June 20

Mark iv.—1. And he began again to teach by the sea-side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea, on the land.

2. And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

3. Hearken: Behold, there went out a sower to sow.

4. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way-side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

5. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

6. But, when the sun was up, it was scorched; and, because it had no root, it withered away.

7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

8. And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up, and increased, and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some a hundred.

In Palestine there are no farms with fenced fields and farmhouses at intervals over a district; but the farmers, for safety, live together in compact villages, and go forth to cultivate the open country, often at a distance from their homes, each man's field being marked by boundary-stones, and the highway running through the ploughed land. The land, moreover, which in spots is rich and fertile, is diversified with rocky projections, and with clumps of thorns. Hence, in sowing the furrows, one could scarce avoid scattering seed upon the thin, rocky soil, or among the thorn-bushes, and along the hard-trodden path. Such was the picture of his own preaching which our Lord had directly before his eye, as from the boat on the lake he looked out upon the neighboring fields. His explanation of the parable brings it home at some point to every heart. "In the first case, the heart is hardened, trodden down: the seed cannot penetrate. By fowls of the air—passing thoughts and

9. And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

14. The sower soweth the word.

15. And these are they by the way-side, where the word is sown; but, when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

16. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

18. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word.

19. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things, entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

20. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.

desires, which seem insignificant, and even innocent—does Satan do his work, and rob the heart of the precious seed. In the second case, the surface of the mind and disposition is easily stirred, soon excited; but beneath lies a heart even harder than the trodden way. Such religion is the creature of circumstances, changing as they change. In the third case, all as regards the soil is well: the seed goes deep, the plant springs up; but the fruit fails, and this because the seeds or roots of thorns are in, and are suffered to spring up in the heart and to overwhelm the plant." Ah! let us beware how we suffer the cares or the pleasures of the world, or the eagerness for gain, to stifle or efface the impressions of the sabbath, of the Bible, of God's providence in sickness or sorrow. Let us keep our hearts open to all good influences, that our lives may be fruitful in all good works.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Prayer.

[Nos. 117, 132, 165.

Graciously bestow upon us, O heavenly Father! thy Holy Spirit, to quicken within us the word that we have now read. Take away our ignorance, our hardness and coldness of heart, and our love of this present world. Enlighten our understandings; give unto us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. May we know thee as our God and Saviour, and glorify thee by the holy obedience of our lives! Grant that, being set free from sin, and made servants to God, we may have our fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

O Lord! we beseech thee quicken thy Church to greater fruitfulness in thy service; and suffer not thy word to return to thee void, but bring multitudes to the acknowledging of the truth as it is in Jesus.

We thank thee for all thy goodness and thy

care. Thou spreadest our table; thou givest us life and breath and all things. O Lord! our souls, and all that is within us, would bless and praise thy holy name. As a family, we bless thee for our home, and for all the comforts and joys of our daily life. [May the children whom thou hast so favored in this house remember thee, their heavenly Father, and love and serve thee!] Be with us this day to guide and keep us.

O most merciful Saviour, our compassionate High Priest! pity all our infirmities; heal our souls' sicknesses; give us the joy of thy salvation, and a hope full of immortality. Strengthen us to live and labor for thee; and at length take us to rest with thee above, for thine own name and mercy's sake. And unto thee, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, now and forevermore. Amen.