be sent to collect the saints-the true Church; which is called the harvest in this parable also. (Rev. xiv. 14-16. Matt xxiv. 30, 31.) V. THE REPETITION. Now read again the Scripture, see No. II. VI. THE APPLICATION. This parable gives a picture of the way in which the Church of Christ continues and increases in the world, and is preparing for the great day when all true christians shall be with Christ. This great work goes on in the whole collection of people called the Church, because it goes on in each one of those persons who make up the whole number. This parable therefore gives us as true an account of the progress of each particular christian, as it does of the increase of the whole Church and so it is therefore a picture, in which each of us ought to find a likeness to that which is going on in ourselyes, if we really belong to the kingdom of God. When the word of the Gospel has been heard and received in the heart, just as the seed is received in the good ground, (see page 197) the outward work of the ministry has been so far done upon us: but the inward work of the Holy Spirit will be going on at all times. The first appearance of spiritual life in us, which is shewn by a change in some part of our conduct, is like the hopeful appearance of the blade of green corn after sowing time. this beginning a christian will certainly go on, increasing in spiritual strength; and shewing more plainly the fruits of a christian character, as he grows in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Pet. iii. 18.) From This gradual increase will never stop so long as a christian lives; but he will be still growing more ripe in knowledge and in spiritual life; just as the corn is always growing more ripe as long as it stands in the field. (2 Pet. i. 5-8. John i. 16. Prov. iv. 18.) It is for God to judge, when any christian has grown in grace as much as He sees fit; and when this is the case, to take him as He pleases out of this life, that his soul may be ready at the Lord's coming, to rise first with all those who shall have died in Christ. (1 Thes. iv. 16, 17.) QUESTIONS. If I have really received the truths of the Gospel into my heart, do I find an increased love of those truths, and a growing desire to know more about them? Have I reason to believe that, without any sudden great alteration since I first began to attend to religion, I have gradually but certainly become more religious? Is this progress plain within these four or five years past, or three years, or two years, or am 1 more settled in religion than I was a year ago ? If not, how is it that I have stood still? May I not have gone back? Am I sure that I am of the true seed really planted by God? VII. HEADS FOR PRAYER. 1. Pray for the continual help of the Holy Spirit, that you may be always gaining more spiritual knowledge, and bringing it always more powerfully into practice. to 2. Pray that this working of the Spirit may enable you have a sure hope, that you will be kept by divine grace until you are ready for the great day of Christ's coming. VIII. THE PRAYER. [1] Thou gracious God, whose mercy endureth for ever, send thy Holy Spirit with great power into my heart, and continually increase that precious gift unto me; that as thou givest good thoughts, thou mayest also enable me to bring the same to good effect. Make me to grow in the knowledge of thy saving truth, and strengthen me in the practice of every thing I know. [2] And while thou workest in me to will and to do of thy good pleasure, comfort me with a good hope, that the work which thou hast begun, thou wilt continue until the day of Jesus Christ, so that I may be found ready to enter into his glory who is my only Lord and Saviour. AMEN. MAY GOD, for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, give me the HOLY SPIRIT, that I may understand this portion of his Holy Word, and profit by it. AMEN. II. THE SCRIPTURES. Read St. Matthew's Gospel, c. xiii. v. 31, 32. St. Mark's Gospel, c. iv. v. 30 to 32. III. THE MEANINGS; [There is no word used in this portion, the meaning of which seems difficult to understand.] IV. THE EXPLANATION. There was another circumstance relating to the times of the Gospel power, which our Lord was pleased to explain to the people by means of a fourth parable. In shewing the nature of the kingdom of God by different comparisons, He said that the christian church (which he called the kingdom of Heaven) might be compared to a grain of mustard seed which a person set in his ground. (The seed which our Lord spoke of by the name of mustard seed, is not exactly the same as that so called amongst us, though it is of the same kind. It is a very small seed indeed, and so far it is like our English mustard; but grows up into a large bushy plant, which ours does not.) Our Lord said that the reason why the mustard seed was like the kingdom of Heaven, or christian church, was this; altho' it is so very small when it is put into the ground, yet out of it grows a tree, larger than any other herb: so large indeed, that it spreads out into great boughs; in which birds come to build their nests, and find plenty of shelter. By this parable the Jews were taught beforehand, what we, who live nearly two thousand years after the Gospel began to be preached, may know the truth of by experience. The christian church was at the beginning a very small collection of people; only a hundred and twenty christians were found to assemble together after Jesus had gone up into Heaven. (Acts i. 15.) The Person who established the religion was despised in the world, and put to death as a common criminal. The first teachers were poor fishermen, and persons of but little account in the world. This was indeed a very small beginning; like the small seed when first planted in the earth. But presently the number of persons, who believed in the Gospel, increased very much. About ten days after that meeting of the church, at which only a hundred and twenty persons were present, three thousand christians were baptized in one day; and more were speedily added to them. (Acts ii. 41, 47.) In a very short time after this, the Gospel had made its way into the principal cities in the world; and great multitudes of people became christians. And now we live in a time, when many great nations profess the religion of Jesus; and make it the law of the land, that the Gospel shall be preached besides which, many Missionaries are sent into heathen lands, to try to persuade poor heathens, that they may find shelter and refuge in the religion of Jesus Christ. When this state of things is compared with the small beginnings at Jerusalem, after our Lord was crucified, we shall plainly perceive the likeness of the christian church to the great tree in the parable, which sprang up from a small seed. V. THE REPETITION. Now read again the Scriptures, See No II. VI. THE APPLICATION. This parable shews that it is the will and intention of God, that the number of Christians should be continually increased, even as the branches of a bushy tree are continually shooting forth. It is the duty of every one who has found the value of the Gospel himself, to do all he can, that others may enjoy the same blessing No one who is really in earnest about his own salvation, can remain satisfied without attempting, according to his means, to help on the growth of the great tree of Christ's Church. In our days there are many opportunities for even a poor man to do something, towards this great object. The different societies which are formed, for extending in various ways the knowledge of the Gospel, enable every one to help in this good work; though it be with a very small sum of money. And when even this cannot be done, those who have themselves felt the comfortable shelter of |