit2   
but our great  ,lord is practical1 and  
on his estate his laborers attend to    
needful  labor4 ,when you and ,i preach 
or teach it will be well if we say to   
ourselves1 ,what will be the use of what
 ,i am going to do8 ,i am about  to     
teach a difficult subject2 will it do   
any good8 ,i have chosen an  abstruse   
point of theology2 will it serve any    

purpose8 ,brethren1 a  laborer may work 
very hard at a whim of his own1 and yet 
it may be all  waste labor4 ,some       
discourses do little more than show the 
difference  between tweedle-dum and     
tweedle-dee1 and what is the use of     
that8  ,suppose we sow the fields with  
sawdust1 or sprinkle them with          
rose-water1 what of that8 ,will ,god    
bless our moral essays1 and fine        
compositions1 and pretty passages8      
,brethren1 we must aim at usefulness3   
we must as laborers together with ,god  
be occupied with something that is      
worth doing4 ,i1 says one1 have planted3
 it is well1 for planting  must be done4
 ,i1 answers another1 have watered3 that
 also is good  and necessary4 ,see to it
 that ye can each bring in a solid      
report2 but  let no man be content with 
the mere child's-play of oratory1 or the
  getting up of entertainments and such 
like4    ,on the ,lord's farm there is a
 division of labor4 ,even ,paul did not 
say1 ,i have planted and watered4 ,no1  

,paul planted4 ,and certainly  ,apollos 
could not say1 ,i have planted as well  
as watered4 ,no1 it was  enough for him 
to attend to the watering4 ,no man has  
all gifts4 ,how  foolish1 then1 are they
 who say1 ,i enjoy ,so-and-so's ministry
 because  he edifies the saints in      
doctrine2 but when he was away the other
 ,sunday  ,i could not profit by the    
preacher because he was all for the     
conversion  of sinners4 ,yes1 he was    
planting2 you have been planted a good  
while1  and do not need planting again2 
but you ought to be thankful that others
  are made partakers of the benefit4    
,one soweth and another reapeth1 and    
therefore instead of grumbling at the   
honest ploughman because he did  not    
bring a sickle with him1 you ought to   
have prayed for him that he  might have 
strength to plough deep and break up    
hard hearts4    ,observe that1 on ,god's
 farm1 there is unity of purpose among  
the  laborers4 ,read the text4 ,now he  
that planteth and he that watereth are  

one4 ,one ,master has employed them1 and
 though he may send them out at         
different times1 and to different parts 
of the farm1 yet they are all  one in   
being used for one end1 to work for one 
harvest4 ,in ,england we do  not        
understand what is meant by watering1   
because the farmer could not  water all 
his farm2 but in the ,east a farmer     
waters almost every inch of  his ground4
 ,he would have no crop if he did not   
use all means for  irrigating the       
fields4 ,if you have ever been in       
,italy1 ,egypt1 or  ,palestine1 you will
 have seen a complete system of wells1  
pumps1 wheels1  buckets1 channels1      
little streamlets1 pipes1 and so on1 by 
which the  water is carried all over the
 garden to every plant1 otherwise in the
  extreme heat of the sun it would be   
dried up4 ,planting needs wisdom1       
watering needs quite as much1 and the   
piecing of these two works  together    
needs that the laborers should be of one
 mind4 ,it is a bad  thing when laborers

 are at cross purposes1 and work against
 each other1  and this evil is worse in 
the church than anywhere else4 ,how can 
,i plant  with success if my helper will
 not water what ,i have planted2 or what
 is  the use of my watering if nothing  
is planted8 ,husbandry is spoiled when  
foolish people undertake it1 and quarrel
 over it2 for from sowing to  reaping   
the work is one1 and all must be done to
 one end4 ,let us pull  together all our
 days1 for strife brings barrenness4    
,we are called upon to notice in our    
text that all the laborers put  together
 are nothing at all4 ,neither is he that
 planteth anything1  neither he that    
watereth4 ,the workmen are nothing at   
all without their  master4 ,all the     
laborers on a farm could not manage it  
if they had no  one at their head1 and  
all the preachers and ,christian workers
 in the  world can do nothing unless    
,god be with them4 ,remember that every 
laborer on ,god's farm has derived all  
his qualifications from ,god4 ,no  man  

knows how to plant or water souls except
 the ,lord teaches him from  day to day4
 ,all these holy gifts are grants of    
free grace4 ,all the  laborers work     
under ,god's direction and arrangement1 
or they work in  vain4 ,they would not  
know when or how to do their work if    
their ,master  did not guide them by his
 ,spirit1 without whose help they cannot
 even  think a good thought4 ,all ,god's
 laborers must go to him for their seed1
  or else they will scatter tares4 ,all 
good seed comes out of ,god's  granary4 
,if we preach1 it must be the true word 
of ,god1 or nothing can  come of it4    
,more than that1 all the strength that  
is in the laborer's  arm to sow the     
heavenly seed must be given by the      
,master4 ,we cannot  preach except ,god 
be with us4 ,a sermon is vain talk and  
dreary  word-spinning unless the ,holy  
,spirit enlivens it4 ,he must give us   
both  the preparation of the heart and  
the answer of the tongue1 or we shall   
be as men who sow the wind4 ,when the   

good seed is sown the whole success  of 
it rests with ,god4 ,if he withhold the 
dew and the rain the seed will  never   
rise from the ground2 and unless he     
shall shine upon it the green  ear will 
never ripen4 ,the human heart will      
remain barren1 even though  ,paul       
himself should preach1 unless ,god the  
,holy ,ghost shall work with  ,paul and 
bless the word to those that hear it4   
,therefore1 since the  increase is of   
,god alone1 put the laborers into their 
place4 ,do not make  too much of us2 for
 when we have done all we are           
unprofitable servants4    ,yet1 though  
inspiration calls the laborers nothing1 
it says that they  shall be rewarded4   
,god works our good works in us1 and    
then rewards us  for them4 ,here we have
 mention of a personal service1 and a   
personal  reward3 ,every man shall      
receive his own reward according to his 
own  labor4 ,the reward is              
proportionate1 not to the success1 but  
to the  labor4 ,many discouraged workers

 may be comforted by that expression4   
,you  are not to be paid by results1 but
 by endeavors4 ,you may have a stiff    
bit of clay to plough1 or a dreary plot 
of land to sow1 where stones1  and      
birds1 and thorns1 and travellers1 and a
 burning sun may all be  leagued against
 the seed2 but you are not accountable  
for these things2  your reward shall be 
according to your work4 ,some put a     
great deal of  labor into a little      
field1 and make much out of it4 ,others 
use a great  deal of labor throughout a 
long life1 and yet they see but small   
result1  for it is written1 ,one soweth1
 and another reapeth3 but the reaping   
man will not get all the reward1 the    
sowing man shall receive his  portion of
 the joy4 ,the laborers are nobodies1   
but they shall enter into  the joy of   
their ,lord4    ,unitedly1 according to 
the text1 the workers have been         
successful1  and that is a great part of
 their reward4 ,i have planted1 ,apollos
  watered2 but ,god gave the increase4  

,frequently brethren say in their       
prayers1 ,a ,paul may plant1 an ,apollos
 may water1 but it is all in vain       
unless ,god gives the increase4 ,this is
 quite true2 but another truth is  too  
much overlooked1 namely1 that when ,paul
 plants and ,apollos waters1  ,god does 
give the increase4 ,we do not labor in  
vain4 ,there would be no  increase      
without ,god2 but then we are not       
without ,god3 when such men as  ,paul   
and ,apollos plant and water1 there is  
sure to be an increase2 they  are the   
right kind of laborers1 they work in a  
right spirit1 and ,god is  certain to   
bless them4 ,this is a great part of the
 laborer's wages4      ,,iii4 ,so much  
upon the laborers4 ,now for the main    
point again4 ,,god  ,,himself ,,is ,,the
 ,,great ,,worker4 ,he may use what     
laborers he pleases1 but  the increase  
comes alone from him4 ,brethren1 you    
know it is so in  natural things3 the   
most skilful farmer cannot make the     
wheat germinate1  and grow1 and ripen4  

,he cannot even preserve a single field 
till harvest  time1 for the farmer's    
enemies are many and mighty4 ,in        
husbandry there's  many a slip 'twixt   
the cup and the lip2 and when the farmer
 thinks1 good  easy man1 that he shall  
reap his crop1 there are blights and    
mildews  lingering about to rob him of  
his gains4 ,god must give the increase4 
,if  any man is dependent on ,god it is 
the husbandman1 and through him we are  
all of us dependent upon ,god from year 
to year for the food by which we  live4 
,even the king must live by the produce 
of the field4 ,god gives the  increase  
in the barn and the hay-rick2 and in the
 spiritual farm it is  even more so1 for
 what can man do in this business8 ,if  
any of you think  that it is an easy    
thing to win a soul ,i should like you  
to attempt it4  ,suppose that without   
divine aid you should try to save a     
soul--you might  as well attempt to make
 a world4 ,why1 you cannot create a fly1
 how can  you create a new heart and a  

right spirit8 ,regeneration is a great  
mystery1 it is out of your reach4 ,the  
wind bloweth where it listeth1  and thou
 hearest the sound thereof1 but canst   
not tell whence it  cometh1 and whither 
it goeth3 so is every one that is born  
of the  ,spirit4 ,what can you and ,i do
 in this matter8 it is far beyond our   
line4 ,we can tell out the truth of     
,god2 but to apply that truth to the    
heart and conscience is quite another   
thing4 ,i have preached ,jesus  ,christ 
with my whole heart1 and yet ,i know    
that ,i have never produced a  saving   
effect upon a single unregenerate man   
unless the ,spirit of ,god  has opened  
the heart and placed the living seed of 
truth within it4  ,experience teaches us
 this4 ,equally is it the ,lord's work  
to keep the  seed alive when it springs 
up4 ,we think we have converts1 and we  
are not  long before we are disappointed
 in them4 ,many are like blossoms on our
  apple trees2 they are fair to look    
upon1 but they do not come to  anything2

 and others are like the many little    
apples which fall off long  before they 
have come to any size4 ,he who presides 
over a great church1  and feels an agony
 for the souls of men1 will soon be     
convinced that if  ,god does not work   
there will be no work done3 we shall see
 no  conversion1 no sanctification1 no  
final perseverance1 no glory brought  to
 ,god1 no satisfaction for the passion  
of the ,saviour1 unless the ,lord  be   
with us4 ,well said our ,lord1 ,without 
me ye can do nothing4      ,briefly ,i  
would draw certain practical lessons out
 of this important  truth3 the first is1
 if the whole farm of the church belongs
 exclusively  to the great ,master      
,worker1 and the laborers are worth     
nothing without  him1 let this promote  
unity among all whom he employs4 ,if we 
are all  under one ,master1 do not let  
us quarrel4 ,it is a miserable business 
when  we cannot bear to see good being  
done by those of a different            
denomination who work in ways of their  

own4 ,if a new laborer comes on  the    
farm1 and he uses a hoe of a new shape1 
shall ,i become his enemy8 ,if  he does 
his work better than ,i do mine1 shall  
,i be jealous8 ,do you not  remember    
reading in the ,scriptures that1 upon   
one occasion1 the  disciples could not  
cast out a devil8 ,this ought to have   
made them  humble2 but to our surprise  
we read a few verses further on that    
they  saw one casting out devils in     
,christ's name1 and they forbade him    
because he followed not with their      
company4 ,they could not cast out  the  
devil themselves1 and they forbade those
 who could4 ,a certain band  of people  
are going about winning souls1 but      
because they are not doing  it in our   
fashion1 we do not like it4 ,it is true 
they have odd ways2 but  they do really 
save souls1 and that is the main point4 
,instead of  cavilling1 let us encourage
 all on ,christ's side4 ,wisdom is      
justified of  her children1 though some 
of them are far from handsome4 ,the     

laborers  ought to be satisfied with the
 new ploughman if their ,master smiles  
upon  him4 ,brother1 if the great ,lord 
has employed you1 it is no business of  
mine to question his choice4 ,can ,i    
lend you a hand8 ,can ,i show you how   
to work better8 ,or can you show me how 
,i can improve8 ,this is the proper     
behavior of one workman to another4     
,this truth1 however1 ought to keep all 
the laborers very dependent4  ,are you  
going to preach1 young man8 ,yes1 ,i am 
going to do a great deal  of good4 ,are 
you8 ,have you forgotten that you are   
nothing8 ,neither is  he that planteth  
anything4 ,a divine is coming brimful of
 the gospel to  comfort the saints4 ,if 
he is not coming in strict dependence   
upon ,god1  he1 too1 is nothing4        
,neither is he that watereth anything4  
,power  belongeth unto ,god4 ,man is    
vanity and his words are wind2 to ,god  
alone  belongeth power and wisdom4 ,if  
we keep our places in all lowliness our 
,lord will use us2 but if we exalt      

ourselves he will leave us to our       
nothingness4    ,next notice that this  
fact ennobles everybody who labors in   
,god's  husbandry4 ,my soul is lifted up
 with joy when ,i mark these words1 ,for
  we are laborers together with ,god3   
mere laborers on his farm1 and yet      
laborers with him4 ,does the ,lord work 
with us8 ,we know he does by the  signs 
following4 ,my ,father worketh hitherto1
 and ,i work1 is language  for all the  
sons of ,god as well as for the great   
,firstborn4 ,god is with  you1 my       
brethren1 when you are serving him with 
all your heart4 ,speaking  to your class
 concerning ,jesus1 it is ,god that     
speaks by you2 picking up  that stranger
 on the way1 and telling him of         
salvation by faith1 ,christ  is speaking
 through you even as he spoke with the  
woman at the well2  addressing the rough
 crowd in the open air1 young man1 if   
you are  preaching pardon through the   
atoning blood1 it is the ,god of ,peter 
who  is testifying of his ,son1 even as 

he did on the day of ,pentecost4        
,but1 lastly1 how this should drive us  
to our knees4 ,since we are  nothing    
without ,god1 let us cry mightily unto  
him for help in this our  holy service4 
,let both sower and reaper pray         
together1 or they will  never rejoice   
together4 ,if the blessing be withheld1 
it is because we do  not cry for it and 
expect it4 ,brother laborers1 come to   
the mercy-seat1  and we shall yet see   
the reapers return from the fields      
bringing their  sheaves with them1      
though1 perhaps1 they went forth weeping
 to the  sowing4 ,to our ,father1 who is
 the husbandman1 be all glory1 for ever 
and  ever4 ,amen4          ,,what ,,the 
,,farm ,,laborers ,,can ,,do ,,and      
,,what ,,they ,,cannot ,,do4    ,and he 
said1 ,so is the kingdom of ,god1 as if 
a man should cast seed  into the ground2
 and should sleep1 and rise night and   
day1 and the seed  should spring and    
grow up1 he knoweth not how4 ,for the   
earth bringeth  forth fruit of herself2 

first the blade1 then the ear1 after    
that the  full corn in the ear4 ,but    
when the fruit is brought forth1        
immediately  he putteth in the sickle1  
because the harvest is come4--,,mark    
#d3bf-bi4      ,,there is a lesson for  
laborers together with ,god4 ,it is a   
parable for  all who are concerned in   
the kingdom of ,god4 ,it will be of     
little value  to those who are in the   
kingdom of darkness1 for they are not   
bidden to  sow the good seed3 ,unto the 
wicked ,god saith1 ,what hast thou to do
 to  declare my statutes8 ,but all who  
are commissioned to scatter seed for    
the ,royal ,husbandman1 will be glad to 
know how the harvest is preparing  for  
him whom they serve4 ,listen1 then1 ye  
that sow beside all waters2 ye  that    
with holy diligence seek to fill the    
garners of heaven--listen1 and  may the 
,spirit of ,god speak into your ears as 
you are able to bear it4      ,i4 ,we   
shall1 first1 learn from our text ,,what
 ,,we ,,can ,,do ,,and ,,what ,,we      

,,cannot ,,do4 ,let this stand as our   
first head4    ,so is the kingdom of    
,god1 as if a man should cast seed into 
the  ground3 this the gracious worker   
can do4 ,and the seed should spring  and
 grow up1 he knoweth not how3 this is   
what he cannot do3 seed once  sown is   
beyond human jurisdiction1 and man can  
neither make it spring  nor grow4 ,yet  
ere long the worker comes in            
again3--,when the fruit is  brought     
forth1 immediately he putteth in the    
sickle4 ,we can reap in due  season1 and
 it is both our duty and our privilege  
to do so4 ,you see1  then1 that there is
 a place for the worker at the          
beginning1 and though  there is no room 
for him in the middle passage1 yet      
another opportunity  is given him       
further on when that which he sowed has 
actually yielded  fruit4    ,notice1    
then1 that we can sow4 ,any man who has 
received the knowledge  of the grace of 
,god in his heart can teach others4 ,i  
include under the  term man all who know

 the ,lord1 be they male or female4 ,we 
cannot all  teach alike1 for all have   
not the same gifts2 to one is given one 
talent1 and to another ten2 neither have
 we all the same opportunities1  for one
 lives in obscurity and another has     
far-reaching influence2 yet  there is   
not within the family of ,god an infant 
hand which may not drop  its own tiny   
seed into the ground4 ,there is not a   
man among us who needs  to stand idle in
 the market-place1 for work suitable to 
his strength is  waiting for him4 ,there
 is not a saved woman who is left       
without a holy  task2 let her do it and 
win the approving word1 ,she hath done  
what she  could4    ,we need never      
quarrel with ,god because we cannot do  
everything1 if he  only permits us to do
 this one thing2 for sowing the good    
seed is a work  which will need all our 
wit1 our strength1 our love1 our care4  
,holy seed  sowing should be adopted as 
our highest pursuit1 and it will be no  
inferior object for the noblest life4   

,you will need heavenly teaching  that  
you may carefully select the wheat1 and 
keep it free from the  darnel of error4 
,you will require instruction to winnow 
out of it your  own thoughts and        
opinions2 for these may not be according
 to the mind of  ,god4 ,men are not     
saved by our word1 but by ,god's word4  
,we need grace to  learn the gospel     
aright1 and to teach the whole of it4   
,to different men  we must1 with        
discretion1 bring forward that part of  
the word of ,god  which will best bear  
upon their consciences2 for much may    
depend upon  the word being in season4  
,having selected the seed1 we shall have
 plenty of work if we go forth  and sow 
it broadcast everywhere1 for every day  
brings its opportunity1  and every      
company furnishes its occasion4 ,in the 
morning sow thy seed1  and in the       
evening withhold not thy hand4 ,sow     
beside all waters4    ,still1 wise      
sowers discover favorable opportunities 
for sowing1 and  gladly seize upon them4

 ,there are times when it would clearly 
be a waste  to sow2 for the soil could  
not receive it1 it is not in a fit      
condition4  ,after a shower1 or before a
 shower1 or at some such time as he that
 hath  studied husbandry prefers1 then  
must we be up and doing4 ,while we are  
to  work for ,god always1 yet there are 
seasons when it were casting pearls     
before swine to talk of holy things1 and
 there are other times when to  be      
silent would be a great sin4 ,sluggards 
in the time for ploughing and  sowing   
are sluggards indeed1 for they not only 
waste the day1 but throw  away the year4
 ,if you watch for souls1 and use hours 
of happy vantage1  and moments of sacred
 softening1 you will not complain of the
 scanty  space allowed for agency4 ,even
 should you never be called to water1 or
  to reap1 your office is wide enough if
 you fulfil the work of the  sower4     
,for little though it seem to teach the 
simple truth of the gospel1 yet  it is  
essential4 ,how shall men hear without a

 teacher8 ,servants of ,god1  the seed  
of the word is not like thistle-down1   
which is borne by every  wind2 but the  
wheat of the kingdom needs a human hand 
to sow it1 and  without such agency it  
will not enter into men's hearts1       
neither can it  bring forth fruit to the
 glory of ,god4 ,the preaching of the   
gospel is  the necessity of every age2  
,god grant that our country may never be
  deprived of it4 ,even if the ,lord    
should send us a famine of bread and of 
water1 may he never send us a famine of 
the word of ,god4 ,faith cometh by      
hearing1 and how can there be hearing if
 there is no teaching8 ,scatter  ye1    
scatter ye1 then1 the seed of the       
kingdom1 for this is essential to  the  
harvest4    ,this seed should be sown   
often1 for many are the foes of the     
wheat1 and  if you repeat not your      
sowing you may never see a harvest4 ,the
 seed must  be sown everywhere1 too1 for
 there are no choice corners of the     
world  that you can afford to let alone1

 in the hope that they will be          
self-productive4 ,you may not leave the 
rich and intelligent under the  notion  
that surely the gospel will be found    
among them1 for it is not  so3 the pride
 of life leads them away from ,god4 ,you
 may not leave the  poor and illiterate1
 and say1 ,surely they will of          
themselves feel their  need of ,christ4 
,not so3 they will sink from degradation
 to degradation  unless you uplift them 
with the gospel4 ,no tribe of man1 no   
peculiar  constitution of the human     
mind1 may be neglected by us2 but       
everywhere  we must preach the word1 in 
season and out of season4 ,i have heard 
that  ,captain ,cook1 the celebrated    
circumnavigator1 in whatever part of the
  earth he landed1 took with him a      
little packet of ,english seeds1 and    
scattered them in suitable places4 ,he  
would leave the boat and wander up  from
 the shore4 ,he said nothing1 but       
quietly scattered the seeds  wherever he
 went1 so that he belted the world with 

the flowers and herbs  of his native    
land4 ,imitate him wherever you go2 sow 
spiritual seed in  every place that your
 foot shall tread upon4    ,let us now  
think of what you cannot do4 ,you       
cannot1 after the seed has  left your   
hand1 cause it to put forth life4 ,i am 
sure you cannot make  it grow1 for you  
do not know how it grows4 ,the text     
saith1 ,and the seed  should spring and 
grow up1 he knoweth not how4 ,that which
 is beyond the  range of our knowledge  
is certainly beyond the reach of our    
power4 ,can  you make a seed germinate8 
,you may place it under circumstances of
 damp  and heat which will cause it to  
swell and break forth with a shoot1 but 
the germination itself is beyond you4   
,how is it done8 ,we know not4 ,after   
the germ has been put forth1 can you    
make it further grow1 and develop  its  
life into leaf and stem8 ,no2 that1 too1
 is out of your power4 ,and  when the   
green1 grassy blade has been succeeded  
by the ear1 can you  ripen it8 ,it will 

be ripened2 but can you do it8 ,you know
 you cannot2  you can have no finger in 
the actual process1 though you may      
promote the  conditions under which it  
is carried on4 ,life is a mystery2      
growth is a  mystery2 ripening is a     
mystery3 and these three mysteries are  
as  fountains sealed against all        
intrusion4 ,how comes it that there is  
within the ripe seed the preparations   
for another sowing and another  growth8 
,what is this vital principle1 this     
secret reproducing energy8  ,knowest    
thou anything about this8 ,the          
philosopher may talk about  chemical    
combinations1 and he may proceed to     
quote analogies from this  and that2 but
 still the growth of the seed remains a 
secret2 it springs  up1 he knoweth not  
how4 ,certainly this is true of the rise
 and progress  of the life of ,god in   
the heart4 ,it enters the soul1 and     
roots itself we  know not how4          
,naturally men hate the word1 but it    
enters and it changes  their hearts1 so 

that they come to love it2 yet we know  
not how4 ,their  whole nature is        
renewed1 so that instead of producing   
sin it yields  repentance1 faith1 and   
love2 but we know not how4 ,how the     
,spirit of ,god  deals with the mind of 
man1 how he creates the new heart and   
the right  spirit1 how we are begotten  
again unto a lively hope1 we cannot     
tell4  ,the ,holy ,ghost enters into us2
 we hear not his voice1 we see not his  
light1 we feel not his touch2 yet he    
worketh an effectual work upon us1      
which we are not long in perceiving4 ,we
 know that the work of the ,spirit  is a
 new creation1 a resurrection1 a        
quickening from the dead2 but all  these
 words are only covers to our utter     
ignorance of the mode of his  working1  
with which it is not in our power to    
meddle4 ,we do not know how  he performs
 his miracles of love1 and1 not knowing 
how he works1 we may  be quite sure that
 we cannot take the work out of his     
hands4 ,we cannot  create1 we cannot    

quicken1 we cannot transform1 we cannot 
regenerate1 we  cannot save4    ,this   
work of ,god having proceeded in the    
growth of the seed1 what next8  ,we can 
reap the ripe ears4 ,after a season ,god
 the ,holy ,spirit uses his  servants   
again4 ,as soon as the living seed has  
produced first of all the  blade of     
thought1 and afterwards the green ear of
 conviction1 and then  faith1 which is  
as full corn in the ear1 then the       
,christian worker comes  in for further 
service1 for he can reap4 ,when the     
fruit is brought  forth1 immediately he 
putteth in the sickle4 ,this is not the 
reaping of  the last great day1 for that
 does not come within the scope of the  
parable1 which evidently relates to a   
human sower and reaper4 ,the kind  of   
reaping which the ,saviour here intends 
is that which he referred to  when he   
said to his disciples1 ,lift up your    
eyes1 and look on the  fields2 for they 
are white already to harvest4 ,after he 
had been sowing  the seed in the hearts 

of the ,samaritans1 and it had sprung   
up1 so that  they began to evince faith 
in him1 the ,lord ,jesus cried1 ,the    
fields are  white to harvest4 ,the      
apostle saith1 ,one soweth1 and another 
reapeth4  ,our ,lord said to the        
disciples1 ,i sent you to reap that     
whereon ye  bestowed no labor4 ,is there
 not a promise1 ,in due season we shall 
reap1 if we faint not8    ,christian    
workers begin their harvest work by     
watching for signs of  faith in ,christ4
 ,they are eager to see the blade1 and  
delighted to mark  the ripening ear4    
,they often hope that men are believers1
 but they long  to be sure of it2 and   
when they judge that at last the fruit  
of faith is  put forth1 they begin to   
encourage1 to congratulate1 and to      
comfort4  ,they know that the young     
believer needs to be housed in the barn 
of  ,christian fellowship1 that he may  
be saved from a thousand perils4 ,no    
wise farmer leaves the fruit of the     
field long exposed to the hail which    

might beat it out1 or to the mildew     
which might destroy it1 or to the  birds
 which might devour it4 ,evidently no   
believing man should be left  outside of
 the garner of holy fellowship2 he      
should be carried into the  midst of the
 church with all the joy which attends  
the home-bringing of  sheaves4 ,the     
worker for ,christ watches carefully1   
and when he discerns  that his time is  
come1 he begins at once to fetch in the 
converts1 that  they may be cared for by
 the brotherhood1 separated from the    
world1  screened from temptation1 and   
laid up for the ,lord4 ,he is diligent  
to do  it at once1 because the text     
saith1 immediately he putteth in the    
sickle4 ,he does not wait for months in 
cold suspicion2 he is not afraid  that  
he shall encourage too soon when faith  
is really present4 ,he comes  with the  
word of promise and the smile of        
brotherly love at once1 and he  says to 
the new believer1 ,have you confessed   
your faith8 ,is not the  time come for  

an open confession8 ,hath not ,jesus    
bidden the believer to  be baptized8 ,if
 you love him1 keep his commandments4   
,he does not rest  till he has          
introduced the convert to the communion 
of the faithful4 ,for  our work1        
beloved1 is but half done when men are  
made disciples and  baptized4 ,we have  
then to encourage1 to instruct1 to      
strengthen1 to  console1 and succor in  
all times of difficulty and danger4     
,what saith  the ,saviour8 ,go ye       
therefore1 and make disciples of all the
 nations1  baptizing them into the name 
of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of 
the  ,holy ,ghost3 teaching them to     
observe all things whatsoever ,i have   
commanded you4    ,observe1 then1 the   
sphere and limit of agency4 ,we can     
introduce the  truth to men1 but that   
truth the ,lord himself must bless2 the 
living and  growing of the word within  
the soul is of ,god alone4 ,when the    
mystic  work of growth is done1 we are  
able to garner the saved ones in the    

church4 ,for ,christ to be formed in men
 the hope of glory is not of our        
working1 that remains with ,god2 but1   
when ,jesus ,christ is formed in  them1 
to discern the image of the ,saviour and
 to say1 ,come in1 thou  blessed of the 
,lord1 wherefore standest thou without8 
this is our duty  and delight4 ,to      
create the divine life is ,god's1 to    
cherish it is ours4  ,to cause the      
hidden life to grow is the work of the  
,lord2 to see the  uprising and         
development of that life and to harvest 
it is the work of  the faithful1 even as
 it is written1 ,when the fruit is      
brought forth1  immediately he putteth  
in the sickle1 because the harvest is   
come4    ,this1 then1 is our first      
lesson2 we see what we can do and what  
we  cannot do4      ,,ii4 ,our second   
head is like unto the first1 and        
consists of ,,what ,,we ,,can  ,,know   
,,and ,,what ,,we ,,cannot ,,know4      
,first1 what we can know4 ,we can know  
when we have sown the good seed  of the 

word that it will grow2 for ,god has    
promised that it shall do so4  ,not     
every grain in every place2 for some    
will go to the bird1 and some  to the   
worm1 and some to be scorched by the    
sun2 but1 as a general rule1  ,god's    
word shall not return unto him void1 it 
shall prosper in the thing  whereto he  
hath sent it4 ,this we can know4 ,and we
 can know that the seed  when once it   
takes root will continue to grow2 that  
it is not a dream or  a picture that    
will disappear1 but a thing of force and
 energy1 which  will advance from a     
grassy blade to corn in the ear1 and    
under ,god's  blessing will develop to  
actual salvation1 and be as the full    
corn in  the ear4 ,god helping and      
blessing it1 our work of teaching will  
not  only lead men to thought and       
conviction1 but to conversion and       
eternal  life4    ,we also can know1    
because we are told so1 that the reason 
for this is  mainly because there is    
life in the word4 ,in the word of ,god  

itself  there is life1 for it is        
written--,the word of ,god is quick and 
powerful1 that is1 living and powerful4 
,it is the incorruptible  seed which    
liveth and abideth for ever4 ,it is the 
nature of living  seeds to grow2 and the
 reason why the word of ,god grows in   
men's hearts  is because it is the      
living word of the living ,god1 and     
where the word  of a king is there is   
power4 ,we know this1 because the       
,scriptures teach  us so4 ,is it not    
written1 ,of his own will begat he us by
 the word of  truth8    ,moreover1 the  
earth1 which is here the type of the    
man1 bringeth forth  fruit of herself4  
,we must mind what we are at in         
expounding this1 for  human hearts do   
not produce faith of themselves2 they   
are as hard rock  on which the seed     
perishes4 ,but it means this--that as   
the earth under  the blessing of the dew
 and the rain is1 by ,god's secret      
working upon  it1 made to take up and   
embrace the seed1 so the heart of man is

 made  ready to receive and enfold the  
gospel of ,jesus ,christ within itself4 
,man's awakened heart wants exactly what
 the word of ,god supplies4 ,moved  by a
 divine influence the soul embraces the 
truth1 and is embraced by  it1 and so   
the truth lives in the heart1 and is    
quickened by it4 ,man's  love accepts   
the love of ,god2 man's faith wrought in
 him by the ,spirit  of ,god believes   
the truth of ,god2 man's hope wrought in
 him by the ,holy  ,ghost lays hold upon
 the things revealed1 and so the        
heavenly seed grows  in the soil of the 
soul4 ,the life comes not from you who  
preach the  word1 but it is placed      
within the word which you preach by the 
,holy  ,spirit4 ,the life is not in your
 hand1 but in the heart which is led to 
take hold upon the truth by the ,spirit 
of ,god4 ,salvation comes not from  the 
personal authority of the preacher1 but 
through the personal  conviction1       
personal faith1 and personal love of the
 hearer4 ,so much as  this we may know1 

and is it not enough for all practical  
purposes8    ,still1 there is a         
something which we cannot know1 a secret
 into which  we cannot pry4 ,i repeat   
what ,i have said before3 you cannot    
look into  men's inward parts and see   
exactly how the truth takes hold upon   
the  heart1 or the heart takes hold upon
 the truth4 ,many have watched their    
own feelings till they have become blind
 with despondency1 and others  have     
watched the feelings of the young till  
they have done them rather  harm than   
good by their rigorous supervision4 ,in 
,god's work there is  more room for     
faith than for sight4 ,the heavenly seed
 grows secretly4  ,you must bury it out 
of sight1 or there will be no harvest4  
,even if you  keep the seed above       
ground1 and it does sprout1 you cannot  
discover  how it grows2 even though you 
microscopically watched its swelling and
  bursting1 you could not see the inward
 vital force which moves the seed4      
,thou knowest not the way of the        

,spirit4 ,his work is wrought in secret4
  ,explain the new birth1 says somebody4
 ,my answer is1 ,experience the  new    
birth1 and you shall know what it is4   
,there are secrets into which  we cannot
 enter1 for their light is too bright   
for mortal eyes to  endure4 ,o man1 thou
 canst not become omniscient1 for thou  
art a  creature1 and not the ,creator4  
,for thee there must ever be a region   
not  only unknown but unknowable4 ,so   
far shall thy knowledge go1 but no      
farther2 and thou mayest thank ,god it  
is so1 for thus he leaves room for      
faith1 and gives cause for prayer4 ,cry 
mightily unto the ,great ,worker to  do 
what thou canst not attempt to perform1 
that so1 when thou seest men  saved1    
thou mayest give the ,lord all the glory
 evermore4      ,,iii4 ,thirdly1 our    
text tells us ,,what ,,we ,,may ,,expect
 ,,if ,,we ,,work ,,for ,,god1  ,,and   
,,what ,,we ,,may ,,not ,,expect4       
,according to this parable we may expect
 to  see fruit4 ,the husbandman casts   

his seed into the ground3 the seed      
springs and grows1 and he naturally     
expects a harvest4 ,i wish ,i could  say
 a word to stir up the expectations of  
,christian workers2 for ,i fear  that   
many work without faith4 ,if you had a  
garden or a field1 and you  sow seed in 
it1 you would be very greatly surprised 
and grieved if it  did not come up at   
all2 but many ,christian people seem    
quite content to  work on without       
expectation of result4 ,this is a       
pitiful kind of  working--pulling up    
empty buckets by the year together4     
,surely1 ,i must  either see some result
 for my labor and be glad1 or else1     
failing to see  it1 ,i must be ready to 
break my heart if ,i be a true servant  
of the  great ,master4 ,we ought to have
 expected results2 if we had expected   
more  we should have seen more2 but a   
lack of expectation has been a great    
cause of failure in ,god's workers4     
,but we may not expect to see all the   
seed which we sow spring up the  moment 

we sow it4 ,sometimes1 glory be to ,god1
 we have but to deliver  the word1 and  
straightway men are converted3 the      
reaper overtakes the  sower1 in such    
instances2 but it is not always so4     
,some sowers have been  diligent for    
years upon their plots of ground1 and   
yet apparently all  has been in vain2 at
 last the harvest has come1 a harvest   
which1  speaking after the manner of    
men1 had never been reaped if they had  
not  persevered to the end4 ,this world1
 as ,i believe1 is to be converted to   
,christ2 but not to-day1 nor to-morrow1 
peradventure not for many an age2  but  
the sowing of the centuries is not being
 lost1 it is working on  toward the     
grand ultimatum4 ,a crop of mushrooms   
may soon be produced2  but a forest of  
oaks will not reward the planter till   
generations of his  children have       
mouldered in the dust4 ,it is ours to   
sow1 and to hope for  quick reaping2 but
 still we ought to remember that the    
husbandman  waiteth for the precious    

fruit of the earth1 and hath long       
patience for  it1 until he receive the  
early and latter rain1 and so must we4  
,we are  to expect results1 but not to  
be dispirited if we have to wait for    
them4    ,we are also to expect to see  
the good seed grow1 but not always after
  our fashion4 ,like children1 we are   
apt to be impatient4 ,your little boy   
sowed mustard and cress yesterday in his
 garden4 ,this afternoon ,johnny  will  
be turning over the ground to see if the
 seed is growing4 ,there is  no         
probability that his mustard and cress  
will come to anything1 for he  will not 
let it alone long enough for it to grow4
 ,so is it with hasty  workers2 they    
must see the result of the gospel       
directly1 or else they  distrust the    
blessed word4 ,certain preachers are in 
such a hurry that  they will allow no   
time for thought1 no space for counting 
the cost1 no  opportunity for men to    
consider their ways and turn to the     
,lord with  full purpose of heart4 ,all 

other seeds take time to grow1 but the  
seed  of the word must grow before the  
speaker's eyes like magic1 or he thinks 
nothing has been done4 ,such good       
brethren are so eager to produce blade  
and ear there and then1 that they roast 
their seed in the fire of  fanaticism1  
and it perishes4 ,they make men think   
that they are  converted1 and thus      
effectually hinder them from coming to a
 saving  knowledge of the truth4 ,some  
men are prevented from being saved by   
being  told that they are saved already1
 and by being puffed up with a notion   
of perfection when they are not even    
broken in heart4 ,perhaps if such       
people had been taught to look for      
something deeper they might not have    
been satisfied with receiving seed on   
stony ground2 but now they exhibit  a   
rapid development1 and an equally rapid 
decline and fall4 ,let us  believingly  
expect to see the seed grow2 but let us 
look to see it  advance after the manner
 of the preacher--firstly1 secondly1    

thirdly3  first the blade1 then the ear1
 then the full corn in the ear4    ,we  
may expect also to see the seed ripen4  
,our works will by ,god's grace  lead up
 to real faith in those he hath wrought 
upon by his word and  ,spirit2 but we   
must not expect to see it perfect at    
first4 ,how many  mistakes have been    
made here4 ,here is a young person under
 impression1  and some good1 sound      
brother talks with the trembling        
beginner1 and asks  profound questions4 
,he shakes his experienced head1 and    
knits his  furrowed brows4 ,he goes into
 the corn-field to see how the crops are
  prospering1 and though it is early in 
the year1 he laments that he  cannot see
 an ear of corn2 indeed1 he perceives   
nothing but mere grass4  ,i cannot see a
 trace of corn1 says he4 ,no1 brother1  
of course you  cannot2 for you will not 
be satisfied with the blade as an       
evidence of  life1 but must insist upon 
seeing everything at full growth at     
once4 ,if  you had looked for the blade 

you would have found it2 and it would   
have  encouraged you4 ,for my own part1 
,i am glad even to perceive a faint     
desire1 a feeble longing1 a degree of   
uneasiness1 or a measure of  weariness  
of sin1 or a craving after mercy4 ,will 
it not be wise for you1  also1 to allow 
things to begin at the beginning1 and to
 be satisfied  with their being small at
 the first8 ,see the blade of desire1   
and then  watch for more4 ,soon you     
shall see a little more than desire2 for
 there  shall be conviction and resolve1
 and after that a feeble faith1 small   
as a mustard seed1 but bound to grow4   
,do not despise the day of small        
things4 ,do not examine the new-born    
babe to see whether he is sound in      
doctrine after your idea of soundness2  
ten to one he is a long way off  sound1 
and you will only worry the dear heart  
by introducing difficult  questions4    
,speak to him about his being a sinner1 
and ,christ a ,saviour1  and you will in
 this way water him so that his grace in

 the ear will  become the full corn in  
the ear4 ,it may be that there is not   
much that  looks like wheat about him   
yet2 but by-and-by you shall say1       
,wheat6 ah1  that it is1 if ,i know     
wheat4 ,this man is a true ear of corn1 
and gladly  will ,i place him among my  
,master's sheaves4 ,if you cut down the 
blades1  where will the ears come from8 
,expect grace in your converts2 but do  
not  look to see glory in them just yet4
      ,,iv4 ,under the last head we     
shall consider ,,what ,,sleep ,,workers 
,,may ,,take1  ,,and ,,what ,,they ,,may
 ,,not ,,take2 for it is said of this   
sowing man1 that he  sleeps and rises   
night and day1 and the seed springs and 
grows up he  knoweth not how4 ,they say 
a farmer's trade is a good one because  
it is  going on while he is abed and    
asleep2 and surely ours is a good trade1
  too1 when we serve our ,master by     
sowing good seed2 for it is growing     
even while we are asleep4    ,but how   
may a good workman for ,christ lawfully 

go to sleep8 ,i answer1  first1 he may  
sleep the sleep of restfulness born of  
confidence4 ,you  are afraid the kingdom
 of ,christ will not come1 are you8 ,who
 asked you  to tremble for the ark of   
the ,lord8 ,afraid for the infinite     
,jehovah that  his purposes will fail8  
,shame on you6 ,your anxiety dishonors  
your ,god4  ,shall ,omnipotence be      
defeated8 ,you had better sleep than    
wake to play  the part of ,uzzah4 ,rest 
patiently2 ,god's purpose will be       
accomplished1  his kingdom will come1   
his chosen will be saved1 and ,christ   
shall see of  the travail of his soul4  
,take the sweet sleep which ,god gives  
to his  beloved1 the sleep of perfect   
confidence1 such as ,jesus slept in the 
hinder part of the ship when it was     
tossed with tempest4 ,the cause of  ,god
 never was in jeopardy1 and never will  
be2 the seed sown is insured  by        
,omnipotence1 and must produce its      
harvest4 ,in patience possess your      
soul1 and wait till the harvest comes1  

for the pleasure of the ,lord must      
prosper in the hands of ,jesus4    ,also
 take that sleep of joyful expectancy   
which leads to a happy  waking4 ,get up 
in the morning and feel that the ,lord  
is ruling all  things for the attainment
 of his own purposes1 and the highest   
benefit  of all who put their trust in  
him4 ,look for a blessing by day1 and   
close  your eyes at night calmly        
expecting to meet with better things    
to-morrow4 ,if you do not sleep you will
 not wake up in the morning  refreshed1 
and ready for more work4 ,if it were    
possible for you to sit  up all night   
and eat the bread of carefulness you    
would be unfit to  attend to the service
 which your ,master appoints for the    
morning2  therefore take your rest and  
be at peace1 and work with calm dignity1
  for the matter is safe in the ,lord's 
hands4 ,is it not written1 ,so he       
giveth his beloved sleep8    ,take your 
rest because you have consciously       
resigned your work into  ,god's hands4  

,after you have spoken the word1 resort 
to ,god in prayer1  and commit the      
matter into ,god's hand1 and then do not
 fret about it4  ,it cannot be in better
 keeping1 leave it with him who worketh 
all in  all4    ,but do not sleep the   
sleep of unwatchfulness4 ,the farmer    
sows his seed1  but he does not         
therefore forget it4 ,he has to mend his
 fences1 to drive  away birds1 to remove
 weeds1 or to prevent floods4 ,he does  
not watch the  growth of the seed1 but  
he has plenty else to do4 ,he sleeps1   
but it is  only in due time and measure1
 and is not to be confounded with the   
sluggard's slumbers4 ,he never sleeps   
the sleep of indifference1 or even  of  
inaction1 for each season has its demand
 upon him4 ,he has sown one  field1 but 
he has another to sow4 ,he has sown1 but
 he has also to reap2  and if reaping is
 done1 he has to thresh and to winnow4  
,a farmer's work  is never done1 for in 
one part or the other of the farm he is 
needed4  ,his sleep is but a pause that 

gives him strength to continue his      
occupation4 ,the parable teaches us to  
do all that lies within our  province1  
but not to intrude into the domain of   
,god3 in teaching to the  era we are to 
labor diligently1 but with regard to the
 secret working of  truth upon man's    
mind1 we are to pray and rest1 looking  
to the ,lord for  the inward power4     
,,the ,,sheep ,,before ,,the ,,shearers4
    ,as a sheep before her shearers is  
dumb1 so he openeth not his             
mouth4--,,isaiah #ec3g4      ,,our ,lord
 ,jesus so took our place that we are in
 this chapter compared to  sheep3 ,all  
we like sheep have gone astray1 and he  
is compared to a  sheep also--,as a     
sheep before her shearers is dumb4 ,it  
is wonderful  how complete was the      
interchange of positions between ,christ
 and his  people1 so that he became what
 they were in order that they might     
become  what he is4 ,we can well        
understand how we should be the sheep   
and he the  shepherd2 but to liken the  

,son of the ,highest to a sheep would   
have been  unpardonable presumption had 
not his own ,spirit employed the        
condescending figure4    ,though the    
emblem is very gracious1 its use in this
 place is by no means  singular1 for our
 ,lord had been before ,isaiah's day    
typified by the lamb  of the ,passover4 
,since then he has been proclaimed as   
the ,lamb of ,god  which taketh away the
 sin of the world2 and indeed even in   
his glory he  is the ,lamb in the midst 
of the throne4      ,i4 ,in opening up  
this divine emblem ,i would invite you  
to consider1  first1 ,,our ,,saviour',s 
,,patience1 set forth under the figure  
of a sheep  dumb before her shearers4   
,our ,lord was brought to the shearers  
that he might be shorn of his  comfort1 
and of his honor1 shorn even of his good
 name1 and shorn at  last of his life   
itself2 but when under the shearers he  
was as silent as  a sheep4 ,how patient 
he was before ,pilate1 and ,herod1 and  
,caiaphas1 and  on the cross6 ,you have 

no record of his uttering any           
exclamation of  impatience at the pain  
and shame which he received at the hands
 of these  wicked men4 ,you hear not one
 bitter word4 ,pilate cries1 ,answerest 
thou  nothing8 ,behold how many things  
they witness against thee2 and ,herod is
  wofully disappointed1 for he expected 
to see some miracle wrought by  him4    
,all that our ,lord does say is in      
submissive tones1 like the  bleating of 
a sheep1 though infinitely more full of 
meaning4 ,he utters  sentences like     
these--,for this purpose was ,i born1   
and came into the  world1 that ,i might 
bear witness to the truth1 and1 ,father1
 forgive  them1 for they know not what  
they do4 ,otherwise he is all patience  
and  silence4    ,remember1 first1 that 
our ,lord was dumb and opened not his   
mouth  against his adversaries1 and did 
not accuse one of them of cruelty or    
injustice4 ,they slandered him1 but he  
replied not2 false witnesses  arose1 but
 he answered them not4 ,one would have  

thought he must have  spoken when they  
spat in his face4 ,might he not have    
said1 ,friend1 why  doest thou this8    
,for which of all my works dost thou    
insult me8 ,but the  time for such      
expostulations was over4 ,when they     
smote him on the face  with the palms of
 their hands1 it would not have been    
wonderful if he  had said1 ,wherefore do
 you smite me so8 ,but no2 he is as     
though he  heard not their revilings4   
,he brings no accusation to his ,father4
 ,he  needed only to have lifted his eye
 to heaven1 and legions of angels  would
 have chased away the ribald soldiery2  
one flash of a seraph's wing  and ,herod
 had been eaten by worms1 and ,pilate   
had died the death he well  deserved as 
an unjust judge4 ,the hill of the cross 
might have become a  volcano's mouth to 
swallow up the whole multitude who stood
 there  jesting and jeering at him3 but 
no1 there was no display of power1 or   
rather there was so great a display of  
power over himself that he  restrained  

,omnipotence itself with a strength     
which never can be  measured4    ,again1
 as he did not utter a word against his 
adversaries1 so he did not  say a word  
against any one of us4 ,you remember how
 ,zipporah said to  ,moses1 ,surely a   
bloody husband art thou to me1 as she   
saw her child  bleeding2 and surely     
,jesus might have said to his church1   
,thou art a  costly spouse to me1 to    
bring me all this shame and             
bloodshedding4 ,but  he giveth          
liberally1 he openeth the very fountain 
of his heart1 and he  upbraideth not4   
,he had reckoned on the uttermost       
expenditure1 and  therefore he endured  
the cross1 despising the shame4         
,this was compassion like a ,god1       
,that when the ,saviour knew1     ,the  
price of pardon was his blood1          
,his pity ne'er withdrew4    ,no doubt  
he looked across the ages2 for that eye 
of his was not dim1  even when bloodshot
 on the tree3 he must have foreseen your
 indifference  and mine1 our coldness of

 heart1 and base unfaithfulness1 and he 
might  have left on record some such    
words as these3 ,i am suffering for     
those  who are utterly unworthy of my   
regard2 their love will be a miserable  
return for mine4 ,though ,i give my     
whole heart for them1 how lukewarm is   
their love to me6 ,i am sick of them1 ,i
 am weary of them1 and it is woe  to me 
that ,i should be laying down my heart's
 blood for such a worthless  race as    
these my people are4 ,but there is not a
 hint of such a feeling4  ,no4 ,having  
loved his own which were in the world1  
he loved them unto  the end1 and he did 
not utter a syllable that looked like   
murmuring at  his suffering on their    
behalf1 or regretting that he had       
commenced the  work4    ,and again1 as  
there was not a word against his        
adversaries1 nor a word  against you nor
 me1 so their was not a word against his
 ,father1 nor a  syllable of repining at
 the severity of the chastisement laid  
upon him  for our sakes4 ,you and ,i    

have murmured when under a comparatively
 light  grief1 thinking ourselves hardly
 done by4 ,we have dared to cry out     
against ,god1 ,my face is foul with     
weeping1 and on my eyelids is the       
shadow of death2 not for any injustice  
in mine hands3 also my prayer is  pure4 
,but not so the ,saviour2 in his mouth  
were no complaints4 ,it is  quite       
impossible for us to conceive how the   
,father pressed and bruised  him1 yet   
was there no repining4 ,my ,god1 my     
,god1 why hast thou forsaken  me8 is an 
exclamation of astonished grief1 but it 
is not the voice of  complaint4 ,it     
shows manhood in weakness1 but not      
manhood in revolt4 ,many  are the       
,lamentations of ,jeremiah1 but few are 
the lamentations of ,jesus4  ,jesus     
wept1 and ,jesus sweat great drops of   
blood1 but he never murmured  nor felt  
rebellion in his heart4    ,behold your 
,lord and ,saviour lying in passive     
resignation beneath the  shearers1 as   
they take away everything that is dear  

to him1 and yet he  openeth not his     
mouth4 ,i see in this our ,lord's       
complete submission4  ,he gives himself 
up2 there is no reserve about it4 ,the  
sacrifice did not  need binding with    
cords to the horns of the altar4 ,how   
different from  your case and mine6 ,he 
stood there willing to suffer1 to be    
spit upon1  to be shamefully entreated1 
and to die1 for in him there was a      
complete  surrender4 ,he was wholly     
given to do the ,father's will1 and to  
work out  our redemption4 ,there was    
complete self-conquest too4 ,in him no  
faculty arose to plead for liberty1 and 
ask to be exempted from the  general    
strain2 no limb of the body1 no portion 
of the mind1 no faculty  of the spirit  
started1 but all submitted to the divine
 will3 the whole  ,christ gave up his   
whole being unto ,god1 that he might    
perfectly offer  himself without spot   
for our redemption4    ,there was not   
only self-conquest1 but complete        
absorption in his work4  ,the sheep1    

lying there1 thinks no more of the      
pastures1 it yields itself  up to the   
shearer4 ,the zeal of ,god's house did  
eat up our ,lord in  ,pilate's hall as  
well as everywhere else1 for there he   
witnessed a good  confession4 ,no       
thought had he but for the clearing of  
the divine honor1  and the salvation of 
,god's elect4 ,brethren1 ,i wish we     
could arrive at  this1 to submit our    
whole spirit to ,god1 to learn          
self-conquest1 and the  delivering up of
 conquered self entirely to ,god4       
,the wonderful serenity and             
submissiveness of our ,lord are still   
better  set forth by our text1 if it be 
indeed true that sheep in the ,east are 
even more docile than with us4 ,those   
who have seen the noise and  roughness  
of many of our washings and shearings   
will hardly believe the  testimony of   
that ancient writer ,philo-,judus when  
he affirms that the  sheep came         
voluntarily to be shorn4 ,he says3      
,woolly rams laden with  thick fleeces  

put themselves into the shepherd's hands
 to have their  wool shorn1 being thus  
accustomed to pay their yearly tribute  
to man1  their king by nature4 ,the     
sheep stands in a silent inclining      
posture1  unconstrained under the hand  
of the shearer4 ,these things may appear
  strange to those who do not know the  
docility of the sheep1 but they are     
true4 ,marvellous indeed was this       
submissiveness in our ,lord's case2 let 
us admire and imitate4      ,,ii4 ,thus 
,i have feebly set forth the patience of
 our beloved ,master4 ,now  ,i want you 
to follow me1 in the second place1 to   
,,view ,,our ,,own ,,case ,,under  ,,the
 ,,same ,,metaphor ,,as ,,that ,,which  
,,is ,,used ,,in ,,reference ,,to ,,our 
,,lord4    ,did ,i not begin by saying  
that because we were sheep he deigns to 
compare himself to a sheep8 ,let us look
 from another point of view2 our  ,lord 
was a sheep under the shearers1 and as  
he is so are we also in this  world4    
,though we shall never be offered up    

like lambs in the temple by  way of     
expiation1 yet the saints for ages were 
the flock of slaughter1  as it is       
written1 ,for thy sake we are killed all
 the day long1 we are  accounted as     
sheep for the slaughter6 ,jesus sends us
 forth as sheep in  the midst of wolves1
 and we are to regard ourselves as      
living  sacrifices1 ready to be offered 
up4 ,i dwell1 however1 more particularly
  upon the second symbol3 we are brought
 as sheep under the shearers'  hands4   
,just as a sheep is taken by the        
shearer1 and its wool is all cut off1 so
  doth the ,lord take his people and    
shear them1 taking away all their       
earthly comforts1 and leaving them bare4
 ,i wish when it came to our turn  to   
undergo this shearing operation it could
 be said of us as of our  ,lord1 ,as a  
sheep before her shearers is dumb1 so he
 openeth not his  mouth4 ,i fear that we
 open our mouths a great deal1 and make 
no end of  complaining without any      
apparent cause1 or with the very        

slenderest  reason4 ,but now to the     
figure4    ,first1 remember that a sheep
 rewards its owner for all his care and 
trouble by being shorn4 ,there is       
nothing else that ,i know of that a     
sheep can do4 ,it yields food when it is
 killed1 but while it is alive  the one 
payment that the sheep can make to the  
shepherd is to yield its  fleece in due 
season4 ,some of ,god's people can give 
to ,christ a tribute  of gratitude by   
active service1 and they should do so   
gladly every day  of their lives2 but   
many others cannot do much in active    
service1 and  about the only reward they
 can give to their ,lord is to render up
 their  fleece by suffering when he     
calls upon them to suffer1 submissively 
yielding to be shorn of their personal  
comfort when the time comes for  patient
 endurance4    ,here comes the shearer2 
he takes the sheep and begins to cut1   
cut1 cut1  cut1 taking away the wool    
wholesale4 ,affliction is often used as 
the big  shears4 ,the husband1 or       

perhaps the wife1 is removed1 little    
children  are taken away1 property is   
shorn off1 and health is gone4          
,sometimes the  shears cut off the man's
 good name2 slander follows2 comforts   
vanish4  ,well1 this is your shearing   
time1 and it may be that you are not    
able to  glorify ,god to any very large 
extent except by undergoing this        
process4  ,if this be the fact1 do you  
not think that we1 like good sheep of   
,christ1 should surrender ourselves     
cheerfully1 feeling1 ,i lay myself  down
 with this intent1 that thou shouldst   
take from me anything and  everything1  
and do what thou wilt with me2 for ,i am
 not mine own1 ,i am  bought with a     
price8    ,notice that the sheep is     
itself benefited by the operation of    
shearing4 ,before they begin to shear   
the sheep the wool is long and  old1 and
 every bush and brier tears off a bit of
 the wool1 until the  sheep looks ragged
 and forlorn4    ,if the wool were left1
 when the heat of summer came the sheep 

would not  be able to bear itself1 it   
would be so overloaded with clothing    
that it  would be as uncomfortable as we
 are when we have kept on our borrowed  
wool1 our flannels and broadcloths1 too 
late4 ,so1 brethren1 when the  ,lord    
shears us1 we do not like the operation 
any more than the sheep do2  but first1 
it is for his glory2 and secondly1 it is
 for our benefit1  and therefore we are 
bound most willingly to submit4 ,there  
are many  things which we should have   
liked to have kept which1 if we had kept
  them1 would not have proved blessings 
but curses4 ,a stale blessing is a      
curse4 ,the manna1 though it came from  
heaven1 was only good so long as  ,god's
 command made it a blessing1 but when   
they kept it over its due  time it bred 
worms and stank1 and then it was no     
blessing4 ,many persons  would keep     
their mercies till they turn to         
corruption2 but ,god will not  have it  
so4 ,up to a certain point for you to be
 wealthy was a blessing2  it would not  

have been a blessing any longer1 and so 
the ,lord took your  riches away4 ,up to
 that point your child was a boon1 but  
it would have  been no longer so1 and   
therefore it fell sick and died4 ,you   
may not be  able to see it1 but it is   
so1 that ,god1 when he withdraws a      
blessing  from his people1 takes it away
 because it would not be a blessing any 
longer4    ,before sheep are shorn they 
are always washed4 ,were you ever       
present  at the scene when they drive   
them down to the brook8 ,men are placed 
in  rows1 leading to the shepherd who   
stands in the water4 ,the sheep are     
driven down1 and the men seize them1    
throw them into the pool1 keeping  their
 faces above water1 and swirl them round
 and round and round to  wash the wool  
before they clip it off4 ,you see them  
come out on the  other side frightened  
to death1 poor things1 wondering        
whatever is  coming4 ,i want to suggest 
to you1 brethren1 that whenever a trial 
threatens to overtake you1 you should   

entreat the ,lord to sanctify it to     
you4 ,if the good ,shepherd is going to 
clip your wool1 ask him to wash it      
before he takes it off2 ask to be       
cleansed in spirit1 soul1 and body4     
,that is a very good custom ,christian  
people have of asking a blessing on     
their meals before they eat bread4 ,do  
you not think it is even more  necessary
 to ask a blessing on our troubles      
before we get into them8  ,here is your 
dear child likely to die2 will you not1 
dear parents1 meet  together and ask    
,god to bless the death of that child1  
if it is to  happen8 ,the harvest fails2
 would it not be well to say--,lord1    
sanctify  this poverty1 this loss1 this 
year's bad harvest3 cause it to be a    
means  of grace to us4 ,why not ask a   
blessing on the cup of bitterness as    
well  as upon the cup of thanksgiving8  
,ask to be washed before you are shorn1 
and if the shearing must come1 let it be
 your chief concern to yield  clean     
wool4    ,after the washing1 when the   

sheep has been dried1 it actually loses 
what was its comfort4 ,the sheep is     
thrown down1 and the shearers get to    
work2 the poor creature is losing its   
comfortable fleece4 ,you also will  have
 to part with your comforts4 ,will you  
recollect this8 ,the next time  you     
receive a fresh blessing call it a loan4
 ,poor sheep1 there is no  wool on your 
back but what will have to come off2    
child of ,god1 there is  no earthly     
comfort in your possession but what will
 either leave you1  or you will leave   
it4 ,nothing is our own except our ,god4
 ,why1 says  one1 not our sin8 ,sin was 
our own1 but ,jesus has taken it upon   
himself1 and it is gone4 ,there is      
nothing our own but our ,god1 for all   
his gifts are held on lease1 terminable 
at his sovereign will4 ,we  foolishly   
consider that our mercies belong to us1 
and when the ,lord  takes them away we  
half grumble4 ,a loan1 they say1 should 
go laughing  home1 and so should we     
rejoice when the ,lord takes back that  

which he  had lent us4 ,all our         
possessions are but brief favors        
borrowed for the  hour4 ,as the sheep   
yields up its wool and so loses its     
comfort1 so must  we yield up all our   
earthly properties2 or if they remain   
with us till  we die1 we shall part with
 them then1 we shall not take so much as
 one  of them across the stream of      
death4    ,the shearers take care not to
 hurt the sheep2 they clip as close as  
they can1 but they do not cut the skin4 
,if possible1 they will not draw  blood1
 even in the smallest degree4 ,when they
 do make a gash1 it is  because the     
sheep does not lie still2 but a careful 
shearer has  bloodless shears4 ,of this 
,thomson sings in his ,seasons1 and the 
passage is so good an illustration of   
the whole subject that ,i will  adorn my
 discourse with it3      ,how meek1 how 
patient1 the mild creature lies6        
,what softness in its melancholy face1  
,what dumb complaining innocence        
appears6     ,fear not1 ye gentle       

tribes6 'tis not the knife     ,of      
horrid slaughter that is o'er you waved2
     ,no1 'tis the tender swain's well  
guided shears1     ,who having now1 to  
pay his annual care1     ,borrow'd your 
fleece1 to you a cumbrous load1         
,will send you bounding to your hills   
again4    ,it is the kicking and the    
struggling that make the shearing work  
at all  hard1 but if we are dumb before 
the shearers no harm can come4 ,the     
,lord  may clip wonderfully close2 ,i   
have known him clip some so close that  
they did not seem to have a bit of wool 
left1 for they were stripped  entirely1 
even as ,job when he cried1 ,naked came 
,i out of my mother's  womb1 and naked  
shall ,i return thither4 ,still1 like   
,job1 they have  added1 ,the ,lord gave1
 and the ,lord hath taken away2 blessed 
be the name  of the ,lord4    ,notice   
that the shearers always shear at a     
suitable time4 ,it would be  a very     
wicked1 cruel1 and unwise thing to begin
 sheep-shearing in winter  time4 ,there 

is a proverb which talks about ,god     
tempering the wind to  the shorn lamb4  
,it may be so1 but it is a very cruel   
practice to shear  lambs while winds    
need tempering4 ,sheep are shorn when it
 is warm1  genial weather1 when they can
 afford to lose their fleeces1 and are  
all  the better for being relieved of   
them4 ,as the summer comes on           
sheep-shearing time comes4 ,have you    
ever noticed that whenever the ,lord    
afflicts us he selects the best possible
 time8 ,there is a prayer that he  puts 
into his disciples' mouths1 ,pray that  
your flight be not in the  winter2 the  
spirit of that prayer may be seen in the
 seasonableness of  our sorrows4 ,he    
will not send us our worst troubles at  
our worst times4  ,if your soul is      
depressed the ,lord does not send you a 
very heavy  burden2 he reserves such a  
load for times when you have joy in the 
,lord  to be your strength4 ,it has come
 to be a kind of feeling with us that   
when we have much delight a trial is    

near1 but when sorrow thickens          
deliverance is approaching4 ,the ,lord  
does not send us two burdens at a  time2
 or1 if he does1 he sends double        
strength4 ,his shearing time is  chosen 
with tender discretion4    ,there is    
another thing to remember4 ,it is with  
us as with the sheep1  there is new wool
 coming4 ,whenever the ,lord takes away 
our earthly  comforts with one hand1    
one1 two1 three1 he restores with the   
other hand  six1 a score1 a hundred2 we 
are crying and whining about the little 
loss1 and yet it is necessary in order  
that we may be able to receive  the     
great gain4 ,yes1 it will be so1 we     
shall have cause for rejoicing1  joy    
cometh in the morning4 ,if we have lost 
one position1 there is  another for us2 
if we have been driven out of one place1
 a better refuge  is prepared4          
,providence opens a second door when it 
shuts the first4 ,if  the ,lord takes   
away the manna1 as he did from his      
people ,israel1 it is  because they have

 the old corn of the land of ,canaan to 
live upon4 ,if  the water of the rock   
did not follow the tribes any longer1 it
 was  because they drank of the ,jordan1
 and of the brooks4 ,o sheep of the     
,lord's fold1 there is new wool coming3 
therefore do not fret at the  shearing4 
,i have given these thoughts in brief1  
that we may come to the  last word4     
,,iii4 ,let us1 in the third place1     
endeavor to ,,imitate ,,the ,,example   
,,of ,,our  ,,blessed ,,lord ,,when     
,,our ,,turn ,,comes ,,to ,,be ,,shorn4 
,let us be dumb before the  shearers1   
submissive1 quiescent1 even as he was4  
,i have been giving1 in everything ,i   
have said1 a reason for so doing4 ,i    
have shown that our shearing by         
affliction glorifies ,god1 rewards the  
,shepherd1 and benefits ourselves4 ,i   
have shown that the ,lord measures  and 
tempers our affliction1 and sends the   
trial at the right time4 ,i  have shown 
you in many ways that it will be wise to
 submit ourselves as  the sheep does to 

the shearer1 and that the more          
completely we do so the  better4    ,we 
struggle far too much1 and we are apt to
 make excuses for so doing4  ,sometimes 
we say1 ,oh1 this is so painful1 ,i     
cannot be patient6 ,i could  have borne 
anything else but this4 ,when a father  
is going to correct  his child1 does he 
select something pleasant8 ,no4 ,the    
painfulness of the  punishment is the   
essence of it1 and even so the          
bitterness of our  sorrow is the soul of
 our chastening4 ,by the blueness of the
 wound the  heart will be made better4  
,do not repine because your trial seems 
strange and sharp4 ,that would in fact  
be saying1 ,if ,i have it all my  own   
way ,i will1 but if everything does not 
please me ,i will rebel2 and  that is   
not a fit spirit for a child of ,god4   
,sometimes we complain because of our   
great weakness4 ,lord1 were ,i  stronger
 ,i would not mind this heavy loss2 but 
,i am frail as a sere leaf  driven of   
the tempest4 ,but who is to be the judge

 of the suitability of  your trial8 ,you
 or ,god8 ,since the ,lord judges this  
trial to be suitable  to your weakness1 
you may be sure that it is so4 ,lie     
still6 ,lie still6  ,alas1 you say1 my  
grief comes from the most cruel quarter2
 this  trouble did not arise directly   
from ,god1 it came through my cousin or 
my  brother who ought to have treated me
 with gratitude4 ,it was not an  enemy2 
then ,i could have borne it4 ,my        
brother1 let me assure you that  in     
reality trial comes not from an enemy   
after all4 ,god is at the bottom  of all
 your tribulation2 look through the     
second causes to the great  ,first      
,cause4 ,it is a great mistake when we  
fret over the human  instrument which   
smites us1 and forget the hand which    
uses the rod4 ,if ,i  strike a dog1 he  
bites my stick2 poor creature1 he knows 
no better2 but  if he could think a     
little he would bite me1 or else take   
the blow  submissively4 ,now1 you must  
not begin biting the stick4 ,after all1 

it  is your heavenly ,father that uses  
the staff2 though it be of ebony or of  
blackthorn1 it is in his hand4 ,it is   
well to have done with picking and      
choosing our trials1 and to leave the   
whole matter in the hand of  infinite   
wisdom4 ,a sweet singer has put this    
matter very prettily2 let  me quote the 
lines3      ,but when my ,lord did ask  
me on what side               ,i were   
content1     ,the grief whereby ,i must 
be purified1               ,to me was   
sent1      ,as each imagined anguish did
 appear1               ,each withering  
bliss     ,before my soul1 ,i cried1    
',oh6 spare me here1               ,oh1 
no1 not this6'      ,like one that      
having need of1 deep within1            
,the surgeon's knife1     ,would hardly 
bear that it should graze the skin1     
,though for his life4      ,nay1 then1  
but he1 who best doth understand        
,both what we need1     ,and what can   
bear1 did take my case in hand1         
,nor crying heed4    ,this is the pith  

of my sermon3 oh1 believer1 yield       
thyself6 ,lie passive  in the hands of  
,god6 ,yield thee1 and struggle not6    
,there is no use in  struggling1 for our
 great ,shearer1 if he means to shear1  
will do it4 ,did  ,i not say just now   
that the sheep1 by struggling1 might be 
cut by the  shears8 ,so you and ,i1 if  
we struggle against ,god1 will get two  
strokes  instead of one2 and after all  
there is not half so much trouble in a  
trouble as there is in kicking against  
the trouble4 ,the ,eastern  ploughman   
has a goad1 and pricks the ox to make it
 move more actively2  he does not hurt  
it much by his gentle prodding1 but     
suppose the ox  flings out its leg the  
moment it touches him1 he drives the    
goad into  himself1 and bleeds4 ,so it  
is with us1 we shall find it hard to    
kick  against the pricks2 we shall      
endure much more pain by rebelling than 
would have come if we had yielded to the
 divine will4 ,what good comes of       
fretting8 ,we cannot make one hair white

 or black4 ,you that are troubled1  rest
 with us1 for you cannot make shower or 
shine1 foul or fair1 with  all your     
groaning4 ,did you ever bring a penny   
into the till by fretting1  or put a    
loaf on the table by complaint8         
,murmuring is wasted breath1 and        
fretting is wasted time4 ,to lie passive
 in the hand of ,god brings a  blessing 
to the soul4 ,i would myself be more    
quiet1 calm1 and  self-possessed4 ,i    
long to cry habitually1 ,lord1 do what  
thou wilt1 when  thou wilt1 as thou     
wilt1 with me1 thy servant2 appoint me  
honor or  dishonor1 wealth or poverty1  
sickness or health1 exhilaration or     
depression1 and ,i will take all right  
gladly from thy hand4 ,a man is  not far
 from the gates of heaven when he is    
fully submissive to the  ,lord's will4  
,you that have been shorn have1 ,i hope1
 received comfort through the ever      
blessed ,spirit of ,god4 ,may ,god bless
 you4 ,oh that the sinner1 too1 would   
humble himself under the mighty hand of 

,god6 ,submit yourselves unto ,god1  let
 every thought be brought into captivity
 to him1 and the ,lord send  his        
blessing1 for ,christ's sake4 ,amen4    
,,in ,,the ,,hay-,,field4    ,he causeth
 the grass to grow for the              
cattle4--,,psalm #ajd3ad4      ,,at the 
appointed season all the world is busy  
with ingathering the grass  crop1 and   
you can scarcely ride a mile in the     
country without scenting  the delicious 
fragrance of the new-mown hay1 and      
hearing the sharpening  of the mower's  
scythe4 ,there is a gospel in the       
hay-field1 and that  gospel we intend to
 bring out as we may be enabled by the  
,holy ,spirit4    ,our text conducts us 
at once to the spot1 and we shall       
therefore need no  preface4 ,he causeth 
the grass to grow for the cattle--three 
things we  shall notice2 first1 that    
grass is in itself instructive2         
secondly1  that grass is far more so    
when ,god is seen in it2 and thirdly1   
that  by the growth of grass for the    

cattle1 the ways of grace may be        
illustrated4      ,i4 ,first1 then1 ,he 
causeth the grass to grow for the       
cattle4 ,here we  have ,,something      
,,which ,,is ,,in ,,itself              
,,instructive4 ,scarcely any emblem1    
with  the exception of water and light1 
is more frequently used by inspiration  
than the grass of the field4    ,in the 
first place1 the grass may be           
instructively looked upon as the  symbol
 of our mortality4 ,all flesh is grass4 
,the whole history of man  may be seen  
in the meadow4 ,he springs up green and 
tender1 subject to  the frosts of       
infancy1 which imperil his young life2  
he grows1 he comes  to maturity1 he puts
 on beauty even as the grass is adorned 
with  flowers2 but after a while his    
strength departs and his beauty is      
wrinkled1 even as the grass withers and 
is followed by a fresh  generation1     
which withers in its turn4 ,like        
ourselves1 the grass ripens  but to     
decay4 ,the sons of men come to maturity

 in due time1 and then  decline and     
wither as the green herb4 ,some of the  
grass is not left to  come to ripeness  
at all1 but the mower's scythe removes  
it1 even as  swift-footed death         
overtakes the careless children of      
,adam4 ,in the  morning it flourisheth1 
and groweth up2 in the evening it is cut
 down1  and withereth4 ,for we are      
consumed by thine anger1 and by thy     
wrath are  we troubled4 ,as for man1 his
 days are as grass3 as a flower of the  
field1 so he flourisheth4 ,for the wind 
passeth over it1 and it is gone2  and   
the place thereof shall know it no more4
 ,this is very humbling2 and  we need   
frequently to be reminded of it1 or we  
dream of immortality  beneath the stars4
 ,we ought never to tread upon the grass
 without  remembering that whereas the  
green sod covers our graves1 it also    
reminds us of them1 and preaches by     
every blade a sermon to us  concerning  
our mortality1 of which the text is1    
,all flesh is grass1 and  all the       

goodliness thereof is as the flower of  
the field4    ,in the second place1     
grass is frequently used in ,scripture  
as an emblem  of the wicked4 ,david     
tells us from his own experience that   
the  righteous man is apt to grow       
envious of the wicked when he sees the  
prosperity of the ungodly4 ,we have seen
 them spreading themselves like  green  
bay trees1 and apparently fixed and     
rooted in their places2 and  when we    
have smarted under our own troubles1 and
 felt that all the day  long we were    
scourged1 and chastened every morning1  
we have been apt to  say1 ,how can this 
be consistent with the righteous        
government of ,god8  ,we are reminded by
 the ,psalmist that in a short time we  
shall pass by  the place of the wicked1 
and lo1 he shall not be2 we shall       
diligently  consider his place1 and lo1 
it shall not be2 for he is soon cut down
 as  the grass1 and withereth as the    
green herb4 ,the grass withereth1 the   
flower thereof fadeth away1 and even so 

shall pass away forever the  glory of   
those who build upon the estate of time1
 and dig for lasting  comfort in the    
mines of the earth4 ,as the ,eastern    
husbandman gathers up  the green herb1  
and1 despite its former beauty1 casts it
 into the  furnace1 such must be your   
lot1 ,o vainglorious sinners6 ,thus will
 the  judge command his angels1 ,bind   
them in bundles to burn4 ,where now your
  merriment8 ,where now your confidence8
 ,where now your pride and your  pomp8  
,where now your boastings and your      
loud-mouthed blasphemies8 ,they  are    
silent for ever2 for1 as thorns crackle 
under a pot1 but are  speedily consumed1
 and leave nothing except a handful of  
ashes1 so shall  it be with the wicked  
as to this life2 the fire of ,god's     
wrath shall  devour them4    ,it is more
 pleasing to recollect that the grass is
 used in ,scripture as  a picture of the
 elect of ,god4 ,the wicked are         
comparable to the  dragons of the       
wilderness1 but ,god's own people shall 

spring up in their  place1 for it is    
written1 ,in the habitation of dragons1 
where each lay1  shall be grass with    
reeds and rushes4 ,the elect are        
compared to grass1  because of their    
number as they shall be in the latter   
days1 and because  of the rapidity of   
their growth4 ,you remember the passage1
 ,there shall  be a handful of corn in  
the earth upon the top of the mountains3
 the  fruit thereof shall shake like    
,lebanon3 and they of the city shall    
flourish like grass of the earth4 ,o    
that the long expected day might  soon  
come1 when ,god's people shall no longer
 be like a lone tuft of  grass1 but when
 they shall spring up as among the      
grass1 as willows by  the water-courses4
 ,grass and willows are two of the      
fastest growing  things we know of2 so  
shall a nation be born in a day1 so     
shall crowds  be converted at once2 for 
when the ,spirit of ,god shall be       
mightily at  work in the midst of the   
church1 men shall fly unto ,christ as   

doves fly  to their dovecots1 so that   
the astonished church shall exclaim1    
,these1  where had they been8 ,o that we
 might live to see the age of gold1 the 
time which prophets have foretold1 when 
the company of ,god's people  shall be  
innumerable as the blades of grass in   
the meadows1 and grace  and truth shall 
flourish4    ,how like the grass are    
,god's people for this reason1 that they
 are  absolutely dependent upon the     
influences of heaven6 ,our fields are   
parched if vernal showers and gentle    
dews are withheld1 and what are our     
souls without the gracious visitations  
of the ,spirit8 ,sometimes through      
severe trials our wounded hearts are    
like the mown grass1 and then we  have  
the promise1 ,he shall come down like   
rain upon the mown grass2 as  showers   
that water the earth4 ,our sharp        
troubles have taken away our  beauty1   
and lo1 the ,lord visits us1 and we     
revive again4 ,thank ,god for  that old 
saying1 which is a gracious doctrine as 

well as a true proverb1  ,each blade of 
grass has its own drop of dew4 ,god is  
pleased to give  his own peculiar       
mercies to each one of his own servants4
 ,thy blessing  is upon thy people4     
,once again1 grass is comparable to the 
food where-with the ,lord  supplies the 
necessities of his chosen ones4 ,take   
the twenty-third  ,psalm1 and you have  
the metaphor worked out in the sweetest 
form of  pastoral song3 ,he maketh me to
 lie down in green pastures3 he leadeth 
me beside the still waters4 ,just as the
 sheep has nourishment according  to its
 nature1 and this nourishment is        
abundantly found for it by its          
shepherd1 so that it not only feeds1 but
 then lies down in the midst of  the    
fodder1 satiated with plenty1 and       
perfectly content and at ease2  even so 
are the people of ,god when ,jesus      
,christ leads them into the  pastures of
 the covenant1 and opens up to them the 
precious truths upon  which their souls 
shall be fed4 ,beloved1 have we not     

proved that promise  true1 ,in this     
mountain shall the ,lord of hosts make  
unto all people a  feast of fat things1 
a feast of wines on the lees1 of fat    
things full of  marrow1 of wines on the 
lees well refined8 ,my soul has         
sometimes fed  upon ,christ till ,i have
 felt as if ,i could receive no more1   
and then ,i  have laid me down in the   
bounty of my ,god to take my rest1      
satisfied  with favor1 and full of the  
goodness of the ,lord4    ,thus1 you    
see1 the grass itself is not without    
instruction for those who  will incline 
their ear4      ,,ii4 ,in the second    
place1 ,,god ,,is ,,seen ,,in ,,the     
,,growing ,,of ,,the ,,grass4 ,he is    
seen first as a worker1 ,he causeth the 
grass to grow4 ,he is seen  secondly as 
a caretaker1 ,he causeth the grass to   
grow for the  cattle4    #a4 ,first1 as 
a worker1 ,god is to be seen in every   
blade of grass1 if  we have but eyes to 
discern him4 ,a blind world this1 which 
always talks  about natural laws1 and   

the effects of natural causes1 but      
forgets  that laws cannot operate of    
themselves1 and that natural causes1 so 
called1 are not causes at all unless the
 ,first ,cause shall set them in        
motion4 ,the old ,romans used to say1   
,god thundered2 ,god rained4 ,we  say it
 thunders2 it rains4 ,what it8 ,all     
these expressions are  subterfuges to   
escape from the thought of ,god4 ,we    
commonly say1 ,how  wonderful are the   
works of nature6 ,what is nature8 ,do   
you know what  nature is8 ,i remember a 
lecturer in the street1 an infidel1     
speaking  about nature1 and he was asked
 by a ,christian man standing by whether
 he  would tell him what nature was4 ,he
 never gave a reply4 ,the production of 
grass is not the result of natural law  
apart from the actual work of  ,god2    
mere law would be inoperative unless the
 great ,master himself sent  a thrill of
 power through the matter which is      
regulated by the  law--unless1 like the 
steam engine1 which puts force into all 

the  spinning-jennies and wheels of a   
cotton mill1 ,god himself were the      
motive power to make every wheel        
revolve4 ,i find rest on the grass as on
  a royal couch1 now that ,i know that  
my ,god is there at work for his        
creatures4    ,having asked you to see  
,god as a worker1 ,i want you to make   
use of  this--therefore ,i bid you to   
see ,god in common things4 ,he makes the
  grass to grow--grass is a common      
thing4 ,you see it everywhere1 yet ,god 
is in it4 ,dissect it and pull it to    
pieces2 the attributes of ,god are      
illustrated in every single flower of   
the field1 and in every green  leaf4 ,in
 like manner see ,god in your common    
matters1 your daily  afflictions1 your  
common joys1 your everyday mercies4 ,do 
not say1 ,i  must see a miracle before  
,i see ,god4 ,in truth everything teems 
with  marvel4 ,see ,god in the bread of 
your table and the water of your cup4   
,it will be the happiest way of living  
if you can say in each  providential    

circumstance1 ,my ,father has done all  
this4 ,see ,god also  in little things4 
,the little things of life are the      
greatest troubles4  ,a man will hear    
that his house is burned down more      
quietly than he will  see an ill-cooked 
joint of meat upon his table1 when he   
reckoned upon  its being done to a turn4
 ,it is the little stone in the shoe    
which  makes the pilgrim limp4 ,to see  
,god in little things1 to believe that  
there is as much the presence of ,god in
 a limb falling from the elm as  in the 
avalanche which crushes a village2 to   
believe that the guidance  of every drop
 of spray1 when the wave breaks on the  
rock1 is as much  under the hand of     
,god1 as the steerage of the mightiest  
planet in its  course2 to see ,god in   
the little as well as in the great--all 
this is  true wisdom4    ,think1 too1 of
 ,god working among solitary things2 for
 grass does not  merely grow where men  
take care of it1 but up there on the    
side of the  lone ,alp1 where no        

traveller has ever passed4 ,where only  
the eye of the  wild bird has beheld    
their lonely verdure1 moss and grass    
display their  beauty2 for ,god's works 
are fair to other eyes than those of    
mortals4  ,and you1 solitary child of   
,god1 dwelling1 unknown and obscure1 in 
a  remote hamlet2 you are not forgotten 
by the love of heaven4 ,he maketh  the  
grass to grow all alone1 and shall he   
not make you flourish despite  your     
loneliness8 ,he can bring forth your    
graces and educate you for the  skies in
 solitude and neglect4 ,the grass1 you  
know1 is a thing we tread  upon1 nobody 
thinks of its being crushed by the foot1
 and yet ,god makes  it grow4 ,perhaps  
you are oppressed and down-trodden1 but 
let not this  depress your spirit1 for  
,god executeth righteousness for all    
those that  are oppressed2 he maketh the
 grass to grow1 and he can make your    
heart  to flourish under all the        
oppressions and afflictions of life1 so 
that  you shall still be happy and holy 

though all the world marches over you2  
still living in the immortal life which 
,god himself bestows upon you1  though  
hell itself set its heel upon you4 ,poor
 and needy one1 unknown1  unobserved1   
oppressed and down-trodden1 ,god makes  
the grass to grow1 and  he will take    
care of you4    #b4 ,but ,i said we     
should see in the text ,god also as a   
great caretaker4  ,he causeth the grass 
to grow for the cattle4 ,doth ,god take 
care for  oxen8 ,or saith he it         
altogether for our sakes8 ,thou shalt   
not muzzle  the mouth of the ox that    
treadeth out the corn1 shows that ,god  
has a  care for the beasts of the field2
 but it shows much more than that1      
namely that he would have those who work
 for him feed as they work4 ,god  cares 
for the beasts1 and makes grass to grow 
for them4 ,then1 my soul1  though       
sometimes thou hast said with ,david1   
,so foolish was ,i1 and  ignorant3 ,i   
was as a beast before thee1 yet ,god    
cares for thee4 ,he  giveth to the beast

 his food1 and to the young ravens which
 cry--there  you have an instance of his
 care for birds1 and here we have his   
care  for beasts2 and though you1 my    
hearer1 may seem to yourself to be as   
black and defiled as a raven1 and as far
 from anything spiritually good  as the 
beasts1 yet take comfort from this text2
 he gives grass to the  cattle1 and he  
will give grace to you1 though you think
 yourself to be  as a beast before him4 
,observe1 he cares for these beasts who 
are helpless as to caring for           
themselves4 ,the cattle could not plant 
the grass1 nor cause it to grow4        
,though they can do nothing in the      
matter1 yet he does it all for them2  he
 causeth the grass to grow4 ,you who are
 as helpless as cattle to  help         
yourselves1 who can only stand and moan 
out your misery1 but know  not what to  
do1 ,god can prevent you in his         
loving-kindness1 and favor  you in his  
tenderness4 ,let the bleatings of your  
prayer go up to heaven1  let the        

meanings of your desires go up to him1  
and help shall come to  you though you  
cannot help yourselves4 ,beasts are     
dumb1 speechless  things1 yet ,god makes
 the grass grow for them4 ,will he hear 
those that  cannot speak1 and will he   
not hear those who can8 ,since our ,god 
views  with kind consideration the      
cattle in the field1 he will surely have
  compassion upon his own sons and      
daughters when they desire to seek his  
face4    ,there is this also to be said1
 ,god not only cares for cattle1 but the
  food which he provides for them is fit
 food--he causeth grass to grow  for the
 cattle1 just the sort of food which    
ruminants require4 ,even thus  the ,lord
 ,god provides fit sustenance for his   
people4 ,depend upon him by  faith and  
wait upon him in prayer1 and you shall  
have food convenient  for you4 ,you     
shall find in ,god's mercy just that    
which your nature  demands1 suitable    
supplies for peculiar wants4    ,this   
convenient food the ,lord takes care to 

reserve for the cattle1  for no one eats
 the cattle's food but the cattle4      
,there is grass for  them1 and nobody   
else cares for it1 and thus it is kept  
for them2 even  so ,god has a special   
food for his own people2 the secret of  
the ,lord is  with them that fear him1  
and he will show them his covenant4     
,though the  grass be free to all who   
choose to eat it1 yet no creature careth
 for it  except the cattle for whom it  
is prepared2 and though the grace of    
,god  be free to all men1 yet no man    
careth for it except the elect of ,god1 
for whom he prepared it1 and whom he    
prepares to receive it4 ,there is as    
much reserve of the grass for the cattle
 as if there were walls around  it2 and 
so1 though the grace of ,god be free1   
and there be no bound set  about it1 yet
 it is as much reserved as if it were   
restricted4    ,god is seen in the grass
 as the worker and the caretaker2 then  
let us  see his hand in providence at   
all times4 ,let us see it1 not only when

  we have abundance1 but even when we   
have scant supplies2 for the grass  is  
preparing for the cattle even in the    
depth of winter4 ,and you1 ye  sons of  
sorrow1 in your trials and troubles1 are
 still cared for by ,god2  he will      
accomplish his own divinely gracious    
purposes in you2 only be  still and see 
the salvation of ,god4 ,every winter's  
night has a direct  connection with the 
joyous days of mowing and reaping1 and  
each time of  grief is linked to future 
joy4      ,,iii4 ,our third head is most
 interesting4 ,,god',s ,,working ,,in   
,,the ,,grass ,,for  ,,the ,,cattle     
,,gives ,,us ,,illustrations            
,,concerning ,,grace4    ,i will        
soliloquize1 and say to myself as ,i    
read the text1 ,he causeth  the grass to
 grow for the cattle4 ,in this ,i       
perceive a satisfying  provision for    
that form of creature4 ,i am also a     
creature1 but ,i am a  nobler creature  
than the cattle4 ,i cannot imagine for a
 moment that ,god  will provide all that

 the cattle need and not provide for me4
 ,but  naturally ,i feel uneasy2 ,i     
cannot find in this world what ,i       
want--if ,i  were to win all its riches 
,i should still be discontented2 and    
when ,i  have all that heart could wish 
of time's treasures1 yet still my heart 
feels as if it were empty4 ,there must  
be somewhere or other something  that   
will satisfy me as a man with an        
immortal soul4 ,god altogether          
satisfies the ox2 he must therefore have
 something or other that would          
altogether satisfy me if ,i could get   
it4 ,there is the grass1 the cattle  get
 it1 and when they have eaten their     
share1 they lie down and seem  perfectly
 contented2 now1 all ,i have ever found 
on earth has never  satisfied me so that
 ,i could lie down and be satisfied2    
there must1  then1 be something         
somewhere that would content me if ,i   
could get at  it4 ,is not this good     
reasoning8 ,i ask both the ,christian   
and the  unbeliever to go with me so    

far2 but then let us proceed another    
step3  ,the cattle do get what they     
want--not only is the grass provided1   
but  they get it4 ,why should not ,i    
obtain what ,i want8 ,i find my soul    
hungering and thirsting after something 
more than ,i can see with my eyes  or   
hear with my ears2 there must be        
something to satisfy my soul1 why       
should ,i not find it8 ,the cattle      
pasture upon that which satisfies them2 
why should not ,i obtain satisfaction   
too8 ,then ,i begin to pray1 ,o ,lord1  
satisfy my mouth with good things1 and  
renew my youth4    ,while ,i am praying 
,i also meditate and think--,god has    
provided for  cattle that which is      
consonant to their nature2 they are     
nothing but  flesh1 and flesh is grass1 
there is therefore grass for their      
flesh4 ,i  also am flesh1 but ,i am     
something else beside2 ,i am spirit1 and
 to  satisfy me ,i need spiritual meat4 
,where is it8 ,when ,i turn to ,god's   
word1 ,i find there that though the     

grass withereth1 the word of the ,lord  
endureth for ever2 and the word which   
,jesus speaks unto us is spirit and     
life4 ,oh6 then1 ,i say1 here is        
spiritual food for my spiritual  nature1
 ,i will rejoice therein4 ,o may ,god   
help me to know what that  spiritual    
meat is1 and enable me to lay hold upon 
it1 for ,i perceive  that though ,god   
provides the grass for the cattle1 the  
cattle must eat  it themselves4 ,they   
are not fed if they refuse to eat4 ,i   
must imitate  the cattle1 and receive   
that which ,god provides for me4 ,what  
do ,i find  provided in ,scripture8 ,i  
am told that the ,lord ,jesus came into 
this  world to suffer1 and bleed1 and   
die instead of me1 and that if ,i trust 
in him ,i shall be saved2 and1 being    
saved1 the thoughts of his love will    
give solace and joy to me and be my     
strength4 ,what have ,i to do but to    
feed on these truths8 ,i do not find the
 cattle bringing any preparation  to the
 pasture except hunger1 but they enter  

it and partake of their  portion4 ,even 
so must ,i by an act of faith live upon 
,jesus4 ,lord1 give  me grace to feed   
upon ,christ2 make me hungry and thirsty
 after him2 give  me the faith by which 
,i may be a receiver of him1 that so ,i 
may be  satisfied with favor1 and full  
of the goodness of the ,lord4    ,my    
text1 though it looked small1 grows as  
we meditate upon it4 ,i want to         
introduce you to a few more             
illustrations of divine grace4          
,preventing  grace may here be seen in a
 symbol4 ,grass grew before cattle were 
made4  ,we find in the first chapter of 
,genesis that ,god provided the grass   
before he created the cattle4 ,and what 
a mercy that covenant supplies  for     
,god's people were prepared before they 
were born4 ,god had given his  ,son     
,jesus ,christ to be the ,saviour of his
 chosen before ,adam fell2 long  before 
sin came into the world the everlasting 
mercy of ,god foresaw the  ruin of sin1 
and provided a refuge for every elect   

soul4 ,what a thought  it is for me1    
that1 before ,i hunger1 ,god has        
prepared the manna2 before  ,i thirst1  
,god has caused the rock in the         
wilderness to send forth  crystal       
streams to satisfy the thirst of my     
soul6 ,see what sovereign  grace can do6
 ,before the cattle come to the pasture 
the grass has grown  for them1 and      
before ,i feel my need of divine mercy  
that mercy is  provided for me4 ,then ,i
 perceive an illustration of free grace1
 for  when the ox comes into the field  
he brings no money with him4 ,so ,i1 a  
poor needy sinner1 having nothing1 come 
and receive ,christ without money  and  
without price4 ,the ,lord maketh the    
grass to grow for the cattle1 and  so   
doth he provide grace for my needy soul1
 though ,i have now no money1  no       
virtue1 no excellence of my own4    ,and
 why is it1 my friends1 why is it that  
,god gives the cattle the  grass8 ,the  
reason is1 because they belong to him4  
,here is a text to  prove it4 ,the      

silver and the gold are mine1 and the   
cattle upon a  thousand hills4 ,god     
provides grass for his own cattle1 and  
grace is  provided for ,god's people4   
,of every herd of cattle in the world1  
,god  could say1 ,they are mine4 ,long  
before the grazier puts his brand on    
the bullock ,god has set his creating   
mark upon it2 so1 before the stamp  of  
,adam's fall was set upon our brow1 the 
stamp of electing love was set  there3  
,in thy book all my members were        
written1 which in continuance  were     
fashioned1 when as yet there was none of
 them4    ,god also feeds cattle because
 he has entered into a covenant with    
them  to do so4 ,what6 a covenant with  
the cattle6 says somebody4 ,ay6 truly   
so1 for when ,god spake to his servant  
,noah1 in that day when all the  cattle 
came out of the ark1 we find him saying1
 ,i establish my covenant  with you1 and
 with your seed after you2 and with     
every living creature  that is with you1
 of the fowl1 of the cattle1 and of     

every beast of  the earth with you4     
,thus a covenant was made with the      
cattle1 and that  covenant was that     
seed-time and harvest should not fail2  
therefore the  earth brings forth for   
them1 and for them the ,lord causeth the
 grass to  grow4 ,does ,jehovah keep his
 covenant with cattle1 and will he not  
keep  his covenant with his own beloved8
 ,ah6 it is because his chosen people   
are his covenanted ones in the person of
 the ,lord ,jesus1 that he  provides for
 them all things that they shall need in
 time and in  eternity1 and satisfies   
them out of the fulness of his          
everlasting love4    ,once1 again1 ,god 
feeds the cattle1 and then the cattle   
praise him4 ,we  find ,david saying1 in 
the hundred and forty-eighth ,psalm1    
,praise the  ,lord 444 ye beasts and all
 cattle4 ,the ,lord feeds his people to 
the end  that their glory may sing      
praise unto him and not be silent4      
,while other  creatures give glory to   
,god1 let the redeemed of the ,lord     

especially say  so1 whom he has redeemed
 out of the hand of the enemy4    ,nor  
even yet is our text exhausted4 ,turning
 one moment from the cattle1  ,i want   
you to notice the grass4 ,it is said of 
the grass1 ,he causeth  the grass to    
grow3 here is a doctrinal lesson1 for if
 grass does not  grow without ,god's    
causing it to grow1 how could grace     
arise in the  human heart apart from    
divine operations8 ,surely grace is a   
much more  wonderful product of divine  
wisdom than the grass can be6 ,and if   
grass  does not grow without a divine   
cause1 depend upon it grace does not    
dwell in us without a divine            
implantation4 ,if ,i have so much as one
  blade of grace growing within me1 ,i  
must trace it all to ,god's divine      
will1 and render to him all the glory4  
,again1 if ,god thinks it worth his     
while to make grass1 and take care of   
it1 much more will he think it to his   
honor to cause his grace to grow  in our
 hearts4 ,if the great invisible        

,spirit1 whose thoughts are high  and   
lofty1 condescends to look after that   
humble thing which grows by  the hedge1 
surely he will condescend to watch over 
his own nature1 which  he calls the     
incorruptible seed1 which liveth and    
abideth for ever6  ,mungo ,park1 in the 
deserts of ,africa1 was much comforted  
when he took up  a little piece of moss1
 and saw the wisdom and power of ,god in
 that  lonely piece of verdant          
loveliness4 ,so1 when you see the fields
 ripe and  ready for the mower1 your    
hearts should leap for joy to see how   
,god has  produced the grass1 caring for
 it all through the rigorous cold of    
winter1 and the chill months of spring1 
until at last he sent the genial  rain  
and sunshine1 and brought the fields to 
their best condition4 ,and  so1 my soul1
 though thou mayest endure many a frost 
of sorrow and a long  winter of trial1  
yet the ,lord will cause thee to grow in
 grace1 and in  the knowledge of our    
,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ2 to   

whom be glory for  ever4 ,amen4         
,,the ,,joy ,,of ,,harvest4    ,they joy
 before thee according to the joy in    
harvest4--,,isaiah #i3c4      ,,the     
other day ,i kept the feast with a      
company who shouted ,harvest  ,home4 ,i 
was glad to see the rich and poor       
rejoicing together2 and when  the       
cheerful meal was ended1 ,i was glad to 
turn one of the tables into a  pulpit1  
and in the large barn to preach the     
gospel of the ever-blessed  ,god to an  
earnest audience4 ,my heart was merry in
 harmony with the  occasion1 and ,i     
shall now keep in the same key1 and talk
 to you a little  upon the joy of       
harvest4 ,londoners forget that it is   
harvest time2  living in this great     
desert of dingy bricks we hardly know   
what a  wheat-ear is like1 except as we 
see it dry and white in the window of a 
corn dealer's shop2 yet let us all      
remember that there is such a season  as
 harvest1 when by ,god's goodness the   
fruits of the earth are gathered  in4   

,,what ,,is ,,the ,,joy ,,of ,,harvest  
which is here taken as the simile of the
 joy  of the saints before ,god8 ,i am  
afraid that to the mere selfish order of
  spirits the joy of harvest is simply  
that of personal gratification at  the  
increase of wealth4 ,sometimes the      
farmer only rejoices because he  sees   
the reward of his toils1 and is so much 
the richer man4 ,i hope  that with many 
there mingles the second cause of joy2  
namely1 gratitude  to ,god that an      
abundant harvest will give bread to the 
poor1 and remove  complaining from our  
streets4 ,there is a lawful joy in      
harvest1 no  doubt1 to the man who is   
enriched by it2 for any man who works   
hard has  a right to rejoice when at    
last he gains his desire4 ,it would be  
well if  men would always recollect that
 their last and greatest harvest will be
  to them according to their labor4 ,he 
that soweth to the flesh will of  the   
flesh reap corruption1 and only the man 
that soweth to the spirit  will of the  

spirit reap life everlasting4 ,many a   
young man commences  life by sowing what
 he calls his wild oats1 which he had   
better never  have sown1 for they will  
bring him a terrible harvest4 ,he       
expects that  from these wild oats he   
will gather a harvest of true pleasure1 
but it  cannot be2 the truest pleasures 
of life spring from the good seed of    
righteousness1 and not from the hemlock 
of sin4 ,as a man who sows  thistles in 
his furrows must not expect to reap the 
golden wheatsheaf1  so he who follows   
the ways of vice must not expect        
happiness4 ,on the  contrary1 if he sows
 the wind he will reap the whirlwind4   
,when a sinner  feels the pangs of      
conscience he may well say1 ,this is    
what ,i sowed4  ,when he shall at last  
receive the punishment of his evil deeds
 he will  blame no one but himself2 he  
sowed tares and he must reap tares4 ,on 
the  other hand1 the ,christian man1    
though his salvation is not of works1   
but  of grace1 will have a gracious     

reward given to him by his ,master4     
,sowing  in tears1 he shall reap in joy4
 ,putting out his talents to interest1  
he  shall enter into his ,master's joy1 
and hear him say1 ,well done1 good  and 
faithful servant4 ,the joy of harvest in
 part consists of the reward  of labor2 
may such be our joy in serving the      
,lord4    ,the joy of harvest has       
another element in it1 namely1 that of  
gratitude  to ,god for favors bestowed4 
,we are singularly dependent on ,god2   
far  more so than most of us imagine4   
,when the children of ,israel were in   
the  wilderness they went forth every   
morning and gathered the manna4 ,our    
manna does not come to us every morning1
 but it comes once a year4 ,it is  as   
much a heavenly supply as if it lay like
 a hoarfrost round about the  camp4 ,if 
we went out into the field and gathered 
food which dropped from  the clouds we  
should think it a great miracle2 and is 
it not as great a  marvel that our bread
 should come up from the earth as that  

it should  come down from the sky8 ,the 
same ,god who bade the heavens drop with
  angels' food bids the dull earth in   
its due season yield corn for  mankind4 
,therefore whenever we find that harvest
 comes1 let us be  grateful to ,god1 and
 let us not suffer the season to pass   
over without  psalms of thanksgiving4 ,i
 believe ,i shall be correct if ,i say  
that there  is never in the world1 as a 
rule1 more than sixteen months' supply  
of  food2 that is to say1 when the      
harvest is gathered in1 there may be    
sixteen months' supply2 but at the time 
of harvest there is not usually  enough 
wheat in the whole world to last the    
population more than four or  five      
months2 so that if the harvest did not  
come we should be on the  verge of      
famine4 ,we live still from hand to     
mouth4 ,let us pause and  bless ,god1   
and let the joy of harvest be the joy of
 gratitude4    ,to the ,christian it    
should be great joy1 by means of the    
harvest1 to  receive an assurance of    

,god's faithfulness4 ,the ,lord has     
promised that  seed-time and harvest1   
summer and winter1 shall never cease2   
and when  you see the loaded wain       
carrying in the crop you may say to     
yourself1  ,god is true to his promise4 
,despite the dreary winter and the damp 
spring1 autumn has come with its golden 
grain4 ,depend upon it1 that as  the    
,lord keeps this promise he will keep   
all the rest4 ,all his promises  are yea
 and amen in ,christ ,jesus2 if he keeps
 his covenant to the earth1  much more  
will he keep his covenant with his own  
people1 whom he hath  loved with an     
everlasting love4 ,go1 ,christian1 to   
the mercy-seat with  the promise on your
 lip and plead it4 ,be assured it is not
 a dead  letter4 ,let not unbelief cause
 you to stammer when you mention the    
promise before the throne1 but say it   
boldly--,fulfil this word unto thy      
servant on which thou hast caused me to 
hope4 ,shame upon us that we so  little 
believe our ,god4 ,the world is full of 

proofs of his goodness4  ,every rising  
sun1 every falling shower1 every        
revolving season certifies  his         
faithfulness4 ,wherefore do we doubt    
him8 ,if we never doubt him till  we    
have cause for it we shall never know   
distrust again4 ,encouraged by  the     
return of harvest1 let us resolve in the
 strength of the ,spirit of  ,god that  
we will not waver1 but will believe in  
the divine word and  rejoice in it4     
,once more4 ,to the ,christian1 in the  
joy of harvest there will always be  the
 joy of expectation4 ,as there is a     
harvest to the husbandman for  which he 
waiteth patiently1 so there is a harvest
 for all faithful  waiters who are      
looking for the coming and the appearing
 of our ,lord and  ,saviour ,jesus      
,christ4 ,the mature ,christian1 like   
the ripe ear of corn1  hangs down his   
head with holy humility4 ,when he was   
but green in the  things of ,god he     
stood erect and was somewhat boastful1  
but now that he  has become full of the 

blessing of the ,lord he is humbled     
thereby1 and  bows himself down2 he is  
waiting for the sickle1 and he dreads it
 not1  for no common reaper shall come  
to gather ,christ's people--he himself  
shall reap the harvest of the world4    
,the ,lord leaves the destroying  angel 
to reap the vintage and to cast it into 
the wine-vat to be trodden  with        
vengeance2 but as for the grain which he
 himself has sown1 he will  gather it   
himself with his own golden sickle4 ,we 
are looking for this4  ,we are growing  
among the tares1 and sometimes we are   
half afraid lest  the tares should be   
stronger than ourselves and choke the   
wheat2 but we  shall be separated       
by-and-by1 and when the corn is well    
winnowed and  stored in the garner1 we  
shall be there4 ,it is this expectation 
which  even now makes our hearts throb  
with joy4 ,we have gone to the grave    
with  precious sheaves that belonged to 
our ,master1 and when we were there we  
thought we could almost say1 ,lord1 if  

they sleep they shall do well4  ,let us 
die with them4 ,our joy of harvest is   
the hope of being at rest  with all the 
saints1 and for ever with the ,lord4 ,a 
view of these shadowy  harvests upon    
earth should make us exceedingly glad1  
because they are  the image and         
foreshadowing of the eternal harvest    
above4      ,so much about the joy of   
harvest2 but ,i hasten onward4 ,,what   
,,joys ,,are  ,,those ,,which ,,to ,,the
 ,,believer ,,are ,,as ,,the ,,joy ,,of 
,,harvest8 ,it is a common  notion that 
,christians are an unhappy people4 ,it  
is true that we are  tried1 but it is   
false that we are miserable4 ,with all  
their trials1  believers have such a    
compensation in the love of ,christ that
 they are  still a blessed generation1  
and it may be said of them1 ,happy art  
thou1  ,o ,israel4    ,one of the first 
seasons in which we knew a joy equal to 
the joy of  harvest--a season which has 
continued with us ever since it         
commenced--was when we found the        

,saviour1 and so obtained salvation4    
,you recollect for yourselves1 brethren 
and sisters1 the time of the  ploughing 
of your souls4 ,my heart was fallow1 and
 covered with weeds2  but on a certain  
day the great ,husbandman came and began
 to plough my  soul4 ,ten black horses  
were his team1 and it was a sharp       
ploughshare  that he used1 and the      
ploughers made deep furrows4 ,the ten   
commandments  were those black horses1  
and the justice of ,god1 like a         
ploughshare1  tore my spirit4 ,i was    
condemned1 undone1 destroyed1 lost1     
helpless1  hopeless--,i thought hell was
 before me4 ,then there came a cross    
ploughing1 for when ,i went to hear the 
gospel it did not comfort me2 it  made  
me wish ,i had a part in it1 but ,i     
feared that such a boon was out  of the 
question4 ,the choicest promises of ,god
 frowned at me1 and his  threatenings   
thundered at me4 ,i prayed1 but found no
 answer of peace4 ,it  was long with me 
thus4 ,after the ploughing came the     

sowing4 ,god who  ploughed the heart    
made it conscious that it needed the    
gospel1 and the  gospel seed was        
joyfully received4 ,do you recollect    
that auspicious day  when at last you   
began to have some little hope8 ,it was 
very  little--like a green blade that   
peeps up from the soil2 you scarce knew 
whether it was grass or corn1 whether it
 was presumption or true faith4  ,it was
 a little hope1 but it grew very        
pleasantly4 ,alas1 a frost of  doubt    
came2 snow of fear fell2 cold winds of  
despondency blew on you1  and you said1 
,there can be no hope for me4 ,but what 
a glorious day was  that when at last   
the wheat which ,god had sown ripened1  
and you could  say1 ,i have looked unto 
him and have been lightened2 ,i have    
laid my  sins on ,jesus1 where ,god laid
 them of old1 and they are taken away1  
and  ,i am saved4 ,i remember well that 
day1 and so no doubt do many of you4  ,o
 sirs6 no husbandman ever shouted for   
joy as our heart shouted when a         

precious ,christ was ours1 and we could 
grasp him with full assurance of        
salvation in him4 ,many days have passed
 since then1 but the joy of it is  still
 fresh with us4 ,and1 blessed be ,god1  
it is not the joy of the first  day only
 that we look back upon2 it is the joy  
of every day since then1  more or less2 
for our joy no man taketh from us2 still
 we are walking in  ,christ1 even as we 
received him4 ,even now all our hope on 
him is stayed1  all our help from him we
 bring2 and our joy and peace continue  
with us  because they are based upon an 
immovable foundation4 ,we rejoice in the
  ,lord1 yea1 and we will rejoice4      
,the joy of harvest generally shows     
itself by the farmer giving a feast  to 
his friends and neighbors2 and1 usually1
 those who find ,christ  express their  
joy by telling their friends and their  
neighbors how great  things the ,lord   
hath done for them4 ,the grace of ,god  
is communicative4 ,a  man cannot be     
saved1 and always hold his tongue about 

it2 as well look  for dumb choirs in    
heaven as for a silent church on earth4 
,if a man has  been thirsty1 and has    
come to the living stream1 his first    
impulse will  be to cry1 ,ho6 every one 
that thirsteth6 ,do you feel the joy of 
harvest1 the joy that makes you wish    
that others should share with you8  ,if 
so1 do not repress the impulse to       
proclaim your happiness4 ,speak of      
,christ to brothers and sisters1 to     
friends and kinsfolk2 and1 if the       
language be stammering1 the message in  
itself is so important that the  words  
in which you couch it will be a         
secondary consideration4 ,tell it1  tell
 it out far and wide--that there is a   
,saviour1 that you have found  him1 and 
that his blood can wash away            
transgression4 ,tell it every  where2   
and so the joy of harvest shall spread  
o'er land and sea1 and ,god  shall be   
glorified4    ,we have another joy which
 is like the joy of harvest4 ,we        
frequently have  it1 too4 ,it is the joy

 of answered prayer4 ,i hope you know   
what it is  to pray in faith4 ,some     
prayer is not worth the words used in   
presenting  it1 because there is no     
faith mixed with it4 ,with all thy      
sacrifices  thou shalt offer salt1 and  
the salt of faith is needful if we would
  have our sacrifices accepted4 ,those  
who are familiar with the mercy-seat    
know that prayer is a reality1 and that 
the doctrine of divine answers  to      
prayer is no fiction4 ,sometimes ,god   
will delay to answer for wise  reasons2 
then his children must cry1 and cry1 and
 cry again4 ,they are in  the condition 
of the husbandman who must wait for the 
precious fruits of  the earth2 and when 
at last the answer to prayer comes1 they
 are then in  the husbandman's position 
when he receives the harvest4 ,remember 
,hannah's wail and ,hannah's word4 ,in  
the bitterness of her soul she cried  to
 ,god1 and when her child was given to  
her she called it ,samuel1  meaning1    
,asked of ,god2 for1 said she1 ,for this

 child ,i prayed4 ,he  was a dear child 
to her1 because he was a child of       
prayer4 ,any mercy  that comes to you in
 answer to prayer will be your ,samuel  
mercy1 your  darling mercy4 ,you will   
say of it1 ,for this mercy ,i prayed1   
and it  will bring the joy of harvest to
 your spirit4 ,if the ,lord desires to  
surprise his children he has only to    
answer their prayers2 for the most  of  
them would be astonished if an answer   
came to their petitions4 ,i know  how   
they speak about answers to prayer4     
,they say1 ,how remarkable6 ,how        
wonderful6 as if it were anything       
remarkable that ,god should be true1    
and that the ,most ,high should keep his
 promise4 ,oh for more faith to  rest   
upon his word6 and we should have more  
of these harvest joys4    ,we have      
another joy of harvest in ourselves when
 we conquer a  temptation4 ,we know what
 it is to get under a cloud sometimes2  
sin  within us rises with a darkening   
force1 or an external adversity         

beclouds us1 and we miss the plain path 
we were accustomed to walk in4 ,a  child
 of ,god at such times will cry mightily
 for help2 for he is fearful  of himself
 and fearful of his surroundings4 ,some 
of ,god's people have  been by the week 
and month together exposed to the double
 temptation1  from without and from     
within1 and have cried to ,god in bitter
 anguish4  ,it has been a very hard     
struggle2 the sinful action has been    
painted in  very fascinating colors1 and
 the siren voice of temptation has      
almost  enchanted them4 ,but when at    
last they have got through the valley of
 the  shadow of death without having    
slipped with their feet2 when1 after    
all1  they have not been destroyed by   
,apollyon1 but have come forth again    
into  the daylight1 they feel a joy     
unspeakable1 compared with which the joy
  of harvest is mere childish merriment4
 ,those know deep joy who have felt     
bitter sorrow4 ,as the man feels that he
 is the stronger for the  conflict1 as  

he feels that he has gathered experience
 and stronger faith  from having passed 
through the trial1 he lifts up his      
heart1 and  rejoices1 not in himself1   
but before his ,god1 with the joy of    
harvest4  ,brethren beloved1 you know   
what that means4    ,again1 there is    
such a thing as the joy of harvest when 
we have been  rendered useful4 ,the     
master passion of every ,christian is to
 be useful4  ,there should be a burning 
zeal within us for the glory of ,god4   
,when the  man who desires to be useful 
has laid his plans and set about his    
work1  he begins to look out for the    
results2 but perhaps it will be weeks1  
or  years1 before results will come4    
,the worker is not to be blamed that    
there are no fruits as yet1 but he is to
 be blamed if he is content to  be      
without fruits4 ,a preacher may preach  
without conversions1 and who  shall     
blame him8 but if he be happy1 who shall
 excuse him8 ,it is ours to  break our  
own hearts if we cannot by ,god's grace 

break other men's  hearts1 if others    
will not weep for their sins it should  
be our constant  habit to weep for them4
 ,when the heart becomes earnest1 warm1 
zealous1  ,god usually gives a measure  
of success1 some fiftyfold1 some a      
hundredfold4 ,when the success comes it 
is the joy of harvest indeed4 ,i  cannot
 help being egotistical enough to       
mention the joy ,i felt when  first ,i  
heard that a soul had found peace       
through my youthful ministry4  ,i had   
been preaching in a village some few    
,sabbaths with an increasing            
congregation1 but ,i had not heard of a 
conversion1 and ,i thought1  ,perhaps ,i
 am not called of ,god4 ,he does not    
mean me to preach1 for if  he did he    
would give me spiritual children4 ,one  
,sabbath my good deacon  said1 ,don't be
 discouraged4 ,a poor woman was savingly
 impressed last  ,sabbath4 ,how long do 
you suppose it was before ,i saw that   
woman8 ,it was  just as long as it took 
me to reach her cottage4 ,i was eager to

 hear  from her own lips whether it was 
a work of ,god's grace or not4 ,i always
  looked upon her with interest1 though 
only a poor laborer's wife1 till  she   
was taken away to heaven1 after having  
lived a holy life4 ,many since  then    
have ,i rejoiced over in the ,lord1 but 
that first seal to my  ministry was     
peculiarly dear to me4 ,it gave me a sip
 of the joy of  harvest4 ,if somebody   
had left me a fortune it would not have 
caused me  one-hundredth part of the    
delight ,i had in discovering that a    
soul had  been led to the ,saviour4 ,i  
am sure ,christian people who have not  
this  joy have missed one of the        
choicest delights that a believer can   
know  this side heaven4 ,in fact1 when  
,i see souls saved1 ,i do not envy      
,gabriel  his throne nor the angels     
their harps4 ,it shall be our heaven to 
be out  of heaven for a season if we can
 but bring others to know the ,saviour  
and so add fresh jewels to the          
,redeemer's crown4    ,i will mention   

another delight which is as the joy of  
harvest1 and that  is fellowship with   
the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,this is not  
so much a matter  for speech as for     
experience and delight4 ,if we try to   
speak of what  communion with ,christ   
is1 we fail4 ,solomon1 the wisest of    
men1 when  inspired to write of the     
fellowship of the church with her ,lord1
 was  compelled to write in allegories  
and emblems1 and though to the          
spiritual mind the ,book of ,canticles  
is always delightful1 yet to the  carnal
 mind it seems a mere love song4 ,the   
natural man discerneth not  the things  
that be of ,god1 for they are spiritual1
 and can only be  spiritually discerned4
 ,but1 oh1 the bliss of knowing that    
,christ is  yours1 and of entering into 
nearness of communion with him4 ,to     
thrust  your hand into his side1 and    
your finger into the print of the nails2
  these be not everyday joys2 but when  
such near and dear communings come  to  
us on our highdays and holydays1 they   

make our souls like the  chariots of    
,ammi-nadib1 or1 if you will1 they cause
 us to tread the  world beneath our feet
 and all that earth calls good or great4
 ,our  condition matters nothing to us  
if ,christ be with us--he is our ,god1  
our  comfort1 and our all1 and we       
rejoice before him as with the joy of   
harvest4      ,i have no time to enlarge
 further2 for ,i want to close with one 
other  practical word4 ,many of us are  
anxiously desiring a harvest which would
  bring to us an intense delight4 ,of   
late1 divers persons have  communicated 
to me in many ways the strong emotion   
they feel of pity for  the souls of men4
 ,others of us have felt a mysterious   
impulse to pray  more than we did1 and  
to be more anxious than ever we were    
that ,christ  would save poor perishing 
sinners4 ,we shall not be satisfied     
until there  is a thorough awakening in 
this land4 ,we did not raise the feeling
 in  our own minds1 and we do not desire
 to repress it4 ,we do not believe it   

can be repressed2 but others will feel  
the same heavenly affection1 and  will  
sigh and cry to ,god day and night until
 the blessing comes4 ,this is  the      
sowing1 this is the ploughing1 this is  
the harrowing--may it go on  to         
harvesting4 ,i long to hear my brethren 
and sisters universally  saying1 ,we are
 full of anguish1 we are in agony till  
souls be saved4  ,the cry of ,rachel1   
,give me children1 or ,i die1 is the cry
 of your  minister this day1 and the    
longing of thousands more besides4 ,as  
that  desire grows in intensity a       
revival is approaching4 ,we must have   
spiritual children born to ,christ1 or  
our hearts will break for the  longing  
that we have for their salvation4 ,oh   
for more of these longings1  yearnings1 
cravings1 travailings6 ,if we plead till
 the harvest of  revival comes we shall 
partake in the joy of it4    ,who will  
have the most joy8 ,those who have been 
the most concerned about  it4 ,you who  
do not pray in private1 nor come out to 

prayer-meetings1  will not have the joy 
when the blessing comes1 and the church 
is  increased4 ,you had no share in the 
sowing1 therefore you will have  little 
share in the reaping4 ,you who never    
speak to others about their  souls1 who 
take no share in ,sunday-school or      
mission work1 but simply  eat the fat   
and drink the sweet--you shall have none
 of the joy of  harvest1 for you do not 
put your hands to the work of the ,lord4
 ,and who  would wish that idlers should
 be happy8 ,rather in our zeal and      
jealousy  we feel inclined to say1      
,curse ye ,meroz1 curse ye bitterly the 
inhabitants thereof2 because they came  
not up to the help of the ,lord1  to the
 help of the ,lord against the mighty4  
,if you come to the help of  the ,lord  
by his own divine ,spirit1 you shall    
share the joy of harvest4  ,perhaps none
 will have more of that joy than those  
who shall have the  privilege of seeing 
their own dear ones brought to ,god4    
,some of you have  children who are a   

trial to you whenever you think of them2
 let them be  such a trial to you that  
they drive you to incessant prayer for  
them1  and1 if the blessing comes1 why  
should it not drop on them8 ,if a       
revival  comes1 why should not your     
daughter yet be converted1 and that wild
 boy  of yours be brought in1 or even   
your gray-headed father1 who has been   
sceptical and unbelieving--why should   
not the grace of ,god come to him8      
,and1 oh1 what a joy of harvest you will
 have then8 ,what bliss will  thrill    
through your spirit when you see those  
who are united to you in  ties of blood 
united to ,christ your ,lord6 ,pray much
 for them with  earnest faith1 and you  
shall yet have the joy of harvest in    
your own  house1 a shout of harvest home
 in your own family4    ,possibly1 my   
hearer1 you have not much to do with    
such joy1 for you are  yourself unsaved4
 ,yet it is a grand thing for an        
unconverted person to  be under a       
ministry that ,god blesses1 and with a  

people that pray for  conversions4 ,it  
is a happy thing for you1 young man1 to 
have a ,christian  mother4 ,it is a     
great boon for you1 ,o unconverted      
woman1 that you have a  godly sister4   
,these make us hopeful for you4 ,while  
your relations are  prayerful1 we are   
hopeful for you4 ,may the ,lord ,jesus  
be yours yet4  ,but1 oh6 if you remain  
unbelieving1 however rich a blessing    
comes to  others1 it will leave you none
 the better for it4 ,if ye be willing   
and obedient1 ye shall eat the good of  
the land2 but there are some who  may   
cry in piteous accents1 ,the harvest is 
past1 the summer is ended1  and we are  
not saved4 ,it has been remarked that   
those who pass through  a season of     
revival and remain unconverted are more 
hardened and  unimpressed than before4  
,i believe it to be so1 and ,i therefore
 pray the  divine ,spirit to come with  
such energy that none of you may escape 
his  power4 ,may you be led to pray1    
,pass me not1 ,o mighty ,spirit6        

,thou canst make the blind to see2      
,witnesser of ,jesus' merit1            
,speak the word of power to me1         
,even me4      ,have ,i long in sin been
 sleeping1       ,long been slighting1  
grieving thee8     ,has the world my    
heart been keeping8       ,oh forgive   
and rescue me1                          
,even me4    ,oh for earnest1           
importunate prayer from all believers   
throughout the  world6 ,if our churches 
could be stirred up to incessant1       
vehement crying  to ,god1 so as to give 
him no rest till he make ,zion a praise 
in the  earth1 we might expect to see   
,god's kingdom come and the power of    
,satan  fall4 ,as many of you as love   
,christ1 ,i charge you by his dear name 
to be  much in prayer2 as many of you as
 love the ,church of ,god1 and desire   
her  prosperity1 ,i beseech you keep not
 back in this time of supplication4     
,the ,lord grant that you may be led to 
plead till the harvest joy is  granted4 
,do you remember one ,sabbath my saying1

 ,the ,lord deal so with  you as you    
deal with his work during this next     
month4 ,i feel as if it  will be so with
 many of you--that the ,lord will deal  
so with you as you  shall deal with his 
,church4 ,if you scatter little you     
shall have little1  if you pray little  
you shall have little favor2 but if you 
have zeal and  faith1 and plead much and
 work much for the ,lord1 good measure1 
pressed  down and running over1 shall   
the ,lord return into your own bosoms4  
,if  you water others with drops you    
shall receive drops in return2 but if   
the ,spirit helps you to pour out rivers
 of living water from your own  soul1   
then floods of heavenly grace shall flow
 into your spirit4 ,god  bring in the   
unconverted1 and lead them to a simple  
trust in ,jesus2 then  shall they also  
know the joy of harvest4 ,we ask it for 
his name's sake4  ,amen4                
,,spiritual ,,gleaning4    ,let her     
glean even among the sheaves1 and       
reproach her not4--,,ruth  #b3ae4       

,,country friends need no explanation of
 what is meant by gleaning4 ,i hope  the
 custom will never be banished from the 
land1 but that the poor will  always be 
allowed their little share of the       
harvest4 ,i am afraid that  many who see
 gleaning every year in the fields of   
their own parish are  not yet wise      
enough to understand the heavenly art of
 spiritual  gleaning4 ,that is the      
subject which ,i have chosen on this    
occasion1 and  my text is taken from the
 charming story of ,ruth1 which is known
 to  every one of you4 ,i shall use the 
story as setting forth our own case1  in
 a homely but instructive way4 ,in the  
first place1 we shall observe  that     
there is a great ,husbandman2 it was    
,boaz in ,ruth's case1 it is  our       
heavenly ,father who is the ,husbandman 
in our case4 ,secondly1 we  shall notice
 a humble gleaner2 the gleaner was ,ruth
 in this instance1  but she may be      
looked upon as the representative of    
every believer4 ,and1  in the third     

place1 here is a gracious permission    
given to ,ruth3 ,let  her glean even    
among the sheaves1 and reproach her not1
 and the same  permission is spiritually
 given to us4      ,i4 ,in the first    
place1 the ,god of the whole earth is ,a
 ,,great ,,husbandman4  ,this is true in
 natural things4 ,as a matter of fact   
all farm  operations are carried on by  
his power and prudence4 ,man may plough 
the  soil1 and sow the seed2 but as     
,jesus said1 ,my ,father is the         
husbandman4 ,he appoints the clouds and 
allots the sunshine2 he directs  the    
winds and distributes the dew and the   
rain2 he also gives the frost  and the  
heat1 and so by various processes of    
nature he brings forth food  for man and
 beast4 ,all the farming1 however1 which
 ,god does1 is for the  benefit of      
others1 and never for himself4 ,he has  
no need of any of our  works of         
husbandry4 ,if he were hungry1 he would 
not tell us4 ,the cattle  on a thousand 
hills1 says he1 are mine4 ,the purest   

kindness and  benevolence are those     
which dwell in the heart of ,god4       
,though all things  are ,god's1 his     
works in creation and in providence are 
not for himself1  but for his creatures4
 ,this should greatly encourage us in   
trusting to  him4    ,in spiritual      
matters ,god is a great husbandman2 and 
there1 too1 all  his works are done for 
his children1 that they may be fed upon 
the  finest of the wheat4 ,permit me to 
speak of the wide gospel fields which   
our heavenly ,father farms for the good 
of his children4 ,there is a great      
variety of these fields1 and they are   
all fruitful2 for the fountain of       
,jacob shall be upon a land of corn and 
wine2 also his heavens shall drop  down 
dew4 ,deut4 #cc3bh4 ,every field which  
our heavenly ,father tills  yields a    
plentiful harvest1 for there are no     
failures or famines with  him4    #a4   
,one part of his farm is called         
,doctrine field4 ,what full sheaves of  
finest wheat are to be found there6 ,he 

who is permitted to glean in it  will   
gather bread enough and to spare1 for   
the land brings forth by  handfuls4     
,look at that goodly sheaf of election2 
full1 indeed1 of heavy  ears of corn1   
such as ,pharaoh saw in his first       
dream--ears full and  strong4 ,there is 
the great sheaf of final perseverance1  
where each ear  is a promise that the   
work which ,god has begun he will       
assuredly  complete4 ,if we have not    
faith enough to partake of either of    
these  sheaves1 we may glean around the 
choice sheaves of redemption by the     
blood of ,christ4 ,many a poor soul who 
could not feed on electing love1  nor   
realize his perseverance in ,christ1 can
 yet feed on the atonement  and rejoice 
in the sublime doctrine of substitution4
 ,many and rich are  the sheaves which  
stand thick together in ,doctrine field2
 these1 when  threshed by meditation and
 ground in the mill of thought1 furnish 
royal  food for the ,lord's family4     
,i wonder why it is that some of our    

,master's stewards are so prone to  lock
 the gate of this field1 as if they     
thought it dangerous ground4 ,for  my   
part1 ,i wish my people not only to     
glean here1 but to carry home the       
sheaves by the wagon-load1 for they     
cannot be too well fed when truth is    
the food4 ,are my fellow-laborers afraid
 that ,jeshurun will wax fat and  kick1 
if he has too much food8 ,i fear there  
is more likelihood of his  dying of     
starvation if the bread of sound        
doctrine is withheld4 ,if we  have a    
love to the precepts and warnings of the
 word1 we need not be  afraid of the    
doctrines2 on the contrary1 we should   
search them out and  feed upon them with
 joy4 ,the doctrines of distinguishing  
grace are to be  set forth in due       
proportions to the rest of the word1 and
 those are poor  pulpits from which     
these grand truths are excluded4 ,we    
must not keep the  ,lord's people out of
 this field4 ,i say1 swing the gate     
open1 and come  in1 all of you who are  

children of ,god6 ,i am sure that in my 
,master's  field nothing grows which    
will harm you4 ,gospel doctrine is      
always safe  doctrine4 ,you may feast   
upon it till you are full1 and no harm  
will come  of it4 ,be afraid of no      
revealed truth4 ,be afraid of spiritual 
ignorance1  but not of holy knowledge4  
,grow in grace and in the knowledge of  
your  ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4
 ,everything taught in the word of ,god 
is  meant to be the subject of a        
,christian's study1 therefore neglect   
nothing4 ,visit the doctrine field      
daily1 and glean in it with the utmost  
diligence4    #b4 ,the great ,husbandman
 has another field called ,promise      
field2 of  that ,i shall not need to    
speak1 for ,i hope you often enter it   
and glean  from it4 ,just let us take an
 ear or two out of one of the sheaves1  
and  show them to you that you may be   
induced to stay there the live-long     
day1 and carry home a rich load at      
night4 ,here is an ear3 ,the mountains  

shall depart1 and the hills be removed2 
but my kindness shall not depart  from  
thee1 neither shall the covenant of my  
peace be removed4 ,here is  another3    
,when thou passest through the waters1  
,i will be with thee2 and  through the  
rivers1 they shall not overflow thee2   
when thou walkest  through the fire1    
thou shalt not be burned2 neither shall 
the flame  kindle upon thee4 ,here is   
another2 it has a short stalk1 but a    
heavy  ear3 ,my strength is sufficient  
for thee4 ,another is long in the straw1
  but very rich in corn3 ,let not your  
heart be troubled3 ye believe in  ,god1 
believe also in me4 ,in my ,father's    
house are many mansions3 if it  were not
 so ,i would have told you4 ,i go to    
prepare a place for you2 and  if ,i go  
and prepare a place for you ,i will come
 again1 and receive you  unto myself2   
that where ,i am1 there ye may be also4 
,what a word is  that6--,i will come    
again4 ,yes1 beloved1 we can say of the 
,promise  field what cannot be said of a

 single acre in all ,england2 namely1   
that  it is so rich a field that it     
could not be richer1 and that it has so 
many ears of corn in it that you could  
not insert another4 ,as the poet  sings3
      ,what more can he say1 than to you
 he hath said1--     ,you who unto      
,jesus for refuge have fled8    ,glean  
in that field1 ,o ye poor and needy     
ones1 and never think that you  are     
intruding4 ,the whole field is your own1
 every ear of it2 you may  draw out from
 the sheaves themselves1 and the more   
you take the more you  may4    #c4 ,then
 there is ,ordinance field2 a great deal
 of good wheat grows in  this field4    
,the field of ,baptism has been         
exceedingly fruitful to some  of us1 for
 it has set forth to us our death1      
burial1 and resurrection in  ,christ1   
and thus we have been cheered and       
instructed4 ,it has been good  for us to
 declare ourselves on the ,lord's side1 
and we have found that  in keeping our  
,lord's commandments there is great     

reward4 ,but ,i will not  detain you    
long in this field1 for some of our     
friends think it has a  damp soil3 ,i   
wish them more light and more grace4    
,however1 we will pass  on to the field 
of the ,supper1 where grows the very    
best of our ,lord's  corn4 ,what rich   
things have we fed upon in this choice  
spot6 ,have we not  there tasted the    
sweetest and most sustaining of all     
spiritual food8 ,in  all the estate no  
field is to be found to rival this      
centre and crown of  all the domain2    
this is the ,king's ,acre4 ,gospel      
gleaner1 abide in that  field2 glean in 
it on the first day of every week1 and  
expect to see  your ,lord there2 for it 
is written1 ,he was known of them in the
  breaking of bread4    #d4 ,the        
heavenly ,husbandman has one field upon 
a hill1 which equals the  best of the   
others1 even if it does not excel them4 
,you cannot really  and truly go into   
any of the other fields unless you pass 
into this2 for  the road to the other   

fields lies through this hill farm2 it  
is called  ,fellowship and ,communion   
with ,christ4 ,this is the field for the
 ,lord's  choicest ones to glean in4    
,some of you have only run through it1  
you  have not stopped long enough in it2
 but he who knows how to stay here1     
yea1 to live here1 shall spend his hours
 most profitably and pleasantly4  ,it is
 only in proportion as we hold          
fellowship with ,christ1 and  communion 
with him1 that either ordinances1 or    
doctrines1 or promises  can profit us4  
,all other things are dry and barren    
unless we are  enjoying the love of     
,christ1 unless we bear his likeness1   
unless we  dwell continually with him1  
and rejoice in his love4 ,i am sorry to 
say  that few ,christians think much of 
this field2 it is enough for them to  be
 sound in doctrine1 and tolerably       
correct in practice2 they care far  less
 than they should about intimate inter  
course with ,christ ,jesus1  their      
,lord1 by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,i am sure  

that if we gleaned in this  field we    
should not have half so many naughty    
tempers nor a tenth as  much pride1 nor 
a hundredth part so much sloth4 ,this is
 a field hedged  and sheltered1 and in  
it you will find better food than that  
which  angels feed upon2 yea1 you will  
find ,jesus himself as the bread which  
came down from heaven4 ,blessed1 blessed
 field1 may we visit it every  day4 ,the
 ,master leaves the gate wide open for  
every believer2 let us  enter in and    
gather the golden ears till we can carry
 no more4 ,thus we  have seen the great 
,husbandman in his fields2 let us       
rejoice that we  have such a great      
,husbandman near1 and such fields to    
glean in4      ,,ii4 ,and now1 in the   
second place1 we have ,a ,,humble       
,,gleaner4 ,ruth was a  gleaner1 and may
 serve as an illustration of what every 
believer should  be in the fields of    
,god4    #a4 ,the believer is a favored 
gleaner1 for he may take home a whole   
sheaf if he likes2 he may bear away all 

that he can possibly carry1 for  all    
things are freely given him of the      
,lord4 ,i use the figure of a  gleaner  
because ,i believe that few ,christians 
ever go much beyond it1  and yet they   
are free to do so if they are able4     
,some may say1 ,why does  not the       
believer reap all the field1 and take   
all the corn home with  him8 ,i answer  
that he is welcome to do so if he can2  
for no good thing  will the ,lord       
withhold from them that walk uprightly4 
,if your faith is  like a great wagon1  
and you can carry the whole field of    
corn1 you have  full permission to take 
it4 ,alas1 our faith is so little that  
we rather  glean than reap2 we are      
straitened in ourselves1 not in our     
,god4 ,may you  all outgrow the         
metaphor1 and come home1 bringing your  
sheaves with you4    #b4 ,again1 we may 
remark1 that the gleaner in her business
 has to endure  much toil and fatigue4  
,she rises early in the morning1 and she
 trudges  off to a field2 if that be    

closed1 she hastens to another2 and if  
that  be shut up1 or gleaned already1   
she hurries farther still2 and all day  
long1 while the sun is shining upon her1
 she seldom sits down to refresh        
herself1 but still she goes on1 stoop1  
stoop1 stoop1 gathering the ears  one by
 one4 ,she returns not to her home till 
nightfall2 for she desires1  if the     
field is good1 to do much business that 
day1 and she will not go  home until she
 is loaded down4 ,beloved1 so let each  
one of us do when we  seek spiritual    
food4 ,let us not be afraid of a little 
fatigue in the  ,master's fields2 if the
 gleaning is good1 we must not soon     
weary in  gathering the precious spoil1 
for the gains will richly reward our    
pains4 ,i know a friend who walks five  
miles every ,sunday to hear the  gospel1
 and has the same distance to return4   
,another thinks little of a  ten miles' 
journey2 and these are wise1 for to hear
 the pure word of ,god  no labor is     
extravagant4 ,to stand in the aisle till

 ready to drop1  listening all the while
 with strained attention1 is a toil     
which meets a  full reward if the gospel
 be heard and the ,spirit of ,god bless 
it to the  soul4 ,a gleaner does not    
expect that the ears will come to her of
  themselves2 she knows that gleaning is
 hard work4 ,we must not expect to  find
 the best field next to our own house1  
we may have to journey to the  far end  
of the parish1 but what of that8        
,gleaners must not be choosers1  and    
where the ,lord sends the gospel1 there 
he calls us to be present4    #c4 ,we   
remark1 next1 that every ear the gleaner
 gets she has to stoop  for4 ,why is it 
that proud people seldom profit under   
the word8 ,why is  it that certain      
intellectual folk cannot get any good   
out of our  soundest ministers8 ,why1   
because they must needs have the corn   
lifted up  for them2 and if the wheat is
 held so high over their heads that they
  can hardly see it1 they are pleased1  
and cry1 ,here is something  wonderful4 

,they admire the extraordinary ability  
of the man who can  hold up the truth so
 high that nobody can reach it2 but     
truly that is a  sorry feat4 ,the       
preacher's business is to place truth   
within the reach  of all1 children as   
well as adults2 he is to let fall       
handfuls on  purpose for poor gleaners1 
and these will never mind stooping to   
collect  the ears4 ,if we preach to the 
educated people only1 the wise ones can 
understand1 but the illiterate cannot2  
but when we preach in all  simplicity to
 the poor1 other classes can understand 
it if they like1  and if they do not    
like1 they had better go somewhere else4
 ,those who  cannot stoop to pick up    
plain truth had better give up gleaning4
 ,for my  part1 ,i would be taught by a 
child if ,i could thereby know and      
understand the gospel better3 the       
gleaning in our ,lord's field is so     
rich that it is worth the hardest labor 
to be able to carry home a  portion of  
it4 ,hungry souls know this1 and are not

 to be hindered in  seeking their       
heavenly food4 ,we will go down on our  
knees in prayer1 and  stoop by          
self-humiliation1 and confession of     
ignorance1 and so gather  with the hand 
of faith the daily bread of our         
hungering souls4    #d4 ,note1 in the   
next place1 that what a gleaner gets she
 wins ear by  ear2 occasionally she     
picks up a handful at once1 but as a    
rule it is  straw by straw4 ,in the case
 of ,ruth1 handfuls were let fall on    
purpose  for her2 but she was highly    
favored4 ,the gleaner stoops1 and gets  
one  ear1 and then she stoops again for 
another4 ,now1 beloved1 where there  are
 handfuls to be got at once1 there is   
the place to go and glean2 but  if you  
cannot meet with such abundance1 be glad
 to gather ear by ear4 ,i  have heard of
 certain persons who have been in the   
habit of hearing a  favorite minister1  
and when they go to another place1 they 
say1 ,i  cannot hear anybody after my   
own minister2 ,i shall stay at home and 

read  a sermon4 ,please remember the    
passage1 ,not forsaking the assembling  
of  yourselves together1 as the manner  
of some is4 ,let me also entreat you    
not to be so foolishly partial as to    
deprive your soul of its food4 ,if  you 
cannot get a handful at one stoop1 do   
not refuse to gather an ear at  a time4 
,if you are not content to learn here a 
little and there a  little1 you will    
soon be half starved1 and then you will 
be glad to get  back again to the       
despised minister and pick up what his  
field will  yield you4 ,that is a sorry 
ministry which yields nothing4 ,go and  
glean  where the ,lord has opened the   
gate for you4 ,why the text alone is    
worth  the journey2 do not miss it4     
#e4 ,note1 next1 that what the gleaner  
picks up she keeps in her hand2  she    
does not drop the corn as fast as she   
gathers it4 ,there is a good  thought at
 the beginning of the sermon1 but the   
hearers are so eager to  hear another1  
that the first one slips away4 ,toward  

the end of the  sermon a large handful  
falls in their way1 and they forget all 
that went  before in their eagerness to 
retain this last and richest portion4   
,the  sermon is over1 and1 alas1 it is  
nearly all gone from the memory1 for    
many are about as wise as a gleaner     
would be if she should pick up one  ear1
 and drop it2 pick up another1 and drop 
it1 and so on all day4 ,the  net result 
of such a day's work in a stubble is a  
bad backache2 and ,i  fear that all our 
hearers will get by their hearing will  
be a headache4  ,be attentive1 but be   
retentive too4 ,gather the grain and tie
 it up in  bundles for carrying away    
with you1 and mind you do not lose it on
 the  road home4 ,many a person when he 
has got a fair hold of the sermon1      
loses it on the way to his house by idle
 talk with vain companions4 ,i  have    
heard of a ,christian man who was seen  
hurrying home one ,sunday with  all his 
might4 ,a friend asked him why he was in
 such haste4 ,oh6 said  he1 two or three

 ,sundays ago1 our minister gave us a   
most blessed  discourse1 and ,i greatly 
enjoyed it2 but when ,i got outside1    
there were  two deacons discussing1 and 
one pulled the sermon one way1 and the  
other the other1 till they pulled it all
 to pieces1 and ,i lost all the  savor  
of it4 ,those must have been very bad   
deacons2 let us not imitate  them2 and  
if we know of any who are of their      
school1 let us walk home  alone in      
dogged silence sooner than lose all our 
gleanings by their  controversies4      
,after a good sermon go home with your  
ears and your mouth  shut4 ,act like the
 miser1 who not only gets all he can1   
but keeps all he  can4 ,do not lose by  
trifling talk that which may make you   
rich to all  eternity4    #f4 ,then1    
again1 the gleaner takes the wheat home 
and threshes it4 ,it  is a wise thing to
 thresh a sermon1 whoever may have been 
the preacher1  for it is certain that   
there is a portion of straw and chaff   
about it4  ,many thresh the preacher by 

finding needless fault2 but that is not 
half  so good as threshing the sermon to
 get out of it the pure truth4 ,take a  
sermon1 beloved1 when you get one which 
is worth having1 and lay it down  on the
 floor of meditation1 and beat it out   
with the flail of prayer1  and you will 
get bread-corn from it4 ,this threshing 
by prayer and  meditation must never be 
neglected4 ,if a gleaner should stow    
away her  corn in her room1 and leave it
 there1 the mice would get at it2 but   
she  would have no food from it if she  
did not thresh out the grain4 ,some get 
a sermon1 and carry it home1 and allow  
,satan and sin1 and the world1 to  eat  
it all up1 and it becomes unfruitful and
 worthless to them4 ,but he  who knows  
how to flail a sermon well1 so as to    
clear out all the wheat  from the straw1
 he is it that makes a good hearer and  
feeds his soul on  what he hears4    #g4
 ,and then1 in the last place1 the good 
woman1 after threshing the  corn1 no    
doubt winnowed it4 ,ruth did all this in

 the field2 but you  can scarcely do so4
 ,you must do some of the work at home4 
,and observe1  she did not take the     
chaff home2 she left that behind her in 
the field4  ,it is a prudent thing to   
winnow all the discourses you hear so as
 to  separate the precious from the     
vile2 but pray do not fall into the     
silly  habit of taking home all the     
chaff1 and leaving the corn behind4 ,i  
think  ,i hear you say1 ,i shall        
recollect that queer expression2 ,i     
shall make  an anecdote out of that odd 
remark4 ,listen1 then1 for ,i have a    
word for  you--if you hear a man retail 
nothing about a minister except his     
oddities1 just stop him1 and say1 ,we   
have all our faults1 and perhaps  those 
who are most ready to speak of those of 
others are not quite  perfect           
themselves3 cannot you tell us what the 
preacher said that was  worth hearing8  
,in many cases the virtual answer will  
be1 ,oh1 ,i don't  recollect that4 ,they
 have sifted the corn1 thrown away the  

good grain1  and brought home the chaff4
 ,ought they not to be put in an asylum8
  ,follow the opposite rule2 drop the   
straw1 and retain the good corn4        
,separate between the precious and the  
vile1 and let the worthless  material go
 where it may2 you have no use for it1  
and the sooner you are  rid of it the   
better4 ,judge with care2 reject false  
teaching with  decision1 and retain true
 doctrine with earnestness1 so shall you
  practise the enriching art of heavenly
 gleaning4 ,may the ,lord teach us      
wisdom1 so that we may become rich to   
all the intents of bliss2 so  shall our 
mouth be satisfied with good things1 and
 our youth shall be  renewed like the   
eagle's4      ,,iii4 ,and now1 in the   
last place1 here is ,a ,,gracious       
,,permission ,,given3  ,let her glean   
among the sheaves1 and reproach her not4
 ,ruth had no  right to go among the    
sheaves till ,boaz gave her permission  
by saying1  ,let her do it4 ,for her to 
be allowed to go among the sheaves1 in  

that  part of the field where the wheat 
was newly cut1 and none of it carted1   
was a great favor3 but ,boaz whispered  
that handfuls were to be dropped  on    
purpose for her1 and that was a greater 
favor still4 ,boaz had a  secret love   
for the maiden1 and even so1 beloved1 it
 is because of our  ,lord's eternal love
 to us that he allows us to enter his   
best fields and  glean among the        
sheaves4 ,his grace permits us to lay   
hold upon doctrinal  blessings1 promise 
blessings1 and experience blessings3 the
 ,lord has a  favor toward us1 and hence
 these singular kindnesses4 ,we have no 
right  to any heavenly blessings of     
ourselves2 our portion is due to free   
and  sovereign grace4    ,i tell you the
 reasons that moved ,boaz's heart to let
 ,ruth go among the  sheaves4 ,the      
master motive was because he loved her4 
,he would have her  go there1 because he
 had conceived an affection for her1    
which he  afterward displayed in grander
 ways4 ,so the ,lord lets his people    

come  and glean among the sheaves1      
because he loves them4 ,didst thou have 
a  soul-enriching season among the      
sheaves the other ,sabbath8 ,didst thou 
carry home thy sack1 filled like those  
of ,joseph's brothers1 when they        
returned from ,egypt8 ,didst thou have  
an abundance8 ,wast thou satisfied8     
,mark2 that was thy ,master's goodness4 
,it was because he loved thee4  ,look1  
,i beseech thee1 on all thy spiritual   
enjoyments as proof of his  eternal     
love4 ,look on all heavenly blessings as
 being tokens of heavenly  grace4 ,it   
will make thy corn grind all the better1
 and eat all the  sweeter1 if thou wilt 
reflect that eternal love gave it thee4 
,thy sweet  seasons1 thy high           
enjoyments1 thy unspeakable ravishments 
of spirit are  all proofs of divine     
affection1 therefore be doubly glad of  
them4    ,there was another reason why  
,boaz allows ,ruth to glean among the   
sheaves2 it was because he was her      
relative4 ,this is why our ,lord  gives 

us choice favors at times1 and takes us 
into his banqueting-house  in so        
gracious a manner4 ,he is our next of   
kin1 bone of our bone1 and  flesh of our
 flesh4 ,our ,redeemer1 our kinsman1 is 
the ,lord ,jesus1 and he  will never be 
strange to his own flesh4 ,it is a high 
and charming  mystery that our ,lord    
,jesus is the ,husband of his church2   
and sure he  may well let his spouse    
glean among the sheaves2 for all that he
  possesses is hers already4 ,her       
interests and his interests are one1 and
  so he may well say1 ,beloved1 take all
 thou pleasest2 ,i am none the  poorer  
because thou dost partake of my fulness1
 for thou art mine4 ,thou  art my       
partner1 and my choice1 and all that ,i 
have is thine4 ,what1  then1 shall ,i   
say to you who are my ,lord's beloved8  
,how shall ,i speak  with a tenderness  
and generosity equal to his desires1 for
 he would have  me speak right lovingly 
in his name4 ,enrich yourselves out of  
that which  is your ,lord's4 ,go a      

spiritual gleaning as often as ever you 
can4 ,never  lose an opportunity of     
picking up a golden blessing4 ,glean at 
the  mercy-seat2 glean in private       
meditation2 glean in reading pious      
books2  glean in associating with godly 
men2 glean everywhere2 and if you can   
get only a little handful it will be    
better than none4 ,you who are so  much 
in business1 and so much penned up by   
cares2 if you can only spend  five      
minutes in the ,lord's field gleaning a 
little1 be sure to do so4 ,if  you      
cannot bear away a sheaf1 carry an ear2 
and if you cannot find an  ear1 pick up 
even a grain of wheat4 ,take care to get
 a little1 if you  cannot get much3 but 
gather as much as ever you can4    ,just
 one other remark4 ,o child of ,god1    
never be afraid to glean4 ,have  faith  
in ,god1 and take the promises home to  
yourself4 ,jesus will rejoice  to see   
you making free with his good things4   
,his voice is ,eat  abundantly2 drink1  
yea1 drink abundantly1 ,o beloved4      

,therefore1 if you  find a rich promise1
 live upon it4 ,draw the honey out of   
the comb of  ,scripture1 and live on its
 sweetness4 ,if you meet with a most    
extraordinary sheaf1 carry it away      
rejoicing4 ,you cannot believe too  much
 concerning your ,lord2 let not ,satan  
cheat you into contentment with  a      
meagre portion of grace when all the    
granaries of heaven are open to  you4   
,glean on with humble industry and      
hopeful confidence1 and know that  he   
who owns both fields and sheaves is     
looking upon you with eyes of  love1 and
 will one day espouse you to himself in 
glory everlasting4  ,happy gleaner who  
finds eternal love and eternal life in  
the fields in  which he gleans6         
,,meal-,,time ,,in ,,the ,,cornfields4  
,and ,boaz said unto her1 ,at meal-time 
come thou hither1 and eat of the  bread1
 and dip thy morsel in the vinegar4 ,and
 she sat beside the  reapers3 and he    
reached her parched corn1 and she did   
eat1 and was  sufficed1 and             

left4--,,ruth #b3ad4      ,,we are going
 to the cornfields1 not so much to      
glean1 as to rest with  the reapers and 
gleaners1 when under some wide-spreading
 oak they sit  down to take refreshment4
 ,we hope some timid gleaner will accept
 our  invitation to come and eat with   
us1 and will have confidence enough to  
dip her morsel in the vinegar4 ,may all 
of us have courage to feast to  the full
 on our own account1 and kindness enough
 to carry home a portion  to our needy  
friends at home4      ,i4 ,our first    
point of remark is this--,,that ,,god',s
 ,,reapers ,,have ,,their               
,,meal-,,times4    ,those who work for  
,god will find him a good master4 ,he   
cares for oxen1  and he has commanded   
,israel1 ,thou shalt not muzzle the ox  
when he  treadeth out the corn4 ,much   
more doth he care for his servants who  
serve him4 ,he hath given meat unto them
 that fear him3 he will ever be  mindful
 of his covenant4 ,the reapers in       
,jesus' fields shall not only  receive a

 blessed reward at the last1 but they   
shall have plenteous  comforts by the   
way4 ,he is pleased to pay his servants 
twice2 first in  the labor itself1 and a
 second time in the labor's sweet       
results4 ,he  gives them such joy and   
consolation in the service of their     
,master that  it is a sweet employ1 and 
they cry1 ,we delight to do thy will1 ,o
 ,lord4  ,heaven is made up of serving  
,god day and night1 and a foretaste of  
heaven is enjoyed in serving ,god on    
earth with earnest perseverance4    ,god
 has ordained certain meal-times for his
 reapers2 and he has  appointed that one
 of these shall be when they come       
together to listen  to the ,word        
preached4 ,if ,god be with ministers    
they act as the  disciples did of old1  
for they received the loaves and the    
fishes from  the ,lord ,jesus1 and then 
they handed them to the people4 ,we1 of 
ourselves1 cannot feed one soul1 much   
less thousands2 but when the ,lord  is  
with us we can keep as good a table as  

,solomon himself1 with all his  fine    
flour1 and fat oxen1 and roebucks1 and  
fallow-deer4 ,when the ,lord  blesses   
the provisions of his ,house1 no matter 
how many thousands there  may be1 all   
his poor shall be filled with bread4 ,i 
hope1 beloved1 you  know what it is to  
sit under the shadow of the ,word with  
great delight1  and find the fruit      
thereof sweet unto your taste4 ,where   
the doctrines of  grace are boldly and  
plainly delivered to you in connection  
with the  other truths of revelation2   
where ,jesus ,christ upon his cross is  
always  lifted up2 where the work of the
 ,spirit is not forgotten2 where the    
glorious purpose of the ,father is never
 despised1 there is sure to be  rich    
provision for the children of ,god4     
,often1 too1 our gracious ,lord appoints
 us meal-times in our private  readings 
and meditations4 ,here it is that his   
paths drop fatness4  ,nothing can be    
more fattening to the soul of the       
believer than feeding  upon the ,word1  

and digesting it by frequent meditation4
 ,no wonder that  men grow so slowly    
when they meditate so little4 ,cattle   
must chew the  cud2 it is not that which
 they crop with their teeth1 but that   
which is  masticated1 and digested by   
rumination1 that nourishes them4 ,we    
must  take the truth1 and turn it over  
and over again in the inward parts of   
our spirit1 and so shall we extract     
suitable nourishment therefrom4 ,my     
brethren1 is not meditation the land of 
,goshen to you8 ,if men once said1      
,there is corn in ,egypt1 may they not  
always say that the finest of the  wheat
 is to be found in secret prayer8       
,private devotion is a land which       
floweth with milk and honey2 a paradise 
yielding all manner of fruits2 a        
banqueting house of choice wines4       
,ahasuerus might make a great feast1    
but all his hundred and twenty provinces
 could not furnish such dainties  as    
meditation offers to the spiritual mind4
 ,where can we feed and lie  down in    

green pastures in so sweet a sense as we
 do in our musings on  the ,word8       
,meditation distils the quintessence of 
joy from the  ,scriptures1 and gladdens 
our mouth with a sweetness which excels 
the  virgin honey4 ,your retired periods
 and occasions of prayer should be to   
you refreshing seasons1 in which1 like  
the reapers at noonday1 you sit  with   
the ,master and enjoy his generous      
provisions4 ,the ,shepherd of           
,salisbury ,plain was wont to say that  
when he was lonely1 and his wallet  was 
empty1 his ,bible was to him meat and   
drink1 and company too2 he is  not the  
only man who has found a fulness in the 
,word when all else has  been empty4    
,during the battle of ,waterloo a godly 
soldier1 mortally  wounded1 was carried 
by his comrade into the rear1 and being 
placed with  his back propped up against
 a tree1 he besought his friend to open 
his  knapsack and take out the ,bible   
which he had carried in it4 ,read to    
me1 he said1 one verse before ,i close  

my eyes in death4 ,his comrade  read him
 that verse3 ,peace ,i leave with you1  
my peace ,i give unto you3  not as the  
world giveth1 give ,i unto you2 and     
there1 fresh from the  whistling of the 
bullets1 and the roll of the drum1 and  
the tempest of  human conflict1 that    
believing spirit enjoyed such holy calm 
that ere he  fell asleep in the arms of 
,jesus he said1 ,yes1 ,i have a peace   
with ,god  which passeth all            
understanding1 which keeps my heart and 
mind through  ,jesus ,christ4 ,saints   
most surely enjoy delightful meal-times 
when they  are alone in meditation4     
,let us not forget that there is one    
specially ordained meal-time which      
ought to occur at least once in the     
week--,i mean the ,supper of the  ,lord4
 ,there you have literally1 as well as  
spiritually1 a meal4 ,the  table is     
richly spread1 it has upon it both bread
 and wine2 and looking  at what these   
symbolize1 we have before us a table    
richer than that  which kings could     

furnish4 ,there we have the flesh and   
the blood of our  ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 
whereof if a man eat he shall never     
hunger and never  thirst1 for that bread
 shall be unto him everlasting life4    
,oh6 the sweet  seasons we have known at
 the ,lord's ,supper4 ,if some of you   
knew the  enjoyment of feeding upon     
,christ in that ordinance you would     
chide  yourselves for not having united 
with the ,church in fellowship4 ,in     
keeping the ,master's commandments there
 is great reward1 and  consequently in  
neglecting them there is great loss of  
reward4 ,christ is  not so tied to the  
sacramental table as to be always found 
of those who  partake thereat1 but still
 it is in the way that we may expect the
  ,lord to meet with us4 ,if ye love me1
 keep my commandments1 is a  sentence of
 touching power4 ,sitting at this table1
 our soul has mounted  up from the      
emblem to the reality2 we have eaten    
bread in the kingdom of  ,god1 and have 
leaned our head upon ,jesus' bosom4 ,he 

brought me to the  banqueting-house1 and
 his banner over me was love4           
,besides these regular meal-times1 there
 are others which ,god gives us1  at    
seasons when1 perhaps1 we little expect 
them4 ,you have been walking  the       
street1 and suddenly you have felt a    
holy flowing out of your soul  toward   
,god2 or in the middle of business your 
heart has been melted with  love and    
made to dance for joy1 even as the      
brooks1 which have been  bound with     
winter's ice1 leap to feel the touch of 
spring4 ,you have been  groaning1 dull1 
and earth-bound2 but the sweet love of  
,jesus has  enwrapped your heart when   
you scarce thought of it1 and your      
spirit1 all  free1 and all on fire1 has 
rejoiced before the ,lord with timbrel  
and  dance1 like ,miriam of old4 ,i have
 had times occasionally in preaching    
when ,i would fain have kept on far     
beyond the appointed hour1 for my       
overflowing soul has been like a vessel 
wanting vent4 ,seasons1 too1 we  have   

had on our sick beds1 when we would have
 been content to be sick  always if we  
could have had our bed so well made by  
tender love1 and our  head so softly    
pillowed on condescending grace4    ,our
 blessed ,redeemer comes to us in the   
morning1 and wakes us up by  dropping   
sweet thoughts upon our souls2 we know  
not how they came1 but  it is as if1    
when the dew was visiting the flowers1 a
 few drops had  taken pity upon us4 ,in 
the cool eventide1 too1 as we have gone 
to our  bed1 our meditation of him has  
been sweet2 and1 in the night watches1  
when we tossed to and fro1 and could not
 sleep1 he has been pleased to  become  
our song in the night4    ,god's reapers
 find it hard work to reap2 but they    
gain a blessed solace  when in one way  
or another they sit down and eat of     
their ,master's rich  provisions2 then1 
with renewed strength1 they rise with   
sharpened  sickle1 to reap again in the 
noontide heat4    ,let me observe that1 
while these meal-times come we know not 

exactly  when1 there are certain seasons
 when we may expect them4 ,the ,eastern 
reapers generally sit down under the    
shelter of a tree1 or a booth1 to  take 
refreshment during the heat of the day4 
,and certain ,i am that when  trouble1  
affliction1 persecution1 and bereavement
 become the most  painful to us1 it is  
then that the ,lord hands out to us the 
sweetest  comforts4 ,we must work till  
the hot sun forces the sweat from our   
faces1  and then we may look for repose2
 we must bear the burden and heat of the
  day before we can expect to be invited
 to those choice meals which the  ,lord 
prepares for true laborers4 ,when thy   
day of trouble is hottest1  then the    
love of ,jesus shall be sweetest4       
,again1 these meal-times frequently     
occur before a trial4 ,elijah must  be  
entertained beneath a juniper tree1 for 
he is to go a forty days'  journey in   
the strength of that meat4 ,you may     
suspect some danger nigh  when your     
delights are overflowing4 ,if you see a 

ship taking in great  quantities of     
provision1 it is probably bound for a   
distant port1 and  when ,god gives you  
extraordinary seasons of communion with 
,jesus1 you  may look for long leagues  
of tempestuous sea4 ,sweet cordials     
prepare for  stern conflicts4    ,times 
of refreshing also occur after trouble  
or arduous service4  ,christ was tempted
 of the devil1 and afterward angels came
 and  ministered unto him4 ,jacob       
wrestled with ,god1 and afterward1 at   
,mahanaim1 hosts of angels met him4     
,abraham fought with the kings1 and     
returned from their slaughter1 and then 
it was that ,melchisedec  refreshed him 
with bread and wine4 ,after conflict1   
content2 after  battle1 banquet4 ,when  
thou hast waited on thy ,lord1 then thou
 shalt sit  down1 and thy ,master will  
gird himself and wait upon thee4    ,let
 worldlings say what they will about the
 hardness of religion1 we do  not find  
it so4 ,we own that reaping for ,christ 
has its difficulties and  troubles2 but 

still the bread which we eat is of      
heavenly sweetness1 and  the wine which 
we drink is crushed from celestial      
clusters3      ,i would not change my   
bless'd estate     ,for all the world   
calls good or great2     ,and while my  
faith can keep her hold1     ,i envy not
 the sinner's gold4      ,,ii4 ,follow  
me while we turn to a second point4 ,,to
 ,,these ,,meals ,,the  ,,gleaner ,,is  
,,affectionately ,,invited4 ,that is to 
say1 the poor1 trembling  stranger who  
has not strength enough to reap1 who has
 no right to be in  the field except the
 right of charity the poor1 trembling   
sinner1  conscious of his own demerit1  
and feeling but little hope and little  
joy1 is invited to the feast of love4   
,in the text the gleaner is invited to  
come4 ,at meal-time come thou  hither4  
,we trust none of you will be kept away 
from the place of holy  feasting by any 
shame on account of your dress1 or your 
personal  character1 or your poverty2   
nay1 nor even on account of your        

physical  infirmities4 ,at meal-time    
come thou hither4 ,i knew a deaf woman  
who  could never hear a sound1 and yet  
she was always in the ,house of ,god1   
and when asked why1 her reply was that a
 friend found her the text1 and  then   
,god was pleased to give her many a     
sweet thought upon it while she  sat    
with his people2 besides1 she felt that 
as a believer she ought to  honor ,god  
by her presence in his courts1 and by   
confessing her union  with his people2  
and1 better still1 she always liked to  
be in the best  of company1 and as the  
presence of ,god was there1 and the holy
 angels1  and the saints of the ,most   
,high1 whether she could hear or no1 she
 would  go4 ,if such persons find       
pleasure in coming1 we who can hear     
should  never stay away4 ,though we feel
 our unworthiness1 we ought to be       
desirous to be laid in the ,house of    
,god1 as the sick were at the pool of   
,bethesda1 hoping that the waters may be
 stirred1 and that we may step in  and  

be healed4 ,trembling soul1 never let   
the temptations of the devil  keep thee 
from the assembly of worshippers2 at    
meal-time come thou  hither4            
,moreover1 she was bidden not only to   
come but to eat4 ,whatever there  is    
sweet and comfortable in the ,word of   
,god1 ye that are of a broken and       
contrite spirit are invited to partake  
of it4 ,jesus ,christ came into  the    
world to save sinners--sinners such as  
you are4 ,in due time  ,christ died for 
the ungodly--such ungodly ones as you   
feel yourselves  to be4 ,you desire to  
be ,christ's4 ,you may be ,christ's4    
,you are saying  in your heart1 ,o that 
,i could eat the children's bread6 ,you 
may eat  it4 ,you say1 ,i have no right4
 ,but the ,lord gives you the           
invitation4  ,come without any other    
right than the right of his invitation4 
,let not conscience make you linger1    
,nor of fitness fondly dream4    ,but   
since he bids you come1 take him at his 
word2 and if there be a  promise1       

believe it2 if there be an encouraging  
word1 accept it1 and let  the sweetness 
of it be yours4    ,note further1 that  
she was not only invited to eat the     
bread1 but to  dip her morsel in the    
vinegar4 ,we must not look upon this as 
being  some sour stuff4 ,no doubt there 
are crabbed souls in the church1 who    
always dip their morsel in the sourest  
imaginable vinegar1 and with a  grim    
liberality invite others to share their 
misery with them2 but the  vinegar in my
 text is altogether another thing4 ,this
 was either a  compound of various      
juices expressed from fruits1 or else it
 was that  weak kind of wine mingled    
with water which is still commonly used 
in the  harvest-fields of ,italy and the
 warmer parts of the world--a drink not 
exceedingly strong1 but good enough to  
impart a relish to the food4 ,it  was1  
to use the only word which will give the
 meaning1 a sauce1 which  the ,orientals
 used with their bread4 ,as we use      
butter1 or as they on  other occasions  

used oil1 so in the harvest-field1      
believing it to have  cooling           
properties1 they used what is here      
called vinegar4 ,beloved1  the ,lord's  
reapers have sauce with their bread2    
they have not merely  doctrines1 but the
 holy unction which is the essence of   
doctrines2 they  have not merely truths1
 but a hallowed delight accompanies the 
truths4  ,take1 for instance1 the       
doctrine of election1 which is like the 
bread2  there is a sauce to dip it in4  
,when ,i can say1 ,he loved me before   
the  foundations of the world1 the      
personal enjoyment of my interest in the
  truth becomes a sauce into which ,i   
dip my morsel4 ,and you1 poor gleaner1  
are invited to dip your morsel in it    
too4 ,i used to hear people sing  that  
hymn of ,toplady's1 which begins--      
,a debtor to mercy alone1     ,of       
covenant mercy ,i sing2     ,nor fear1  
with thy righteousness on1     ,my      
person and offering to bring4    ,the   
hymn rises to its climax in the lines-- 

,yes1 ,i to the end shall endure1       
,as sure as the earnest is given2       
,more happy1 but not more secure1       
,the glorified spirits in heaven4    ,i 
used to think ,i should never be able to
 sing that hymn4 ,it was the  sauce1 you
 know4 ,i might manage to eat some of   
the plain bread1 but ,i  could not dip  
it in that sauce4 ,it was too high      
doctrine1 too sweet1 too  consoling4    
,but ,i thank ,god ,i have since        
ventured to dip my morsel in it1  and   
now ,i hardly like my bread without it4 
,i would have every trembling sinner    
partake of the comfortable parts  of    
,god's ,word1 even those which cavillers
 call ,,high ,,doctrine4 ,let him       
believe the simpler truth first1 and    
then dip it in the sweet doctrine  and  
be happy in the ,lord4    ,i think ,i   
see the gleaner half prepared to come1  
for she is very hungry1  and she has    
nothing with her2 but she begins to say1
 ,i have no right to  come1 for ,i am   
not a reaper2 ,i do nothing for ,christ2

 ,i am only a  selfish gleaner2 ,i am   
not a reaper4 ,ah6 but thou art invited 
to come4  ,make no questions about it4  
,boaz bids thee2 take thou his          
invitation1  and approach at once4 ,but1
 you say1 ,i am such a poor gleaner2    
though my labor is all for myself1 yet  
it is little ,i win by it2 ,i get a  few
 thoughts while the sermon is being     
preached1 but ,i lose them before  ,i   
reach home4 ,i know you do1 poor        
weak-handed woman4 ,but still1 ,jesus   
invites thee4 ,come6 ,take thou the     
sweet promise as he presents it to      
thee1 and let no bashfulness of thine   
send thee home hungry4 ,but1 you  say1  
,i am a stranger2 you do not know my    
sins1 my sinfulness1 and the            
waywardness of my heart4 ,but ,jesus    
does1 and yet he invites you4 ,he  knows
 you are but a ,moabitess1 a stranger   
from the commonwealth of  ,israel2 but  
he bids you come4 ,is not that enough8  
,but1 you say1 ,i owe  so much to him   
already2 it is so good of him to spare  

my forfeited life1  and so tender of him
 to let me hear the gospel preached at  
all2 ,i cannot  have the presumption to 
be an intruder1 and sit with the        
reapers4 ,oh6  but he bids you4 ,there  
is more presumption in your doubting    
than there  could be in your believing4 
,,he bids you4 ,will you refuse ,boaz8  
,shall  ,jesus' lips give the           
invitation1 and will you say him nay8   
,come1 now1  come4 ,remember that the   
little which ,ruth could eat did not    
make ,boaz  any the poorer2 and all that
 thou wantest will make ,christ none the
 less  glorious or full of grace4 ,are  
thy necessities large8 ,his supplies are
  larger4 ,dost thou require great      
mercy8 ,he is a great ,saviour4 ,i tell 
thee that his mercy is no more to be    
exhausted than the sea is to be         
drained4 ,come at once4 ,there is enough
 for thee1 and ,boaz will not be        
impoverished by thy feasting to the     
full4 ,moreover1 let me tell thee a     
secret--,jesus loves thee2 therefore is 

it that he would have thee feed  at his 
table4 ,if thou art now a longing1      
trembling sinner1 willing to be  saved1 
but conscious that thou deservest it    
not1 ,jesus loves thee1 and  he will    
take more delight in seeing thee eat    
than thou wilt take in the  eating4 ,let
 the sweet love he feels in his soul    
toward thee draw thee to  him4 ,and what
 is more--but this is a great secret1   
and must only be  whispered in your     
ear--he intends to be married to you2   
and when you  are married to him1 why1  
the fields will be yours2 for1 of       
course1 if  you are his spouse1 you are 
joint proprietor with him4 ,is it not   
so8  ,doth not the wife share with the  
husband8 ,all those promises which are  
yea and amen in ,christ shall be yours2 
nay1 they all are yours now1  for the   
man is next of kin unto you1 and ere    
long he will take you  unto himself     
forever1 espousing you in faithfulness1 
and truth1 and  righteousness4 ,will you
 not eat of your own8 ,oh6 but1 says    

one1 how  can it be8 ,i am a stranger4  
,yes1 a stranger2 but ,jesus ,christ    
loves the  stranger4 ,a publican1 a     
sinner2 but he is the friend of         
publicans and  sinners4 ,an outcast2 but
 he gathereth together the outcasts of  
,israel4 ,a stray sheep2 but the        
shepherd leaves the ninety and nine  to 
seek it4 ,a lost piece of money2 but he 
sweeps the house to find  thee4 ,a      
prodigal son2 but he sets the bells     
a-ringing when he knows  that thou wilt 
return4 ,come1 ,ruth6 ,come1 trembling  
gleaner6 ,jesus  invites thee2 accept   
the invitation4 ,at meal-time come thou 
hither1 and  eat of the bread1 and dip  
thy morsel in the vinegar4      ,,iii4  
,now1 thirdly--and here is a very sweet 
point in the narrative--,,boaz          
,,reached ,,her ,,the ,,parched ,,corn4 
,she did come and eat4 ,where did she   
sit8  ,note well that she sat beside the
 reapers4 ,she did not feel that she    
was one of them4 ,just like some of you 
who do not come to the ,lord's  ,supper1

 but sit and look on4 ,you are sitting  
beside the reapers4 ,you  fear that you 
are not the people of ,god2 still you   
love them1 and  therefore sit beside    
them4 ,if there is a good thing to be   
had1 and you  cannot get it1 you will   
sit as near as you can to those who do  
get  it4 ,she sat beside the reapers4   
,and while she was sitting there1 what  
happened8 ,did she stretch forth  her   
hand and take the food herself8 ,no1 it 
is written1 ,,he reached her  the       
parched corn4 ,ah6 that is it4 ,none but
 the ,lord of the harvest can  hand out 
the choicest refreshments of spiritual  
minds4 ,i give the  invitation in my    
,master's name1 and ,i hope ,i give it  
earnestly1  affectionately1 sincerely2  
but ,i know very well that at my poor   
bidding  none will come till the ,spirit
 draws4 ,no trembling heart will accept 
divine refreshing at my hand2 unless the
 ,king himself comes near1 and  reaches 
the parched corn to each chosen guest1  
none will receive it4 ,how  does he do  

this8 ,by his gracious ,spirit1 he first
 of all inspires your  faith4 ,you are  
afraid to think that it can be true that
 such a sinner  as you are can ever be  
accepted in the ,beloved2 he breathes   
upon you1  and your faint hope becomes  
an expectancy1 and that expectation buds
 and  blossoms into an appropriating    
faith1 which says1 ,yes1 my beloved is  
mine1 and his desire is toward me4      
,having done this1 the ,saviour does    
more2 he sheds abroad the love of  ,god 
in your heart4 ,the love of ,christ is  
like sweet perfume in a box4  ,now1 he  
who put the perfume in the box is the   
only person that knows how  to take off 
the lid4 ,he1 with his own skilful hand1
 opens the secret  blessing1 and sheds  
abroad the love of ,god in the soul4    
,but ,jesus does more than this2 he     
reaches the parched corn with his own   
hand1 when he gives us close communion  
with himself4 ,do not think that  this  
is a dream2 ,i tell you there is such a 
thing as speaking with  ,christ to-day4 

,as certainly as ,i can talk with my    
dearest friend1 or  find solace in the  
company of my beloved wife1 so surely   
may ,i speak  with ,jesus1 and find     
intense delight in the company of       
,immanuel4 ,it is  not a fiction4 ,we do
 not worship a far-off ,saviour2 he is a
 ,god nigh at  hand4 ,his word is in our
 mouth and in our heart1 and we do      
to-day walk  with him as the elect did  
of old1 and commune with him as his     
apostles  did on earth2 not after the   
flesh1 it is true1 but after a real and 
spiritual fashion4    ,yet once more let
 me add1 the ,lord ,jesus is pleased to 
reach the parched  corn1 in the best    
sense1 when the ,spirit gives us the    
infallible  witness within1 that we are 
born of ,god4 ,a man may know that he is
 a  ,christian beyond all question4     
,philip de ,morny1 who lived in the time
 of  ,prince ,henry of ,navarre1 was    
wont to say that the ,holy ,spirit had  
made  his own salvation to him as clear 
a point as a problem demonstrated in    

,euclid4 ,you know with what            
mathematical precision the scholar of   
geometry solves a problem or proves a   
proposition1 and with as absolute  a    
precision1 as certainly as twice two are
 four1 we may know that we  have passed 
from death unto life4 ,the sun in the   
heavens is not more  clear to the eye   
than his present salvation to an assured
 believer2 such  a man could as soon    
doubt his own existence as suspect his  
possession of  eternal life4    ,now let
 the prayer be breathed by poor ,ruth1  
who is trembling yonder4  ,lord1 reach  
me the parched corn6 ,show me a token   
for good4 ,deal  bountifully with thy   
servant4 ,draw me1 we will run after    
thee4 ,lord1  send thy love into my     
heart6      ,come1 ,holy ,spirit1       
heavenly ,dove1       ,with all thy     
quickening powers1     ,come1 shed      
abroad a ,saviour's love1       ,and    
that shall kindle ours4    ,there is no 
getting at ,christ except by ,christ    
revealing himself to us4      ,,iv4 ,and

 now the last point4 ,after ,boaz had   
reached the parched corn1 we  are told  
that ,,she ,,did ,,eat1 ,,and ,,was     
,,sufficed1 ,,and ,,left4 ,so shall it  
be  with every ,ruth4 ,sooner or later  
every penitent shall become a believer1 
every mourner a singer4 ,there may be a 
space of deep conviction1 and a  period 
of much hesitation2 but there shall come
 a season when the soul  decides for the
 ,lord1 and cries1 ,if ,i perish1 ,i    
perish4 ,i will go as ,i  am to ,jesus4 
,i will not play the fool any longer    
with my buts and  ifs1 but since he bids
 me believe that he died for me1 ,i will
  believe it1 and will trust his cross  
for my salvation4 ,whenever you  shall  
be privileged to do this1 you shall be  
satisfied4 ,she did  eat1 and was       
sufficed4 ,your head shall be satisfied 
with the precious  truth which ,christ  
reveals2 your heart shall be content    
with ,jesus1 as  the altogether lovely  
object of affection2 your hope shall be 
filled1  for whom have you in heaven but

 ,christ8 ,your desire shall be         
satiated1  for what can even your desire
 hunger for more than to know ,christ1  
and  to be found in him4 ,you shall find
 ,jesus charm your conscience1 till  it 
is at perfect peace2 he shall content   
your judgment1 till you know  the       
certainty of his teachings2 he shall    
supply your memory with  recollections  
of what he did1 and gratify your        
imagination with the  prospects of what 
he is yet to do4    ,she was sufficed1  
and left4 ,some of us have had deep     
draughts of love2  we have thought that 
we could take in all of ,christ1 but    
when we have  done our best1 we have had
 to leave a vast remainder4 ,we have sat
 down  with a ravenous appetite at the  
table of the ,lord's love1 and said1    
,nothing but the infinite can ever      
satisfy me1 and that infinite has  been 
granted us4 ,i have felt that ,i am such
 a great sinner that nothing  short of  
an infinite atonement could wash my sins
 away1 and no doubt you  have felt the  

same2 but we have had our sin removed1  
and found merit  enough and to spare in 
,jesus2 we have had our hunger relieved1
 and found  a redundance remaining for  
others who are in a similar case4 ,there
 are  certain sweet things in the ,word 
of ,god which you and ,i have not       
enjoyed  yet1 and which we cannot enjoy 
yet2 and these we are obliged to leave  
for a while1 till we are better prepared
 to receive them4 ,did not our  ,lord   
say1 ,i have yet many things to say unto
 you1 but ye cannot bear  them now8     
,there is a special knowledge to which  
we have not attained1 a  place of       
intimate fellowship with ,christ which  
we have not yet occupied4  ,there are   
heights of communion which as yet our   
feet have not  climbed--virgin snows of 
the mountain of ,god untrodden by the   
foot of  man4 ,there is yet a beyond1   
and there will be for ever4    ,a verse 
or two further on we are told what ,ruth
 did with her leavings4  ,it is very    
wrong1 ,i believe1 at feasts to carry   

anything home with you2  but she was not
 under any such regulation1 for that    
which was left she  took home and gave  
to ,naomi4 ,so it shall be even with    
you1 poor  tremblers1 who think you have
 no right to a morsel for yourselves2   
you  shall be allowed to eat1 and when  
you are quite sufficed1 you shall have  
courage to bear away a portion to others
 who are hungering at home4 ,i am       
always pleased to find the young        
believer beginning to pocket something  
for others4 ,when you hear a sermon you 
think1 ,my poor mother cannot get  out  
to-day2 how ,i wish she could have been 
here1 for that sentence  would have     
comforted her4 ,if ,i forget everything 
else1 ,i will tell her  that4 ,cultivate
 an unselfish spirit4 ,seek to love as  
you have been  loved4 ,remember that the
 law and the prophets are fulfilled in  
this1  to love the ,lord your ,god with 
all your heart1 and your neighbor as    
yourself4 ,how can you love your        
neighbor as yourself if you do not love 

his soul8 ,you have loved your own soul2
 through grace you have been  led to lay
 hold on ,jesus2 love your neighbor's   
soul1 and never be  satisfied till you  
see him in the enjoyment of those things
 which are  the charm of your life and  
the joy of our spirit4 ,take home your  
gleanings for those you love who cannot 
glean for themselves4    ,i do not know 
how to give you an invitation to ,christ
 more pleasantly1  but ,i would with my 
whole heart cry1 ,come and welcome to   
,jesus4 ,i pray  my ,lord and ,master to
 reach a handful of parched corn of     
comfort to you  if you are a trembling  
sinner1 and ,i also beg him to make you 
eat till  you are fully sufficed4       
,,the ,,loaded ,,wagon4    ,behold1 ,i  
am pressed under you1 as a cart is      
pressed that is full of                 
sheaves4--,,amos #b3ac4      ,,we have  
been into the cornfields to glean with  
,boaz and ,ruth2 and ,i  trust that the 
timid and faint-hearted have been       
encouraged to partake  of the handfuls  

which are let fall on purpose for them  
by the order of  our generous ,lord4 ,we
 go to-day to the gate of the           
harvest-field with  another object--to  
see the wagon piled up aloft with many  
sheaves come  creaking forth1 making    
ruts along the field4 ,we come with     
gratitude to  ,god1 thanking him for the
 harvest1 blessing him for favorable    
weather1  and praying him to continue   
the same till the last shock of corn    
shall  be brought in1 and the husbandmen
 everywhere shall shout the ,harvest    
,home4    ,what a picture is a wagon    
loaded with corn of you and of me1 as   
loaded  with ,god's mercies6 ,from our  
cradle up till now1 every day has added 
a  sheaf of blessing4 ,what could the   
,lord do for us more than he has done8  
,he has daily loaded us with benefits4  
,let us adore his goodness1 and  yield  
him our cheerful gratitude4    ,alas6   
that such a sign should be capable of   
another reading4 ,alas6 that  while ,god
 loadeth us with mercy1 we should load  

him with sin4 ,while he  continually    
heapeth on sheaf after sheaf of favor we
 also add iniquity  unto iniquity1 till 
the weight of our sin becomes           
intolerable to the  ,most ,high1 and he 
cries out by reason of the burden1      
saying1 ,i am  pressed under you1 as a  
cart is pressed that is full of sheaves4
    ,our text begins with a ,behold6 and
 well it may4 ,beholds are put in  the  
,bible as signs are hung out from houses
 of business1 to attract  attention4    
,there is something new1 important1     
deeply impressive1 or  worthy of        
attention wherever we see a ,behold in  
sacred ,scripture4 ,i  see this ,behold6
 standing1 as it were1 like a maiden    
upon the steps of  the house of wisdom1 
crying1 ,turn in hither1 ,o ye that are 
wise-hearted1 and listen to the voice of
 ,god4 ,let us open our eyes that  we   
may behold1 and may the ,spirit make a  
way through our eyes and ears  to our   
hearts1 that repentance and             
self-abhorrence may take hold upon  us1 

because of our evil conduct towards our 
gracious ,god4    ,it is to be          
understood before we proceed farther1   
that our text is only  a figure1 since  
,god cannot actually be oppressed by    
man2 all the sin  that man may commit   
can never disturb the serenity of the   
divine  perfection1 nor cause so much as
 a wave upon his everlasting calm4 ,he  
doth but speak to us after the manner of
 man1 and bring down the  sublimities   
and mysteries of heaven to the          
feebleness and ignorance of  earth4 ,he 
speaketh to us as a great father may    
talk to his little child4  ,just as a   
cart has the axles bent1 and as the     
wheels creak under the  excessive load1 
so the ,lord says that under the load of
 human guilt he  is pressed down1 until 
he crieth out1 because he can bear no   
longer the  iniquity of those that      
offend against him4 ,we shall now turn  
to our  first point2 may the ,holy      
,ghost make it pointed to our           
consciences6    ,the first and most     

apparent truth in the text is1 that     
,,sin ,,is ,,very  ,,grievous ,,and     
,,burdensome ,,to ,,god4    ,be         
astonished1 ,o heavens1 and be amazed1  
,o earth1 that ,god should speak  of    
being pressed and weighed down6 ,i do   
not read anywhere so much as  half a    
suggestion that the whole burden of     
creation is any weight to  the ,most    
,high4 ,he taketh up the isles as a very
 little thing4 ,neither  sun1 nor moon1 
nor stars1 nor all the ponderous orbs   
which his  omnipotence has created1 cost
 him any labor in their sustenance4 ,the
  heathen picture ,atlas as stooping    
beneath the globe2 but the eternal      
,god1 who beareth up the pillars of the 
universe1 fainteth not1 neither  is     
weary4 ,nor do ,i find even the most    
distant approach to a suggestion  that  
providence fatigues its ,lord4 ,he      
watches both by night and day2  his     
power goeth forth every moment4 ',tis he
 who bringeth forth ,mazzaroth  in his  
season and guideth ,arcturus with his   

sons4 ,he beareth up the  foundations of
 the earth6 and holdeth the cornerstone 
thereof4 ,he  causeth the dayspring to  
know its place1 and setteth a bound to  
darkness  and the shadow of death4 ,all 
things are supported by the power of his
  hand1 and there is nothing without    
him4 ,just as a moment's foam subsides  
into the wave that bears it and is lost 
for ever1 so would the universe  depart 
if the eternal ,god did not daily       
sustain it4 ,this incessant  working has
 not diminished his strength1 nor is    
there any failing or  thought of failing
 with him4 ,he worketh all things1 and  
when they are  wrought they are as      
nothing in his sight4 ,but strange1 most
 passing  strange1 miraculous among     
miracles1 sin burdens ,god1 though the  
world  cannot2 and iniquity presses the 
,most ,high1 though the whole weight of 
providence is as the small dust of the  
balance4 ,ah1 ye careless sons of       
,adam1 ye think sin a trifle2 and as for
 you1 ye sons of ,belial1 ye  count it  

sport1 and say1 ,he regardeth not2 he   
seeth not2 how doth ,god  know8 and if  
he knoweth he careth not for our sins4  
,learn ye from the  ,book of ,god1 that 
so far from this being the truth1 your  
sins are a  grief to him1 a burden and a
 load to him1 till1 like a cart that is 
overloaded with sheaves1 so is he       
weighed down with human guilt4    ,this 
will be very clear if we meditate for a 
moment upon what sin is1  and what sin  
does4 ,sin is the great spoiler of all  
,god's works4 ,sin  turned an archangel 
into an archfiend1 and angels of light  
into spirits  of evil4 ,sin looked on   
,eden and withered all its flowers4 ,ere
 sin had  come the ,creator said of the 
new-made earth1 ,it is very good2 but   
when  sin had entered1 it grieved ,god  
at his very heart that he had made such 
a creature as man4 ,nothing tarnishes   
beauty so much as sin1 for it mars      
,god's image and erases his             
superscription4    ,moreover1 sin makes 
,god's creatures unhappy1 and shall not 

the ,lord1  therefore1 abhor it8 ,god   
never designed that any creature of his 
hand  should be miserable4 ,he made the 
creatures on purpose that they should   
be glad2 he gave the birds their song1  
the flowers their perfume1 the  air its 
balm2 he gave to day the smiling sun and
 to night its coronet of  stars2 for he 
intended that smiles should be his      
perpetual worship1 and  joy the incense 
of his praise4 ,but sin has made ,god's 
favorite creature  a wretch1 and brought
 down ,god's offspring1 made in his own 
image1 to  become naked1 and poor1 and  
miserable2 and therefore ,god hateth    
sin1 and  is pressed down under it1     
because it maketh the objects of his    
love  unhappy at their heart4           
,moreover1 remember that sin attacks    
,god in all his attributes1 assails  him
 on his throne1 and stabs at his        
existence4 ,what is sin8 ,is it not  an 
insult to ,god's wisdom8 ,o sinner1 ,god
 biddeth thee do his will2  when thou   
doest the contrary it is because thou   

dost as much as say1 ,i  know what is   
good for me1 and ,god does not know4    
,you do in effect  declare that infinite
 wisdom is in error1 and that you1 the  
creature of  a day1 are the best judge  
of happiness4 ,sin impugns ,god's       
goodness2  for by sin you declare that  
,god has denied you that which would    
make you  happy1 and this is not the    
part of a good1 tender1 and loving      
,father4  ,sin cuts at the ,lord's      
wisdom with one hand1 and at his        
goodness with  the other4    ,sin also  
abuses the mercy of ,god4 ,when you1 as 
many of you have done1  sin with the    
higher hand because of his              
long-suffering toward you2 when1        
because you have no sickness1 no losses1
 no crosses1 therefore you spend  your  
time in revelry and obstinate           
rebellion--what is this but taking  the 
mercy which was meant for your good and 
turning it into mischief8 ,it  is no    
small grief to the loving father to see 
his substance spent with  harlots in    

riotous living2 he cannot endure it that
 his child should be  so degraded as to 
turn even the mercy which would woo him 
to repentance  into a reason why he     
should sin the more against him4        
,besides1 let me  remind the careless   
and impenitent that every sin is a      
defiance of  divine power4 ,in effect it
 is lifting your puny fists against the 
majesty of heaven1 and defying ,god to  
destroy you4 ,every time you sin1  you  
defy the ,lord to prove whether he can  
maintain his law or no4 ,is  this a     
slight thing1 that a worm1 the creature 
of a day1 should defy the  ,lord of     
ages1 the ,god that filleth and         
upholdeth all things by the word  of his
 power8 ,well may he be weary1 when he  
has to bear with such  provocations and 
insults as those6 ,mention what         
attribute you will1 and  sin has blotted
 it2 speak of ,god in any relationship  
you choose1 and sin  has cast a slur    
upon him4 ,it is evil1 only evil1 and   
that continually2  in every view of it  

must be offensive to the ,most ,high4   
,sinner1 dost  thou know that every act 
of disobedience to ,god's law is        
virtually an  act of high treason8 ,what
 dost thou do but seek to be ,god       
thyself1  thine own master1 thine own   
lord8 ,every time thou swervest from his
  will1 it is to put thy will into his  
place2 it is to make thyself a god1  and
 to undeify the ,most ,high4 ,and is    
this a little offence1 to snatch  from  
his brow the crown1 and from his hand   
the sceptre8 ,i tell thee it  is such an
 act that heaven itself could not stand 
unless it were  resented2 if this crime 
were suffered to go unpunished1 the     
wheels of  heaven's commonwealth would  
be taken from their axles1 and the whole
  frame of moral government would be    
unhinged4 ,such a treason against ,god  
shall certainly be visited with         
punishment4    ,to crown all1 sin is an 
onslaught upon ,god himself1 for sin is 
atheism  of heart4 ,let his religious   
profession be what it may1 the sinner   

hath  said in his heart1 ,no ,god4 ,he  
wishes that there were no law and no    
,supreme ,ruler4 ,is this a trifle8 ,to 
be a ,deicide6 ,to desire to put ,god   
out of his own world6 ,is this a thing  
to be winked at8 ,can the ,most ,high   
hear it and not be pressed down beneath 
its weight8 ,i pray you do not  think   
that ,i would make a needless outcry    
against sin and disobedience4  ,it is   
not in the power of human imagination to
 exaggerate the evil of  sin1 nor will  
it ever be possible for mortal lips1    
though they should be  touched like     
those of ,esaias with a live coal from  
off the altar1 to  thunder out the      
ten-thousandth part of the enormity of  
the least sin  against ,god4 ,think1    
dear friends6 ,we are his creatures1 and
 yet we will  not do his will4 ,we are  
fed by him1 the breath in our nostrils  
he gives  us1 and yet we spend that     
breath in murmuring and rebellion4      
,once more1 we are always in the sight  
of our omniscient ,god1 and yet the     

presence of ,god is not enough to compel
 us to obedience4 ,surely if a man      
should insult law in the very presence  
of the lawgiver1 that were not to  be   
borne with2 but this is your case and   
mine4 ,we must confess1 ,against  thee1 
thee only1 have ,i sinned1 and done this
 evil in thy sight4 ,we  must remember  
also1 that we offend1 knowing that we   
are offending4 ,we do  not sin as the   
,hottentot1 or the cannibal4 ,we in     
,england sin against  extraordinary     
light and sevenfold knowledge2 and is   
this a light thing8  ,can you expect    
that ,god shall pass by wilful and      
deliberate offences8  ,oh1 that these   
lips had language1 that this heart could
 burn for once6  for if ,i could declare
 the horrible infamy of sin it would    
make the  blood chill in even a haughty 
,pharaoh's veins1 and proud             
,nebuchadnezzar  would bow his head in  
fear4 ,it is indeed a terrible thing to 
have  rebelled against the ,most ,high4 
,the ,lord have mercy upon his servants 

and forgive them4    ,this is our first 
point1 but ,i cannot teach you it1 ,god 
himself must  teach it by his ,spirit4  
,oh1 that the ,holy ,ghost may make you 
feel that  sin is exceedingly sinful1 so
 that it is grievous and burdensome to  
,god6      ,secondly1 ,,some ,,sins     
,,are ,,more ,,especially ,,grievous    
,,to ,,god4 ,the connection  of our text
 will help you to see the force of this 
observation4    ,there is no such thing 
as a little sin1 but still there are    
degrees of  guilt1 and it were folly to 
say that a sinful thought hath in it the
  same extent of evil as a sinful act4  
,a filthy imagination is  sinful--wholly
 sinful and greatly sinful1 but still a 
filthy act has  attained a higher degree
 of provocation4 ,there are sins which  
especially  provoke ,god4 ,in the       
connection of the text we read that     
licentiousness  does this4 ,the ,jewish 
people in the days of ,amos seem to have
 gone to a  very high degree of         
fornication and lechery4 ,this sin is   

not uncommon in  our day2 let our       
midnight streets and our divorce courts 
be the witness4  ,i say no more4 ,let   
each one keep his body pure2 for want of
 chastity is  a grievous evil before the
 ,lord4    ,oppression1 too1 according  
to the prophet1 is another great        
provocation to ,god4 ,the prophet speaks
 of selling the poor for a pair of      
shoes2 and some would grind the widow   
and the orphan1 and make the  laborer   
toil for nought4 ,how many business men 
have no bowels of  compassion4 ,men form
 themselves into societies1 and then    
exact an  outrageous usury upon loans   
from the unhappy beings who fall into   
their  hands4 ,cunning legal quibbles   
and crafty evasions of just debts often 
amount to heavy oppression1 and are sure
 to bring down the anger of the  ,most  
,high4    ,then1 again1 it seems that   
idolatry and blasphemy are highly       
offensive to ,god1 and have a high      
degree of heinousness4 ,he says that    
the people drank the wine of false gods4

 ,if any man sets up his belly1  or his 
gold1 or his wealth as his god1 and if  
he lives to these instead  of living to 
the ,most ,high1 he hath offended by    
idolatry4 ,woe to such1  and equal woe  
to those who adore crosses1 sacraments1 
or images4    ,specially is blasphemy a 
,god-provoking sin4 ,for blasphemy there
 is no  excuse4 ,as ,george ,herbert    
says1 ,lust and wine plead a pleasure2  
there  is gain to be pleaded for        
avarice1 but the cheap swearer from his 
open  sluice lets his soul run for      
nought4 ,there is nothing gained by     
profane  talk2 there can be no pleasure 
in cursing2 this is offending for       
offending's sake1 and hence it is a high
 and crying sin1 which makes the  ,lord 
grow weary of men4 ,there may be some   
among you to whom these words  may be   
personal accusations4 ,do ,i address the
 lecherous1 or the  oppressive1 or the  
profane8 ,ah1 soul1 what a mercy ,god   
hath borne with  thee so long2 the time 
will come1 however1 when he will say1   

,ah1 ,i will  ease me of mine           
adversaries1 and how easily will he cast
 you off and  appoint you an awful      
destruction4    ,again1 while some sins 
are thus grievous to ,god for their     
peculiar  heinousness1 many men are     
especially obnoxious to ,god because of 
the  length of their sin4 ,that         
gray-headed man1 how many times has he  
provoked the ,most ,high6 ,why1 those   
who are but lads have cause to count    
their years and apply their hearts unto 
wisdom because of the length of  time   
they have lived in rebellion2 but what  
shall ,i say of you who have  been half 
a century in open war against ,god--and 
some of you sixty1  seventy1 what if ,i 
said near upon eighty years8 ,ah1 you   
have had eighty  years of mercies1 and  
returned eighty years of neglect3 for   
eighty years  of patience you have      
rendered eighty years of ingratitude4 ,o
 ,god1 well  mayest thou be wearied by  
the length and number of man's sins6    
,furthermore1 ,god taketh special note  

and feeleth an especial weariness  of   
sin that is mixed with obstinacy4 ,oh   
how obstinate some men are6  ,they will 
be damned2 there is no helping them2    
they seem as if they  would leap the    
,alps to reach perdition1 and swim      
through seas of fire  that they may     
destroy their souls4 ,i might tell you  
cases of men that  have been sore sick  
of fever1 ague1 and cholera1 and they   
have only  recovered their health to    
return to their sins4 ,some of them have
 had  troubles in business1 thick and   
threefold3 they were once in respectable
  circumstances1 but they spent their   
living riotously1 and they became  poor2
 yet they still struggle on in sin4     
,they are growing poorer every  day1    
most of their clothes have gone to the  
pawnshop2 but they will not  turn from  
the tavern and the brothel4 ,another    
child is dead6 ,the wife is  sick1 and  
starvation stares the family in the     
face2 but they go on still  with a high 
hand and an outstretched arm4 ,this is  

obstinacy1 indeed4  ,sinner6 ,god will  
let thee have thine own way one of these
 days1 and that  way will be thine      
everlasting ruin4 ,god is weary of those
 who set  themselves to do mischief1    
and1 against warnings1 and invitations1 
and  entreaties1 are determined to go on
 in sin4    ,the context seems to tell  
us that ingratitude is intensely        
burdensome  to ,god4 ,he tells the      
people how he brought them out of       
,egypt2 how he  cast out the ,amorites2 
how he raised up their sons for         
prophets1 and  their young men for      
,nazarites2 and yet they rebelled       
against him6 ,this  was one of the      
things that pricked my heart when ,i    
first came to ,god as  a guilty sinner1 
not so much the peculiar heinousness of 
my outward  life1 as the peculiar       
mercies that ,i had enjoyed4 ,how       
generous ,god has  been to some of      
us--some of us who never had a want6    
,god has never cast  us into poverty1   
nor left us to infamy1 nor given us up  

to evil  example1 but he has kept us    
moral1 and made us love his house even  
when  we did not love him1 and all this 
he has done year after year3 and  what  
poor returns we have made6 ,to us1 his  
people1 what joy he has  given1 what    
deliverances1 what love1 what comfort1  
what bliss--and yet  we have sinned to  
his face6 ,well may he be as a cart that
 is pressed  down1 that is full of      
sheaves4    ,let me observe1 before ,i  
leave this point1 that it seems from our
 text1  that the ,lord is so pressed1   
that he even crieth out4 ,just as the   
cart  when laden with the sheaves1      
groaneth under the weight1 so the ,lord 
crieth out under the load of sin4 ,have 
you never heard those accents8  ,hear1  
,o heavens1 and give ear1 ,o earth3 for 
the ,lord hath spoken1 ,i  have         
nourished and brought up children1 and  
they have rebelled against  me6 ,hear   
again3 ,turn ye1 turn ye from your evil 
ways2 for why will ye  die1 ,o house of 
,israel8 ,better still1 hear the lament 

from the lip of  ,jesus1 soft and gentle
 as the dew--,o ,jerusalem1 ,jerusalem1 
thou that  killest the prophets1 and    
stonest them which are sent unto thee1  
how  often would ,i have gathered thy   
children together1 even as a hen        
gathereth her chickens under her wings1 
and ye would not6 ,sinner1 ,god  is cut 
to the heart by thy sin2 thy ,creator   
grieves over that which thou  laughest  
at2 thy ,saviour crieth out in his      
spirit concerning that which  thou      
thinkest to be a trifle--,o do not this 
abominable thing which ,i  hate6 ,for   
,god's sake do it not6 ,we often say for
 ,god's sake1 without  knowing what we  
mean2 but here see what it means1 for   
the sake of ,god1  that ye grieve not   
your ,creator1 that ye cause not the    
,eternal ,one  himself to cry out by    
reason of weariness of you4 ,cease ye1  
cease ye1  from your evil ways2 for why 
will ye die1 ,o house of ,israel8 ,i now
  leave those two points to pass on very
 briefly to the next4      ,while it is 

true that sin is grievous to the ,lord1 
it magnifies his  mercy when we see that
 ,,he ,,bears ,,the ,,load4 ,as the cart
 is not said to  break1 but is pressed  
only1 so is he pressed1 and yet he      
bears4 ,if you  and ,i were in ,god's   
place1 should we have borne it8 ,nay1   
within a week  we should have burned the
 universe with fire1 or trodden it to   
powder  beneath our feet4 ,if the ,law  
of heaven were as swift to punish as the
  law of man1 where were we8 ,how easily
 could he avenge his honor6 ,how  many  
servants wait around him ready to do his
 bidding6 ,as the ,roman  consul went   
out1 attended by his lictors carrying   
the axe1 so ,god is  ever attended by   
his executioners1 who are ready to      
fulfil his sentence4  ,a stone1 a tile  
from a roof1 a thunderbolt1 a puff of   
wind1 a grain of  dust1 a whiff of gas1 
a broken blood-vessel1 and all is over1 
and you  are dead1 and in the hands of  
an angry ,god4 ,indeed1 the ,lord has to
  restrain the servants of his anger1   

for the heavens cry1 ,why should we     
cover that wretch's head8 ,earth asks1  
,why should ,i yield at harvest to  the 
sinner's plough8 ,the lightnings        
thunder1 and say1 ,let us smite the     
rebel1 and the seas roar upon the       
sinner1 desiring him as their prey4     
,there is no greater proof of the       
omnipotence of ,god than his            
long-suffering2 for it shows the        
greatest possible power for ,god to be  
able to control himself4 ,sinner1 yet   
,jehovah bears with thee4 ,the angels   
have been astonished at it2 they thought
 he would strike1 but yet he  bears with
 you4 ,have you ever seen a patient man 
insulted8 ,he has been  met in the      
street by a villain1 who insults him    
before a mob of boys4  ,he bears it4    
,the fellow spits in his face4 ,he bears
 it still4 ,the  offender strikes him4  
,he endures it quietly4 ,give him in    
charge1 says  one4 ,no1 says he1 ,i     
forgive him all4 ,the fellow knocks him 
down1 and  rolls him in the kennel1 but 

he bears it still2 yes1 and when he     
rises  all covered with mire1 he says1  
,if there be anything that ,i can do to 
befriend you1 ,i will do it now4 ,just  
at that moment the wretch is  arrested  
by a sheriff's officer for debt2 the man
 who has been insulted  takes out his   
purse and pays the debt1 and says1 ,you 
may go free4 ,see1  the wretch spits in 
his face after that6 ,now1 you say1 let 
the law  have its way with him4 ,is     
there any room for patience now8 ,so    
would it  have been with man2 it has not
 been so with ,god4 ,though like the    
cart he  is pressed under the load of   
sheaves1 yet like the cart the axle does
  not break4 ,he bears the load4 ,he    
bears with impenitent sinners still4    
,and this brings me to the fourth head1 
on which ,i would have your  deepest    
attention4 ,some of you1 ,i fear1 have  
never seen sin in the light  of grieving
 ,god1 or else you would not wish to    
grieve him any more4 ,on  the other hand
 some of you feel how bitter a thing    

evil is1 and you wish  to be rid of it4 
,this is our fourth head4 ,not only doth
 ,god still bear  with sin1 but ,,god1  
,,in ,,the ,,person ,,of ,,his ,,son1   
,,did ,,bear ,,and ,,take ,,away ,,sin4 
,these words would have deep meaning if 
put into the lips of ,jesus--,i am      
pressed under you1 as a cart is pressed 
that is full of sheaves4 ,here  stood   
the great problem4 ,god must punish sin1
 and yet he desired to have  mercy4 ,how
 could it be8 ,lo6 ,jesus comes to be   
the substitute for all who  trust him4  
,the load of guilt is laid upon his     
shoulders4 ,see how they  pile on him   
the sheaves of human sin6      ,my soul 
looks back to see       ,the burdens    
thou didst bear1     ,when hanging on   
the cursed tree1       ,and hopes her   
guilt was there4    ,the ,lord hath laid
 on him the iniquity of us all4 ,there  
they lie1  sheaf on sheaf1 till he is   
pressed down like the wain that groaneth
 as  it moves along4 ,he is despised and
 rejected of men2 a man of sorrows1  and

 acquainted with grief4 ,see him1 he did
 sweat as it were great  drops of blood 
falling to the ground4 ,herod mocks him4
 ,pilate jeers  him4 ,they have smitten 
the ,prince of ,judah upon the cheek4 ,i
 gave my  back to the smiters1 and my   
cheeks to them that plucked off the     
hair3 ,i  hid not my face from shame and
 spitting4 ,they have tied him to the   
pillar2 they are beating him with rods1 
not this time forty stripes  save one1  
for there is no save one with him4 ,the 
chastisement of  our peace was upon him2
 and with his stripes we are healed4    
,see him2  like a cart pressed down with
 sheaves traversing the streets of      
,jerusalem4 ,well may ye weep1 ye       
daughters of ,jerusalem1 though he bids 
ye dry your tears6 ,abjects hoot at him 
as he walks along bowed beneath  the    
load of his own cross1 which was the    
emblem of our sin4 ,they bring  him to  
,golgotha4 ,they throw him on his back1 
they stretch out his hands  and his     
feet4 ,the accursed iron penetrates the 

tenderest part of his  body1 where most 
the nerves do congregate4 ,they lift up 
the cross4 ,o  bleeding ,saviour1 thy   
time of woe is come6 ,they dash it into 
the socket  with cruel force1 the nails 
are tearing through his hands and feet4 
,he  hangeth in extremity1 for ,god hath
 forsaken him2 his enemies persecute    
and take him1 for there is none to      
deliver him4 ,they mock his nakedness2  
they point at his agonies4 ,they look   
and stare upon him4 ,with ribald  jests 
they insult his griefs4 ,they make puns 
upon his prayers4 ,he is now  indeed a  
worm1 and no man1 crushed till you can  
scarcely think that  divinity dwells    
within him4 ,fever parches him2 his     
tongue is dried up  like a potsherd1 and
 he cries1 ,i thirst6 ,vinegar is all   
they yield  him4 ,the sun refuses to    
shine1 and the dense midnight of that   
awful  mid-day is a fitting emblem of   
the tenfold darkness of his soul4 ,out  
of  that all-encompassing horror he     
crieth1 ,my ,god1 my ,god1 why hast thou

  forsaken me8 ,then1 indeed1 was he    
pressed down6 ,there was never sorrow   
like unto his sorrow4 ,all mortal griefs
 found a reservoir in his heart1  and   
the punishment of human guilt spent     
itself upon his body and his  soul4     
,shall sin ever be a trifle to me8      
,shall ,i laugh at that which made  my  
,saviour groan8 ,shall ,i toy and dally 
with that which stabbed him to  the     
heart8 ,sinner1 wilt thou not give up   
thy sins for the sake of him  who       
suffered for sin8 ,yes1 sayest thou1    
yes1 if ,i could believe that  he       
suffered for my sake4 ,wilt thou trust  
thy soul in his hands at once8  ,dost   
thou do so8 ,then he died for thee and  
took thy guilt1 and  carried all thy    
sorrows1 and thou mayest go free1 for   
,god is  satisfied1 and thou art        
absolved4 ,christ was burdened that thou
 mightest  be lightened2 he was pressed 
that thou mightest be free4 ,i would ,i 
could  talk of my precious ,master as   
,john would speak1 who saw him and bare 

witness1 for he could tell in plaintive 
tones of the sorrows of ,calvary4  ,such
 as ,i have ,i give you2 oh that ,god   
would give you with it the  power1 the  
grace to believe on ,jesus at once4     
,v4 ,for if not1 and here is our last   
point1 ,god will only bear the load  of 
our provocation for a little while2 and 
if we are not in ,christ when  the end  
shall come1 ,,that ,,same ,,load ,,will 
,,crush ,,us ,,forever4    ,my text is  
translated by many learned men in a     
different way from the  version before  
us4 ,according to them it should be     
read1 ,i will press  you as a cart that 
is full of sheaves presseth your place4 
,that is1  just as a heavy loaded wagon 
pressed into the soft eastern roads and 
left deep furrows1 so will ,i crush you1
 saith ,god1 beneath the load of  your  
sin4 ,this is to be your doom1 my       
hearer1 if you are out of ,christ3  your
 own deeds are to press upon you4 ,need 
we enlarge upon this terror8  ,i think  
not4 ,it only needs that you should make

 a personal application  of the         
threatening6 ,divide yourselves now4    
,divide yourselves1 ,i say6  ,answer    
each one for himself--,dost thou believe
 on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ8  then the 
threatening is not thine4 ,but if thou  
believest not ,i conjure  thee listen to
 me now as if thou wert the only person 
here4 ,a ,christless  soul will ere long
 be a castaway2 he that believeth not in
 ,christ is  condemned already1 because 
he believeth not4 ,how wilt thou escape 
if  thou wilt neglect so great          
salvation8 ,thus saith the ,lord unto   
thee1  ,consider thy ways4 ,by time1 by 
eternity1 by life1 by death1 by heaven1 
by hell1 ,i do conjure thee believe in  
him who is able to save unto the        
uttermost them that come unto him2 but  
if thou believest not in ,christ  thou  
shalt die in thy sins4    ,after death  
the judgment6 ,oh6 the judgment1 the    
thundering trumpet1 the  multitude1 the 
books1 the great white throne1 the      
,come1 ye blessed1  the ,depart1 ye     

cursed6    ,after judgment1 to a soul   
that is out of ,christ1 ,hell6 ,who     
among us8 who  among us shall abide with
 the devouring flame8 ,who among ,,us8  
,who among  ,,us shall dwell with       
everlasting burnings8 ,i pray that none 
of us may4  ,but we must unless we fly  
to ,christ4 ,i beseech thee1 my dear    
hearer1  fly to ,jesus6 ,i may never see
 thy face again2 thine eyes may never   
look  into mine again2 but ,i shake my  
skirts of thy blood if thou believest   
not in ,christ4 ,my tears entreat thee2 
let his long-suffering lead thee  to    
repentance4 ,he willeth not the death of
 any1 but that they should  turn unto   
him and live3 and this turning lies     
mainly in trusting ,jesus  with your    
soul4 ,wilt thou believe in ,christ8    
,nay1 ,i know thou wilt not  unless the 
,spirit of ,god shall constrain thee2   
but if thou wilt not1 it  shall not be  
for want of pleading and entreating4    
,come1 'tis mercy's  welcome hour4 ,i   
pray thee1 come4 ,jesus with pierced    

hands invites thee1  though thou hast   
long rejected him4 ,he knocks again4    
,his unconquerable  love defies thy     
wickedness4 ,he begs thee to be saved4  
,sinner1 wilt thou  have him or no8     
,whosoever will1 let him come and take  
of the water of  life freely4 ,god help 
you to come1 for the glorious           
,redeemer's sake4  ,amen4               
,,threshing4    ,for the fitches are not
 threshed with a threshing instrument1  
neither  is a cart wheel turned about   
upon the cummin2 but the fitches are    
beaten  out with a staff1 and the cummin
 with a rod4 ,bread corn is bruised2    
because he will not ever be threshing   
it1 nor break it with the wheel of  his 
cart1 nor bruise it with his            
horsemen4--,,isaiah #bh3bg1 #bh4        
,,the art of husbandry was taught to man
 by ,god4 ,he would have starved  while 
he was discovering it1 and so the ,lord1
 when he sent him out of  the ,garden of
 ,eden1 gave him a measure of elementary
 instruction in  agriculture1 even as   

the prophet puts it--,his ,god doth     
instruct him to  discretion1 and doth   
teach him4 ,god has taught man to       
plough1 to break  the clods1 to sow the 
different kinds of grain1 and to thresh 
out the  different sorts of seeds4      
,the ,eastern husbandman could not      
thresh by machinery as we do2 but still 
he was ingenious and discreet in that   
operation4 ,sometimes a heavy           
instrument was dragged over the corn to 
tear out the grain4 ,this is what  is   
intended in the first clause by the     
threshing instrument1 as also  in that  
passage1 ,i have made thee a sharp      
threshing instrument having  teeth4     
,when the corn-drag was not used1 they  
often turned the heavy  solid wheel of a
 country cart over the straw4 ,this is  
alluded to in the  next sentence3       
,neither is a cart wheel turned about   
upon the cummin4  ,they had also flails 
not very unlike our own1 and then for   
still  smaller seeds1 such as dill and  
cummin1 they used a simple staff1 or a  

slender switch4 ,the fitches are beaten 
out with a staff1 and the cummin  with a
 rod4    ,this is not the time or place 
to give a dissertation upon threshing4  
,we  find every information upon that   
subject in proper books2 but the        
meaning of the illustration is          
this--that as ,god has taught husbandmen
  to distinguish between different kinds
 of grain in the threshing1 so  does he 
in his infinite wisdom deal discreetly  
with different sorts of  men4 ,he does  
not try us all alike1 seeing we are     
differently  constituted4 ,he does not  
pass us all through the same agony of   
conviction3 we are not all to the same  
extent threshed with terrors4 ,he  does 
not give us all to endure the same      
family or bodily affliction2 one        
escapes with only being beaten with a   
rod1 while another feels1 as it  were1  
the feet of horses in his heavy         
tribulations4    ,our subject is just   
this4 ,threshing3 all kinds of seeds    
need it1 all  sorts of men need it4     

,secondly1 the threshing is done with   
discretion1 and1 thirdly1 the threshing 
will not last forever2 for so  the      
second verse of the text says3 ,bread   
corn is bruised2 because he  will not   
ever be threshing it1 nor break it with 
the wheel of his cart1  nor bruise it   
with his horseman4      ,i4 ,first1     
then1 ,,we ,,all ,,need ,,threshing4    
,some have a foolish conceit of         
themselves that they have no sin2 but   
they deceive themselves1 and the  truth 
is not in them4 ,the best of men are men
 at the best2 and being  men1 they are  
not perfect1 but are still compassed    
about with infirmity4  ,what is the     
object of threshing the grain8 ,is it   
not to separate it from  the straw and  
the chaff8    ,about the best of men    
there is still a measure of chaff4 ,all 
is not  grain that lies upon the        
threshing-floor4 ,all is not grain even 
in those  golden sheaves which have been
 brought into our garner so joyfully4   
,even  the wheat is joined to the straw1

 which was necessary to it at one time4 
,about the kernel of the wheat the husk 
is wrapped1 and this still clings  to it
 even when it lies upon the             
threshing-floor4 ,about the holiest of  
men there is something superfluous1     
something which must be removed4 ,we    
either sin by omission or by trespass4  
,either in spirit1 or motive1 or  lack  
of zeal1 or want of discretion1 we are  
faulty4 ,if we escape one  error1 we    
usually glide into its opposite4 ,if    
before an action we are  right1 we err  
in the doing of it1 or1 if not1 we      
become proud after it  is over4 ,if sin 
be shut out at the front door1 it tries 
the back gate1  or climbs in at the     
window1 or comes down the chimney4      
,those who cannot  perceive it in       
themselves are frequently blinded by its
 smoke4 ,they are  so thoroughly in the 
water that they do not know that it     
rains4 ,so far  as my own observation   
goes ,i have found out no man whom the  
old divines  would have called perfectly

 perfect2 the absolutely all-round man  
is a  being whom ,i expect to see in    
heaven1 but not in this poor fallen     
world4  ,we all need such cleansing and 
purging as the threshing-floor is       
intended to work for us4    ,now1       
threshing is useful in loosening the    
connection between the good  corn and   
the husk4 ,of course1 if it would slip  
out easily from its  husk1 the corn     
would only need to be shaken4 ,there    
would be no necessity  for a staff or a 
rod1 much less for the feet of horses1  
or the wheel of  a cart to separate it4 
,but there's the rub3 our soul not only 
lieth in  the dust1 but cleaveth to it4 
,there is a fearful intimacy between    
fallen human nature and the evil which  
is in the world2 and this compact  is   
not soon broken4 ,in our hearts we hate 
every false way1 and yet we  sorrowfully
 confess1 ,when ,i would do good1 evil  
is present with me4  ,sometimes when our
 spirit cries out most ardently after   
,god1 a holy will  is present with us1  

but how to perform that which is good we
 find not4  ,flesh and blood have       
tendencies and weaknesses which1 if not 
sinful in  themselves1 yet tend in that 
direction4 ,appetites need but slight   
excitement to germinate into lusts4 ,it 
is not easy for us to forget our  own   
kindred and our father's house even when
 the king doth most greatly  desire our 
beauty4 ,our alien nature remembers     
,egypt and the flesh-pots  while yet the
 manna is in our mouths4 ,we were all   
born in the house of  evil1 and some of 
us were nursed upon the lap of iniquity1
 so that our  first companionships were 
among the heirs of wrath4 ,that which   
was bred  in the bone is hard to get out
 of the flesh4 ,threshing is used to    
loosen  our hold of earthly things and  
break us away from evil4 ,this needs a  
divine hand1 and nothing but the grace  
of ,god can make the threshing          
effectual4 ,something is done by        
threshing when the soul ceases to be    
bound up with its sin1 and sin is no    

longer pleasurable or satisfactory4     
,still1 as the work of threshing is     
never done till the corn is separated   
altogether from the husk1 so chastening 
and discipline have never  accomplished 
their design till ,god's people give up 
every form of evil1  and abhor all      
iniquity4 ,when we shake right out of   
the straw1 and have  nothing further to 
do with sin1 then the flail will lie    
quiet4 ,it has  taken a good deal of    
threshing to bring some of us anywhere  
near that  mark1 and ,i am afraid many  
more heavy blows will be struck before  
we  shall reach the total separation4   
,from a certain sort of sins we are     
very easily separated by the grace of   
,god early in our spiritual life2  but  
when those are gone1 another layer of   
evils comes into sight1 and  the work   
has to be repeated4 ,the complete       
removal of our connection with  sin is a
 work demanding the divine skill and    
power of the ,holy ,ghost1  and by him  
only will it be accomplished4           

,threshing becomes needful for the sake 
of our usefulness2 for the wheat  must  
come out of the husk to be of service4  
,we can only honor ,god and  bless men  
by being holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 and 
separate from sinners4  ,o corn of the  
,lord's threshing-floor1 thou must be   
beaten and bruised1  or perish as a     
worthless heap6 ,eminent usefulness     
usually necessitates  eminent           
affliction4    ,unless thus severed from
 sin1 we cannot be gathered into the    
garner4  ,god's pure wheat must not be  
defiled by an admixture of chaff4 ,there
  shall in nowise enter into heaven     
anything that defileth1 therefore  every
 sort of imperfection must come away    
from us by some means or other  ere we  
can enter into the state of eternal     
blessedness and perfection4  ,yea1 even 
here we cannot have true fellowship with
 the ,father unless we  are daily       
delivered from sin4    ,peradventure    
some of us to-day are lying up on the   
threshing-floor1  suffering from the    

blows of chastisement4 ,what then8 ,why1
 let us rejoice  therein2 for this      
testifies to our value in the sight of  
,god4 ,if the  wheat were to cry out and
 say1 ,the great drag has gone over me1 
therefore the husbandman has no care for
 me1 we should instantly  reply--,the   
husbandman does not pass the corn-drag  
over the darnel or the  nettles2 it is  
only over the precious wheat that he    
turns the wheel of  his cart1 or the    
feet of his oxen4 ,because he esteems   
the wheat1  therefore he deals sternly  
with it and spares it not4 ,judge not1  
,o  believer1 that ,god hates you       
because he afflicts you2 but interpret  
truly and see that he honors you by     
every stroke which he lays upon you4    
,thus saith the ,lord1 ,you only have ,i
 known of all the nations of the  earth1
 therefore ,i will punish you for all   
your iniquities4 ,because a  full       
atonement has been made by the ,lord    
,jesus for all his people's  sins1      
therefore he will not punish us as a    

judge2 but because we are his  dear     
children1 therefore he will chastise us 
as a father4 ,in love he  corrects his  
own children that he may perfect them in
 his own image1 and  make them partakers
 of his holiness4 ,is it not written1 ,i
 will bring  them under the rod of the  
covenant8 ,has he not said1 ,i have     
refined  thee1 but not with silver1 ,i  
have chosen thee in the furnace of      
affliction8 ,therefore do not judge     
according to the sight of the eyes  or  
the feeling of the flesh1 but judge     
according to faith1 and  understand     
that1 as threshing is a testimony to the
 value of the wheat1  so affliction is a
 token of ,god's delight in his people4 
,remember1 however1 that as threshing is
 a sign of the impurity of the  wheat1  
so is affliction an indication of the   
present imperfection of  the ,christian4
 ,if you were no more connected with    
evil1 you would be no  more corrected   
with sorrow4 ,the sound of a flail is   
never heard in  heaven1 for it is not   

the threshing-floor of the imperfect but
 the  garner of the completely          
sanctified4 ,the threshing instrument is
  therefore a humbling token1 and so    
long as we feel it we should humble     
ourselves under the hand of ,god1 for it
 is clear that we are not yet  free from
 the straw and the chaff of fallen      
nature4    ,on the other hand1 the      
instrument is a prophecy of our future  
perfection4 ,we are undergoing from the 
hand of ,god a discipline which  will   
not fail3 we shall by his prudence and  
wisdom be clean delivered  from the husk
 of sin4 ,we are feeling the blows of   
the staff1 but we are  being effectually
 separated from the evil which has so   
long surrounded  us1 and for certain we 
shall one day be pure and perfect4      
,every tendency  to sin shall be beaten 
off4 ,foolishness is bound in the heart 
of a  child2 but the rod of correction  
shall drive it far from him4 ,if1 we    
being evil1 yet succeed with our        
children by our poor1 imperfect         

chastening1 how much more shall the     
,father of spirits cause us to live     
unto himself by his holy discipline8 ,if
 the corn could know the  necessary uses
 of the flail1 it would invite the      
thresher to his work2  and since we know
 whereunto tribulation tendeth1 let us  
glory in it1 and  yield ourselves with  
cheerfulness to its processes4 ,we need 
threshing1  the threshing proves our    
value in ,god's sight1 and while it     
marks our  imperfection1 it secures our 
ultimate cleansing4      ,,ii4          
,secondly1 ,i would remark that ,,god',s
 ,,threshing ,,is ,,done ,,with ,,great 
,,discretion2 for the fitches are not   
threshed with a threshing  instrument4  
,the poor little fitches1 a kind of     
small seed used for  flavoring cakes1   
were not crushed out with a heavy drag1 
for by such  rough usage they would have
 been broken up and spoiled4 ,neither is
 a  cart wheel turned about upon the    
cummin2 this little seed1 perhaps the   
carraway1 would have been ground by so  

great a weight2 it would have  been     
preposterous to treat it in that rough  
manner4 ,the fitches were  soon removed 
from the stalks by being beaten out with
 a staff1 and the  cummin needed nothing
 but a touch of a rod4 ,for tender seeds
 the farmer  uses gentle means1 and for 
the hardier grains he reserves the      
sterner  processes4 ,let us think of    
this1 as it conveys a valuable spiritual
  lesson4    ,reflect1 my brother1 that 
your threshing and mine are in ,god's   
hands4  ,our chastening is not left to  
servants1 much less to enemies2 we are  
chastened of the ,lord6 ,the ,great     
,husbandman himself personally bids the 
laborers do this and that1 for they know
 not the time or the way except  as     
divine wisdom shall direct2 they would  
turn the wheel upon the  cummin1 or     
attempt to thresh wheat with a staff4 ,i
 have seen ,god's  servants trying both 
these follies2 they have crushed the    
weak and  tender1 and they have dealt   
with partiality and softness with those 

who  needed to be sternly rebuked4 ,how 
roughly some ministers1 some elders1    
some good men and women will go to work 
with timid1 tender souls2 yet we  need  
not fear that they will destroy the     
true-hearted1 for1 however much  they   
may vex them the ,lord will not leave   
his chosen in their hands1 but  will    
overrule their mistaken severity1 and   
preserve his own from being  destroyed  
thereby4 ,how glad ,i am of this2 for   
there are many nowadays  who would grind
 the tender ones to powder if they      
could6    ,as the ,lord has not left us 
in the power of man1 so also he has not 
left  us in the power of the devil4     
,satan may sift us as wheat1 but he     
shall  not thresh us as fitches4 ,he may
 blow away the chaff from us even with  
his foul breath1 but he shall not have  
the management of the ,lord's  corn3 the
 ,lord preserveth the righteous4 ,not a 
stroke in providence  is left to chance2
 the ,lord ordains it1 and arranges the 
time1 the  force1 and the place of it4  

,the divine decree leaves nothing       
uncertain2  the jurisdiction of supreme 
love occupies itself with the smallest  
events of our daily lives4 ,whether we  
bear the teeth of the corn-drag or  men 
do ride over our heads1 or we endure the
 gentler touches of the  divine hand1   
everything is by appointment1 and the   
appointment is fixed  by infallible     
wisdom4 ,let this be a mine of comfort  
to the afflicted4    ,next1 remark that 
the instruments used for our threshing  
are chosen  also by the ,great          
,husbandman4 ,the ,eastern farmer1      
according to the  text1 has several     
instruments1 and so has our ,god4 ,no   
form of threshing  is pleasant to the   
seed which bears it2 indeed1 each one   
seems to the  sufferer to be peculiarly 
objectionable4 ,we say1 ,i think ,i     
could bear  anything but this sad       
trouble4 ,we cry1 ,it was not an enemy1 
then ,i  could have borne it1 and so on4
 ,perhaps the tender cummin foolishly   
fancies that the horse-hoofs would be a 

less terrible ordeal than the  rod1 and 
the fitches might even prefer the wheel 
to the staff2 but  happily the matter is
 left to the choice of ,one who judges  
unerringly4  ,what dost thou know about 
it1 poor sufferer8 ,how canst thou judge
 of  what is good for thee8 ,ah6 cries a
 mother1 ,i would not mind poverty2  but
 to lose my darling child is too        
terrible6 ,another laments1 ,i could    
have parted with all my wealth1 but to  
be slandered cuts me to the  quick4     
,there is no pleasing us in the matter  
of chastisement4 ,when ,i  was at       
school1 with my uncle for master1 it    
often happened that he would  send me   
out to find a cane for him4 ,it was not 
a very pleasant task1 and  ,i noticed   
that ,i never once succeeded in         
selecting a stick which was  liked by   
the boy who had to feel it4 ,either it  
was too thin1 or too  stout2 and in     
consequence ,i was threatened by the    
sufferers with condign  punishment if ,i
 did not do better next time4 ,i learned

 from that  experience never to expect  
,god's children to like the particular  
rod  with which they are chastened4 ,you
 smile at my simile1 but you may smile  
at yourself when you find yourself      
crying1 ,any trouble but this1 ,lord4   
,any affliction but this4 ,how idle it  
is to expect a pleasant trial2 for  it  
would then be no trial at all4 ,almost  
every really useful medicine is         
unpleasant3 almost all effectual surgery
 is painful6 no trial for the  present  
seemeth to be joyous1 but grievous1 yet 
it is the right trial1  and none the    
less right because it is bitter4        
,notice1 too1 that ,god not only selects
 the instruments1 but he chooses  the   
place4 ,farmers in the ,east have large 
threshing-floors upon which  they throw 
the sheaves of corn or barley1 and upon 
these they turn  horses and drags2 but  
near the house door ,i have often       
noticed in ,italy  a much smaller circle
 of hardened clay or cement1 and here ,i
 have seen  the peasants beating out    

their garden seeds in a more careful    
manner  than would naturally be used    
toward the greater heaps upon the larger
  area4 ,some saints are not afflicted  
in the common affairs of life1 but  they
 have peculiar sorrow in their innermost
 spirits2 they are beaten on  the       
smaller and more private                
threshing-floor2 but the process is none
  the less effectual4 ,how foolish are  
we when we rebel against our ,lord's    
appointment1 and speak as if we had a   
right to choose our own  afflictions6   
,should it be according to thy mind8    
,should a child select  the rod8 ,should
 the grain appoint its own thresher8    
,are not these  things to be left to a  
higher wisdom8 ,some complain of the    
time of their  trial2 it is hard to be  
crippled in youth1 or to be poor in age1
 or to  be widowed when your children   
are young4 ,yet in all this there is    
wisdom4 ,a part of the skill of the     
physician may lie1 not only in  writing 
a prescription1 but in arranging the    

hours at which the medicine  shall be   
taken4 ,one draught may be most useful  
in the morning1 and  another may be more
 beneficial in the evening2 and so the  
,lord knows  when it is best for us to  
drink of the cup which he has prepared  
for us4  ,i know a dear child of ,god   
who is enduring a severe trial in his   
old  age1 and ,i would fain screen him  
from it because of his feebleness1 but  
our heavenly ,father knows best1 and    
there we must leave it4 ,the  instrument
 of the threshing1 the place1 the       
measure1 the time1 the end1  are all    
appointed by infallible love4    ,it is 
interesting to notice in the text the   
limit of this threshing4 ,the           
husbandman is zealous to beat out the   
seed1 but he is careful not to  break it
 in pieces by too severe a process4 ,his
 wheel is not to grind1  but to thresh2 
the horses' feet are not to break1 but  
to separate4 ,he  intends to get the    
cummin out of its husk1 but he will not 
turn a heavy  drag upon it utterly to   

smash it up and destroy it4 ,in the same
 way the  ,lord has a measure in all his
 chastening4 ,courage1 tried friend1 you
  shall be afflicted as you need1 but   
not as you deserve2 tribulation  shall  
come as you are able to bear it4 ,as is 
the strength such shall the  affliction 
be2 the wheat may feel the wheel1 but   
the fitches shall bear  nothing heavier 
than a staff4 ,no saint shall be tempted
 beyond the  proper measure1 and the    
limit is fixed by a tenderness which    
never deals  a needless stroke4    ,it  
is very easy to talk like this in cool  
blood1 and quite another thing  to      
remember it when the flail is hammering 
you2 yet have ,i personally  realized   
this truth upon the bed of pain1 and in 
the furnace of mental  distress4 ,i     
thank ,god at every remembrance of my   
afflictions2 ,i did not  doubt his      
wisdom then1 nor have ,i had any reason 
to question it since4  ,our ,great      
,husbandman understands how to divide us
 from the husk1 and he  goes about his  

work in a way for which he deserves to  
be adored for  ever4    ,it is a        
pleasant thought that ,god's limit is   
one beyond which trials  never go--     
,if trials six be fix'd for men         
,they shall not suffer seven4     ,if   
,god appoint afflictions ten            
,they ne'er can be eleven4    ,the old  
law ordained forty stripes save one1 and
 in all our scourgings  there always    
comes in that save one4 ,when the ,lord 
multiplies our  sorrows up to a hundred1
 it is because ninety-and-nine failed to
 effect  his purpose2 but all the powers
 of earth and hell cannot give us one   
blow above the settled number4 ,we shall
 never endure a superfluity of          
threshing4 ,the ,lord never sports with 
the feelings of his saints4 ,he  does   
not afflict willingly1 and so we may be 
sure he never gives an  unnecessary     
blow4    ,the wisdom of the husbandman  
in limiting his threshing is far        
exceeded  in the wisdom of ,god by which
 he sets a limit to our griefs4 ,some   

escape  with little trouble1 and perhaps
 it is because they are frail and       
sensitive4 ,the little garden seeds must
 not be beaten too heavily lest  they be
 injured2 those saints who bear about   
with them a delicate body  must not be  
roughly handled1 nor shall they be4     
,possibly they have a  feeble mind also1
 and that which others would laugh at   
would be death to  them2 they shall be  
kept as the apple of the eye4    ,if you
 are free from tribulation never ask for
 it2 that would be a great  folly4 ,i   
did meet with a brother a little while  
ago who said that he was  much perplexed
 because he had no trouble4 ,i said1 ,do
 not worry about  that2 but be happy    
while you may4 ,only a queer child would
 beg to be  flogged4 ,certain sweet and 
shining saints are of such a gentle     
spirit  that the ,lord does not expose  
them to the same treatment as he metes  
out  to others2 they do not need it1 and
 they could not bear it2 why should     
they wish for it8    ,others1 again1 are

 very heavily pressed2 but what of that 
if they are a  superior grain1 a seed of
 larger usefulness1 intended for higher 
purposes8 ,let not such regret that they
 have to endure a heavier  threshing    
since their use is greater4 ,it is the  
bread corn that must go  under the feet 
of the horseman and must feel the wheel 
of the cart2 and  so the most useful    
have to pass through the sternest       
processes4 ,there is  not one among us  
but what would say1 ,i could wish that  
,i were ,martin  ,luther1 or that ,i    
could play as noble a part as he did4   
,yes2 but in  addition to the outward   
perils of his life1 the inward          
experiences of  that remarkable man were
 such as none of us would wish to feel4 
,he was  frequently tormented with      
,satanic temptations1 and driven to the 
verge  of despair4 ,at one hour he rode 
the whirlwind and the storm1 master of  
all the world1 and then after days of   
fighting with the pope and the  devil he
 would go home to his bed and lie there 

broken-down and  trembling4 ,you see    
,god's heroes only in the pulpit1 or in 
other public  places1 you know not what 
they are before ,god in secret4 ,you do 
not know  their inner life2 else you    
might discover that the bread corn is   
bruised1 and that those who are most    
useful in comforting others have to     
endure frequent sorrow themselves4 ,envy
 no man2 for you do not know how  he may
 have to be threshed to make him right  
and keep him so4    ,brethren1 we see   
that our ,god uses discretion in the    
chastisement of his  people2 let us use 
a loving prudence when we have to deal  
with others in  that way4 ,be gentle as 
well as firm with your children2 and if 
you have  to rebuke your brother do it  
very tenderly4 ,do not drive your horses
  over the tender seed4 ,recollect that 
the cummin is beaten out with a  staff  
and not crushed out with a wheel4 ,take 
a very light rod4 ,perhaps  it would be 
as well if you had no rod at all1 but   
left that work to  wiser hands4 ,go you 

and sow and leave your elders to thresh4
    ,next let us firmly believe in      
,god's discretion1 and be sure that he  
is  doing the right thing by us4 ,let us
 not be anxious to be screened from     
affliction4 ,when we ask that the cup   
may pass from us let it be with a       
nevertheless not as ,i will4 ,best of   
all1 let us freely part with our  chaff4
 ,the likeliest way to escape the flail 
is to separate from the  husk as quickly
 as possible4 ,come ye out from among   
them4 ,separate  yourselves from sin and
 sinners1 from the world and            
worldliness1 and the  process of        
threshing will all the sooner be        
completed4 ,god make us wise  in this   
matter6      ,,iii4 ,a word or two is   
all we can afford upon the third head1  
which is  that ,,the ,,threshing ,,will 
,,not ,,last ,,forever4    ,the         
threshing will not last all our days    
even here3 ,bread corn is  bruised1 but 
he will not always be threshing it4 ,oh1
 no4 ,for a small  moment have ,i       

forsaken thee1 but with great mercies   
will ,i gather thee4  ,he will not      
always chide1 neither will he keep his  
anger for ever4  ,weeping may endure for
 a night1 but joy cometh in the morning4
  ,rejoice1 ye daughters of sorrow6 ,be 
comforted1 ye sons of grief6 ,have  hope
 in ,god1 for you shall yet praise him  
who is the health of your  countenance4 
,the rain does not always fall1 nor will
 the clouds always  return4 ,sorrow and 
sighing shall flee away4 ,threshing is  
not an  operation which the corn        
requires all the year round2 for the    
most part  the flail is idle4 ,bless the
 ,lord1 ,o my soul6 ,the ,lord will yet 
bring  home his banished ones4    ,above
 all1 tribulation will not last forever1
 for we shall soon be gone  to another  
and better world4 ,we shall soon be     
carried to the land where  there are    
neither threshing-floors nor corn-drags4
 ,i sometimes think ,i  hear the herald 
calling me4 ,his trumpet sounds3 ,up and
 away6 ,boot and  saddle6 ,up and away6 

,leave the camp and the battle1 and     
return in  triumph4 ,the night is far   
spent with you1 but the morning cometh4 
,the  daylight breaks above yon hills4  
,the day is coming--the day that shall  
go no more down forever4 ,come1 eat your
 bread with joy1 and march onward  with 
a merry heart2 for the land which       
floweth with milk and honey is  but a   
little way before you4 ,until the day   
break and the shadows flee  away1 abide 
the ,great ,husbandman's will1 and may  
the ,lord glorify  himself in you4      
,amen4          ,,wheat ,,in ,,the      
,,barn4    ,gather the wheat into my    
barn4--,,matthew #ac3cj4      ,,gather  
the wheat into my barn4 ,then the       
purpose of the ,son of man will  be     
accomplished4 ,he sowed good seed1 and  
he shall have his barn filled  with it  
at the last4 ,be not dispirited1 ,christ
 will not be disappointed4  ,he shall   
see of the travail of his soul1 and     
shall be satisfied4 ,he  went forth     
weeping1 bearing precious seed1 but he  

shall come again  rejoicing1 bringing   
his sheaves with him4    ,gather the    
wheat into my barn2 then ,satan's policy
 will be  unsuccessful4 ,the enemy came 
and sowed tares among the wheat1 hopeful
  that the false wheat would destroy or 
materially injure the true2 but he      
failed in the end1 for the wheat ripened
 and was ready to be gathered4          
,christ's garner shall be filled2 the   
tares shall not choke the wheat4  ,the  
evil one will be put to shame4    ,in   
gathering in the wheat1 good angels will
 be employed3 the angels are  the       
reapers4 ,this casts special scorn upon 
the great evil angel4 ,he  sows the     
tares1 and tries to destroy the harvest2
 and therefore the good  angels are     
brought in to celebrate his defeat1 and 
to rejoice together  with their ,lord in
 the success of the divine husbandry4   
,satan will make  a poor profit out of  
his meddling2 he shall be baulked in all
 his  efforts1 and so the threat shall  
be fulfilled1 ,upon thy belly shalt     

thou go1 and dust shalt thou eat4    ,by
 giving the angels work to do1 all      
intelligent creatures1 of whose         
existence we have information1 are made 
to take an interest in the work  of     
grace2 whether for malice or for        
adoration1 redemption excites them  all4
 ,to all1 the wonderful works of ,god   
are made manifest2 for these  things    
were not done in a corner4    ,we too   
much forget the angels4 ,let us not     
overlook their tender sympathy  with us2
 they behold the ,lord rejoicing over   
our repentance1 and they  rejoice with  
him2 they are our watchers and the      
,lord's messengers of  mercy2 they bear 
us up in their hands lest we dash our   
foot against a  stone2 and when we come 
to die1 they carry us to the bosom of   
our ,lord4  ,it is one of our joys that 
we have come to an innumerable company  
of  angels2 let us think of them with   
affection4    ,at this time ,i will keep
 to my text1 and preach from it almost  
word by  word4 ,it begins with but1 and 

that is ,a ,,word ,,of ,,separation4    
,here note that the tares and the wheat 
will grow together until the time  of   
harvest shall come4 ,it is a great      
sorrow of heart to some of the  wheat to
 be growing side by side with tares4    
,the ungodly are as thorns  and briers  
to those who fear the ,lord4 ,how       
frequently is the sigh forced  forth    
from the godly heart3 ,woe is me1 that  
,i sojourn in ,mesech1 that ,i  dwell in
 the tents of ,kedar6 ,a man's foes are 
often found within his  own household2  
those who should have been his best     
helpers are often his  worst hinderers2 
their conversation vexes and torments   
him4 ,it is of  little use to try to    
escape from them1 for the tares are     
permitted in  ,god's providence to grow 
with the wheat1 and they will do so     
until the  end4 ,good men have emigrated
 to distant lands to found communities  
in  which there should be none but      
saints1 and1 alas6 sinners have sprung  
up  in their own families4 ,the attempt 

to weed the ungodly and heretical out   
of the settlement has led to persecution
 and other evils1 and the whole  plan   
has proved a failure4 ,others have shut 
themselves away in  hermitages to avoid 
the temptations of the world1 and so    
have hoped to  win the victory by       
running away2 this is not the way of    
wisdom4 ,the word  for this present is1 
,let both grow together2 but there will 
come a  time when a final separation    
will be made4 ,then1 dear ,christian    
woman1  your husband will never         
persecute you again4 ,godly sister1 your
 brother  will heap no more ridicule    
upon you4 ,pious workman1 there will be 
no  more jesting and taunting from the  
ungodly4 ,that but will be an iron  gate
 between the god-fearing and the        
godless2 then will the tares be  cast   
into the fire1 but the ,lord of the     
harvest will say1 ,gather the  wheat    
into my barn4    ,this separation must  
be made2 for the growing of the wheat   
and the tares  together on earth has    

caused much pain and injury1 and        
therefore it will  not be continued in a
 happier world4 ,we can very well       
suppose that godly  men and women might 
be willing that their unconverted       
children should  dwell with them in     
heaven2 but it cannot be1 for ,god will 
not have his  cleansed ones defiled nor 
his glorified ones tried by the presence
 of  the unbelieving4 ,the tares must be
 taken away in order to the  perfectness
 and usefulness of the wheat4 ,would you
 have the tares and  the wheat heaped up
 together in the granary in one mass8   
,that would be  ill husbandry with a    
vengeance4 ,they can neither of them be 
put to  appropriate use till thoroughly 
separated4 ,even so1 mark you1 the saved
  and the unsaved may live together     
here1 but they must not live together   
in another world4 ,the command is       
absolute3 ,gather the tares1 and bind   
them in bundles to burn them3 but gather
 the wheat into my barn4  ,sinner1 can  
you hope to enter heaven8 ,you never    

loved your mother's ,god1  and is he to 
endure you in his heavenly courts8 ,you 
never trusted your  father's ,saviour1  
and yet are you to behold his glory for 
ever8 ,are you  to go swaggering down   
the streets of heaven1 letting fall an  
oath1 or  singing a loose song8 ,why1   
you know1 you get tired of the worship  
of ,god  on the ,lord's day2 do you     
think that the ,lord will endure        
unwilling  worshippers in the temple    
above8 ,the ,sabbath is a wearisome day 
to you2  how can you hope to enter into 
the ,sabbath of ,god8 ,you have no taste
 for  heavenly pursuits1 and these      
things would be profaned if you were    
permitted to partake in them2 therefore 
that word but must come in1  and you    
must part from the ,lord's people never 
to meet again4 ,can you  bear to think  
of being divided from godly friends for 
ever and ever8    ,that separation      
involves an awful difference of destiny4
 ,gather the  tares in bundles to burn  
them4 ,i do not dare to draw the        

picture2 but  when the bundle is bound  
up there is no place for it except the  
fire4  ,god grant that you may never    
know all the anguish which burning must 
mean2 but may you escape from it at     
once4 ,it is no trifle which the ,lord  
of love compares to being consumed with 
fire4 ,i am quite certain that no  words
 of mine can ever set forth its terror4 
,they say that we speak  dreadful things
 about the wrath to come2 but ,i am sure
 that we  understate the case4 ,what    
must the tender1 loving1 gracious ,jesus
 have  meant by the words1 ,gather the  
tares1 and bind them in bundles to burn 
them8 ,see what a wide distinction      
between the lot of the ,lord's people   
and ,satan's people4 ,burn the wheat8   
,oh1 no2 ,gather the wheat into my      
barn4 ,there let them be happily1 safely
 housed for ever4 ,oh1 the  infinite    
distance between heaven and hell6--the  
harps and the angels1  and the wailing  
and gnashing of teeth6 ,who can ever    
measure the width of  that gulf which   

divides the glorified saint1 white-robed
 and crowned  with immortality1 from the
 soul which is driven forever away from 
the  presence of ,god1 and from the     
glory of his power8 ,it is a dreadful   
but--that but of separation4 ,i pray    
you1 remember that it will  interpose   
between brother and brother--between    
mother and child--between  husband and  
wife4 ,one shall be taken and the other 
left4 ,and when that  sword shall       
descend to divide1 there shall never be 
any after union4 ,the  separation is    
eternal4 ,there is no hope or           
possibility of change in the  world to  
come4    ,but1 says one1 that dreadful  
'but'6 ,why must there be such a        
difference8 ,the answer is1 ,because    
there always was a difference4 ,the     
wheat was sown by the ,son of man2 the  
false wheat was sown by the enemy4      
,there was always a difference in       
character--the wheat was good1 the      
tares were evil4 ,this difference did   
not appear at first1 but it became  more

 and more apparent as the wheat ripened1
 and as the tares ripened  too4 ,they   
were totally different plants2 and so a 
regenerate person and  an unregenerate  
person are altogether different beings4 
,i have heard an  unregenerate man say  
that he is quite as good as the godly   
man2 but in  so boasting he betrayed his
 pride4 ,surely there is as great a     
difference in ,god's sight between the  
unsaved and the believer as  between    
darkness and light1 or between the dead 
and the living4 ,there is  in the one a 
life which there is not in the other1   
and the difference is  vital and        
radical4 ,oh1 that you may never trifle 
with this essential  matter1 but be     
really the wheat of the ,lord6 ,it is   
vain to have the name  of wheat1 we must
 have the nature of wheat4 ,god will not
 be mocked2 he  will not be pleased by  
our calling ourselves ,christians while 
we are not  so4 ,be not satisfied with  
church membership2 but seek after       
membership  with ,christ4 ,do not talk  

about faith1 but exercise it4 ,do not   
boast of  experience1 but possess it4   
,be not like the wheat1 but be the      
wheat4  ,no shams and imitations will   
stand in the last great day2 that       
terrible  but will roll as a sea of fire
 between the true and the false4 ,oh    
,holy  ,spirit6 let each of us be found 
transformed by thy power4      ,,ii4    
,the second word of our text is         
gather--that is ,a ,,word ,,of          
,,congregation4 ,what a blessed thing   
this gathering is6 ,i feel it a great   
pleasure to gather multitudes together  
to hear the gospel2 and is it not  a joy
 to see a house full of people1 on      
week-days and ,sabbath-days1 who  are   
willing to leave their homes and to come
 considerable distances to  listen to   
the gospel8 ,it is a great thing to     
gather people together for  that2 but   
the gathering of the wheat into the barn
 is a far more  wonderful business4     
,gathering is in itself better than     
scattering1 and ,i  pray that the ,lord 

,jesus may ever exercise his attracting 
power in this  place2 for he is no      
,divider1 but unto him shall the        
gathering of the  people be4 ,has he not
 said1 ,i1 if ,i be lifted up from the  
earth1 will  draw all men unto me8      
,observe1 that the congregation         
mentioned in our text is selected and   
assembled by skilled gatherers3 ,the    
angels are the reapers4 ,ministers      
could not do it1 for they do not know   
all the ,lord's wheat1 and they are  apt
 to make mistakes--some by too great    
leniency1 and others by  excessive      
severity4 ,our poor judgments           
occasionally shut out saints1 and  often
 shut in sinners4 ,the angels will know 
their ,master's property4  ,they know   
each saint1 for they were present at his
 birthday4 ,angels know  when sinners   
repent1 and they never forget the       
persons of the penitents4  ,they have   
witnessed the lives of those who have   
believed1 and have  helped them in their
 spiritual battles1 and so they know    

them4 ,yes1  angels by a holy instinct  
discern the ,father's children1 and are 
not to  be deceived4 ,they will not fail
 to gather all the wheat and to leave   
out  every tare4    ,but they are       
gathered under a very stringent         
regulation2 for1 first of  all1         
according to the parable1 the tares1 the
 false wheat1 have been  taken out1 and 
then the angelic reapers gather nothing 
but the wheat4  ,the seed of the        
serpent1 fathered by ,satan1 is thus    
separated from the  seed of the kingdom1
 owned by ,jesus1 the promised          
deliverer4 ,this is the  one            
distinction2 and no other is taken into 
consideration4 ,if the most  amiable    
unconverted persons could stand in the  
ranks with the saints1  the angels would
 not bear them to heaven1 for the       
mandate is1 ,gather  the wheat4 ,could  
the most honest man be found standing in
 the centre of  the church1 with all the
 members round about him1 and with all  
the  ministers entreating that he might 

be spared1 yet if he were not a         
believer he could not be carried into   
the divine garner4 ,there is no  help   
for it4 ,the angels have no choice in   
the matter2 the peremptory  command is1 
,gather the wheat1 and they must gather 
none else4    ,it will be a gathering   
from very great distances4 ,some of the 
wheat  ripens in the ,south ,sea        
,islands1 in ,china1 and in ,japan4     
,some flourishes  in ,france1 broad     
acres grow in the ,united ,states2 there
 is scarce a land  without a portion of 
the good grain4 ,where all ,god's wheat 
grows ,i  cannot tell4 ,there is a      
remnant1 according to the election of   
grace1  among every nation and people2  
but the angels will gather all the good 
grain to the same garner4    ,gather the
 wheat4 ,the saints will be found in all
 ranks of society4  ,the angels will    
bring in a few ears from palaces1 and   
great armfuls from  cottages6 ,many will
 be collected from the lowly cottages of
 our villages  and hamlets1 and others  

will be upraised from the back slums of 
our  great cities to the metropolis of  
,god4 ,from the darkest places angels   
will bring those children of sweetness  
and light who seldom beheld the  sun1   
and yet were pure in heart and saw their
 ,god4 ,the hidden and  obscure shall be
 brought into the light1 for the ,lord  
knoweth them that  are his1 and his     
harvestmen will not miss them4    ,to me
 it is a charming thought that they will
 come from all the ages4  ,let us hope  
that our first father ,adam will be     
there1 and mother ,eve1  following in   
the footsteps of their dear son ,abel1  
and trusting in the  same sacrifice4 ,we
 shall meet ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and   
,jacob1 and ,moses1  and ,david1 and    
,daniel1 and all the saints made        
perfect4 ,what a joy to  see the        
apostles1 martyrs1 and reformers6 ,i    
long to see ,luther1 and  ,calvin1 and  
,bunyan1 and ,whitefield4 ,i like the   
rhyme of good old father  ,ryland3      
,they all shall be there1 the great and 

the small1     ,poor ,i shall shake     
hands with the blessed ,st4 ,paul4    ,i
 do not know how that will be1 but ,i   
have not much doubt that we shall  have 
fellowship with all the saints of every 
age in the general assembly  and church 
of the firstborn1 whose names are       
written in heaven4    ,no matter when or
 where the wheat grew1 it shall be      
gathered into the  one barn2 gathered   
never to be scattered2 gathered out of  
all divisions  of the visible church1   
never to be divided again4 ,they grew in
 different  fields4 ,some flourished on 
the hillside where ,episcopalians grow  
in all  their glory1 and others in the  
lowlier soil1 where ,baptists multiply1 
and ,methodists flourish2 but once the  
wheat is in the barn none can tell  in  
which field the ears grew4 ,then1       
indeed1 shall the ,master's prayer  have
 a glorious answer--,that they all may  
be one4 ,all our errors  removed and our
 mistakes corrected and forgiven1 the   
one ,lord1 the one  faith1 and the one  

baptism will be known of us all1 and    
there will be no  more vexings and      
envyings4 ,what a blessed gathering it  
will be6 ,what a  meeting6 ,the elect of
 ,god1 the lite of all the centuries1 of
 whom the  world was not worthy4 ,i     
should not like to be away4 ,if there   
were no  hell1 it would be hell enough  
to me to be shut out of such heavenly   
society4 ,if there were no weeping and  
wailing and gnashing of teeth1 it  would
 be dreadful enough to miss the presence
 of the ,lord1 and the joy  of praising 
him forever1 and the bliss of meeting   
with all the noblest  beings that ever  
lived4 ,amid the needful controversies  
of the age1 ,i1  who have been doomed to
 seem a man of strife1 sigh for the     
blessed rest  wherein all spiritual     
minds shall blend in eternal accord     
before the  throne of ,god and of the   
,lamb4 ,oh that we were all right1 that 
we might  be all happily united in one  
spirit6      ,in the text there is next 
,a ,,word ,,of ,,designation4 ,i have   

already  trespassed upon that domain4   
,gather the wheat4 ,nothing but the     
wheat must be placed in the ,lord's     
homestead4 ,lend me your hearts while   
,i urge you to a searching examination  
for a minute or two4 ,the wheat was     
sown of the ,lord4 ,are you sown of the 
,lord8 ,friend1 if you have any         
religion1 how did you get it8 ,was it   
self-sown8 ,if so1 it is good for       
nothing4 ,the true wheat was sown by the
 ,son of man4 ,are you sown of the      
,lord8 ,did the ,spirit of ,god drop    
eternal life into your bosom8 ,did it   
come from that dear hand which was      
nailed to the cross8 ,is ,jesus your    
life8 ,does your life begin and end with
 him8 ,if so1 it is well4    ,the wheat 
sown of the ,lord is also the object of 
the ,lord's care4 ,wheat  needs a deal  
of attention4 ,the farmer would get     
nothing from it if he  did not watch it 
carefully4 ,are you under the ,lord's   
care8 ,does he keep  you8 ,is that word 
true to your soul1 ,i the ,lord do keep 

it2 ,i will  water it every moment3 lest
 any hurt it1 ,i will keep it night and 
day8  ,do you experience such keeping8  
,make an honest answer1 as you love your
  soul4    ,next1 wheat is a useful     
thing1 a gift from ,god for the life of 
men4 ,the  false wheat was of no good to
 anybody2 it could only be eaten of     
swine1  and then it made them stagger   
like drunken men4 ,are you one of those 
who  are wholesome in society--who are  
like bread to the world1 so that if  men
 receive you and your example and your  
teaching they will be blessed  thereby8 
,judge yourselves whether ye are good or
 evil in life and  influence4    ,gather
 the wheat4 ,you know that ,god must put
 the goodness1 the grace1  the solidity1
 and the usefulness into you1 or else   
you will never be  wheat fit for angelic
 gathering4 ,one thing is true of the   
wheat--that it  is the most dependent of
 all plants4 ,i have never heard of a   
field of  wheat which sprang up1 and    
grew1 and ripened without a husbandman's

  care4 ,some ears may appear after a   
harvest when the corn has shaled out2   
but ,i have never heard of plains in    
,america or elsewhere covered with      
unsown wheat4 ,no1 no4 ,there is no     
wheat where there is no man1 and there  
is no grace where there is no ,christ4  
,we owe our very existence to the       
,father1 who is the husbandman4    ,yet1
 dependent as it is1 wheat stands in the
 front rank of honor and  esteem2 and so
 do the godly in the judgment of all who
 are of  understanding heart4 ,we are   
nothing without ,christ2 but with him we
 are  full of honor4 ,oh1 to be among   
those by whom the world is preserved1   
the  excellent of the earth in whom the 
saints delight2 ,god forbid we should   
be among the base and worthless tares6  
,our last head1 upon which also ,i will 
speak briefly1 is ,a ,,word ,,of        
,,destination4 ,gather the wheat into my
 barn4 ,the process of gathering  in the
 wheat will be completed at the day of  
judgment1 but it is going  on every day4

 ,from hour to hour saints are gathered2
 they are going  heavenward even now4 ,i
 am so glad to hear as a regular thing  
that the  departed ones from my own dear
 church have such joy in being          
harvested4  ,glory be to ,god1 our      
people die well4 ,the best thing is to  
live well1  but we are greatly gladdened
 to hear that the brethren die well2    
for1  full often1 that is the most      
telling witness for vital godliness4    
,men of  the world feel the power of    
triumphant deaths4    ,every hour the   
saints are being gathered into the barn4
 ,that is where  they want to be4 ,we   
feel no pain at the news of ingathering1
 for we wish  to be safely stored up by 
our ,lord4 ,if the wheat that is in the 
field  could speak1 every ear would say1
 ,the ultimatum for which we are living 
and growing is the barn1 the granary4   
,for this the frosty night2 for  this   
the sunny day2 for this the dew and the 
rain2 and for this  everything4 ,every  
process with the wheat is tending toward

 the granary4  ,so is it with us2       
everything is working toward            
heaven--toward the  gathering           
place--toward the congregation of the   
righteous--toward the  vision of our    
,redeemer's face4 ,our death will cause 
no jar in our  life-music2 it will      
involve no pause or even discord2 it is 
part of a  programme1 the crowning of   
our whole history4    ,to the wheat the 
barn is the place of security4 ,it      
dreads no mildew  there2 it fears no    
frost1 no heat1 no drought1 no wet1 when
 once in the  barn4 ,all its            
growth-perils are past4 ,it has reached 
its perfection4 ,it  has rewarded the   
labor of the husbandman1 and it is      
housed4 ,oh1  long-expected day1 begin6 
,oh1 brethren1 what a blessing it will  
be when  you and ,i shall have come to  
our maturity1 and ,christ shall see in  
us  the travail of his soul4    ,i      
delight to think of heaven as his barn2 
his barn1 what must that  be8 ,it is but
 the poverty of language that such an   

expression has to be  used at all       
concerning the home of our ,father1 the 
dwelling of ,jesus4  ,heaven is the     
palace of the ,king1 but1 so far1 to us 
a barn1 because it  is the place of     
security1 the place of rest for ever4   
,it is the  homestead of ,christ to     
which we shall be carried1 and for this 
we are  ripening4 ,it is to be thought  
of with ecstatic joy2 for the gathering 
into the barn involves a harvest home1  
and ,i have never heard of men  sitting 
down to cry over an earthly harvest     
home1 nor of their following  the       
sheaves with tears4 ,nay1 they clap     
their hands1 they dance for joy1  and   
shout right lustily4 ,let us do         
something like that concerning those    
who are already housed4 ,with grave1    
sweet melodies let us sing around  their
 tombs4 ,let us feel that1 surely1 the  
bitterness of death is  passed4 ,when we
 remember their glory1 we may rejoice   
like the travailing  woman when her     
child is born1 who remembereth no more  

the anguish1 for  joy that a man is born
 into the world4 ,another soul begins to
 sing in  heaven2 why do you weep1 ,o   
heirs of immortality8 ,is the eternal   
happiness of the righteous the birth    
which comes of their death-pangs8  ,then
 happy are they who die4 ,is glory the  
end and outcome of that which  fills our
 home with mourning8 ,if so1 thank ,god 
for bereavements2 thank  ,god for       
saddest severings4 ,he has promoted our 
dear ones to the skies6  ,he has blessed
 them beyond all that we could ask or   
even think2 he has  taken them out of   
this weary world to lie in his own bosom
 for ever4  ,blessed be his name if it  
were for nothing else but this4 ,would  
you keep  your old father here1 full of 
pain1 and broken down with feebleness8  
,would you shut him out of glory8 ,would
 you detain your dear wife here  with   
all her suffering8 ,would you hold back 
your husband from the crown  immortal8  
,could you wish your child to descend to
 earth again from the  bliss which now  

surrounds her8 ,no1 no4 ,we wish to be  
going home  ourselves to the heavenly   
,father's house and its many mansions2  
but  concerning the departed we rejoice 
before the ,lord as with the joy of     
harvest4 ,wherefore comfort one another 
with these words4            ,funk      
,wagnalls' ,important ,publications4    
,the ,ethics of ,marriage4      ,,by ,h4
 ,s4 ,,pomeroy1 ,m4,d4      ,prefatory  
note by ,thomas ,addis ,emmett1 ,m4,d41 
,,ll4,d41 and ,introduction    by ,rev4 
,j4 ,t4 ,duryea1 ,d4,d41 of ,boston4    
,with an appendix showing the    laws of
 most of the ,states and ,territories   
regarding certain forms of    crime4    
#abmo1 cloth1 #aij pp4 ,price1 #a4jj4   
,the ,author says in the preface3       
,the matters here treated have been on  
my heart for many years4                
,heart-sickening facts have come to my  
notice within the past few    months1   
and ,i feel it my duty to send out this 
warning in regard to    what ,i consider
 the first and greatest danger of our   

family and    national life4 ,i believe 
the prevention or destruction of unborn 
human    life to be1 par-excellence1 the
 ,american sin1 and that1 if not        
checked1 it will sooner or later be our 
calamity4 ,this sin has its    roots in 
a low and false idea of marriage on the 
part of some1 and in    others it is    
fostered by false standards of modesty4 
,chicago ,journal says3      ,to the    
earnest man and woman everywhere1 who   
has watched the reckless    manner in   
which marriages are contracted1 the     
wicked way in which the                 
responsibilities are shifted and        
ignored1 and the slow and sure          
defilement of society because the       
criminal classes are allowed to         
propagate their vile species1 while     
,christian households and moral         
parents ignore their duty to this and to
 the next world1 this book is    almost 
like a voice from heaven4        ,a     
,man's ,will4      ,,by ,,edgar         
,,fawcett4      ,it presents pictures of

 ,new ,york life and shows the terribly 
degrading    effects of drunkenness in  
the upper ranks of society4 ,a          
temperance    novel of surprising       
interest4 #abmo1 cloth1 #a4ej4      ,the
 ,new ,york ,press says3      ,the best 
temperance story published in many      
years1 if indeed its    equal exists4   
,the author1 evidently conscious that   
his subject is one    on which too much 
cannot be said1 and well aware that the 
sufferings    of alcoholic victims and  
all connected with them1 are beyond     
description1 has grappled with his work 
in deadly earnest4 ,old and    young    
people ought to read and ponder over    
this good and brilliantly    prepared   
study4            ,funk  ,wagnalls'     
,important ,publications4        ,life  
of ,john ,b4 ,finch4      ,,by ,,frances
 ,e4 ,,finch and ,,frank ,j4 ,,sibley4  
,mr4 ,finch was ,right ,worthy ,grand   
,templar of ,i4 ,o4 ,g4 ,t4 of the      
,world4    ,will contain all his great  
temperance speeches4 ,introduction by   

,miss    ,frances ,e4 ,willard2 articles
 by ,mrs4 ,woodbridge1 ,prof4 ,hopkins1 
,senator ,blair1 etc41 etc4 ,agents     
wanted4 ,numerous ,illustrations4 ,steel
    ,portrait4 ,cloth1 crown #hvo1 #ejj 
pages4 ,price1 #a4ej4      ,good        
,templars will mourn his loss as        
irreparable4--,gen4 ,clinton ,b4        
,fisk4      ,no man his equal as a      
speaker and organizer4--,col4 ,r4 ,s4   
,cheves4      ,an able and sincere      
man4--,ex-,gov4 ,hoadly of ,ohio4       
,prohibition ,bells1      ,and ,,songs  
,,of ,,the ,,new ,,crusade4 ,compiled by
 the famous ,,silver ,,lake             
,,quartette4 ,stirring words put to     
catchy music4 ,second edition4 ,paper1  
#bj cents2 board1 #cj cents4 ,special   
rates on large quantities4      ,these  
bells are not muffled2 they give out no 
uncertain sound4 ,the    fifty-two notes
 are clear1 high1 piercing1             
pulse-quickening1    soul-uplifting2 yet
 to the old parties1 doubtless1 very    
discordant4    ,they will be heard      

throughout the land1 for they call to   
better1 purer    living1 both by the    
individual and the ,state4 ,the book    
cannot but be a    vade-mecum to every  
,prohibitionist organization1 be it     
large or    small1 for a song often wins
 a vote when an oration fails2 and then 
how tame is a campaign without music6   
,the ,supreme ,court ,decision4         
,the ,great ,prohibition ,decision      
announced by the ,supreme ,court of the 
,united ,states4 ,with ,introductions   
and annotations kindly furnished by     
,hon4 ,s4 ,w4 ,,packard of ,chicago1    
,ill4 #abmo1 paper1 #bj cents4          
,every ,prohibitionist recognizes the   
extreme value of this pamphlet1 as    it
 gives the conclusive testimony of the  
highest courts as to the    legality of 
,prohibition laws4