July 28

For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers. — ROMANS ii. 13.

Take heed therefore how ye hear. — LUKE viii. 18.

THE gift of hearing is properly one of the valued endowments of life. How intricate and delicate is the structure of the ear, and how great the loss when by disease, accident, or advancing age our hearing is impaired or destroyed! This faculty is frequently mentioned in Scripture, usually in connection with serious counsel or warning.

The free use of any favor always implies the possibility of its abuse, and our Saviour evidently had an eye to this danger when he said, "Take heed therefore how ye hear!" In the parable of the sower he has just said, "The seed is the Word of God." This may fall upon the fickle heart, like the thin soil on a ledge of barren rock, or upon the pathway of a worldly life, to be snatched away by greedy fowl of adventure, or where thorns of cares, riches, and pleasures of this life will surely choke its growth.

The "therefore" is to be emphasized. There is danger that our hearing of gospel truth will not be appreciative, receptive, and of the assimilating kind, not as good ground bringing forth thirty, sixty, and a hundred fold (Matt. xiii. 8). Therefore take heed how ye hear!

David Van Horne.

My soul rejoices to pursue The steps of him I love, Till glory breaks upon my view In brighter worlds above.

COWPER.