DISCOURSE II.

The character of inattentive hearers con-

sidered.

MATT. xiii. 4.

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way-side,

and the fowls of the air came and decoured them

up.

PART I.

FIRST, THE INATTENTIVE.

The figure explained-our Saviour's exposition of

it-in which the following things observable-

they hear the word-are only occasional hearers

of it-not prepared for hearing it-hear it care-

lessly-understand it not-or have only a specu-

lative knowledge of it-it makes no abiding im-

pression-how the impression effaced, the wick-

ed one cometh, and catcheth away that which was

sown in their hearts, lest they should believe and

be saved. Three things to be considered-who

the wicked one is, and why so called-what

meant by his catching away the seed, and how

this done-what the malevolent end proposed.

I Who the wicked one is-Satan or the Devil-

the scripture account of him-from his charac-

ter and works properly denominated the wicked

one.

II. What meant by his catching away the seed, and
how this done-he hath access to the mind-this

proved-but cannot force men to sin against

their consent-righteous in God to permit him

to catch away the seed from these hearers-this

done,

1. By diverting men's attention from the word..

2. By exciting prejudices against it.

3. By preventing their recollecting it after-

wards.

PART II.

III. What the malevolent end Satan proposes by

catching away the word-lest they should believe

and be saved-Here, in order to rouse men's at-

tention, and to guard them against the artifices

of Satan, it is necessary to enquire what faith

is to describe the salvation promised to them

who believe and to shew the connection between

the one and the other.

First, What faith is-the term defined, the
qualities accompanying it described-the cha-
racters of the real and nominal believer con-
trasted.

Second, What the salvation promised to them

who believe the most glorious-a deliver-

ance from moral, natural, penal evil, with

the enjoyment of the opposite good in its

highest perfection.

Third, What the connection between faith and

salvation--its indispensable necessity arises

-from the divine appointment--and the rea-

son and nature of the thing.

Faith comes by hearing--hence the artifices of

Satan to divert men's attention from the word

and to prevent its salutary effect upon their

hearts--the awful consequences of impeni-
tence and unbelief--reflections on the subject.

DISCOURSE III.

The character of enthusiastic hearers

considered.

MATT. xiii. 5, 6.

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not

much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, be-

cause they had no deepness of earth. And when

the sun was up, they were scorched, and because

they had not root, they withered away.

PART I.

SECOND, THE ENTHUSIASTIC.

On these hearers the word, to appearance, hath

an instantaneous and mighty effect, but they

reap no real advantage from it--our Lord's ex-

position of this part of the parable-four things

here to be considered--the character of these

hearers previous to their hearing the word--the

effect it instantly produces on their minds-

their failure afterwards-the cause of their

apostacy.

I. Their character previous to their hearing the word--their hearts compared to stony or rocky ground, on account of their depravity--their passions to the fine mould cast over it, on account of their warmth and liveliness--the illeffect of an heated imagination, under the conduct of a depraved heart, shewn-the character of the enthusiast more particularly described. II. The effect the word instantly produces on their minds, as described by our Saviour-they receive it--receive it immediately-receive it with joy— this passion defined-the joy of the enthusiast distinguishable from that of the real christian, 1. By what precedes it, 2. By what excites it, 3. By the effects of it.

Having thus received the word, he with great zeal professes it but after a while apostatizes-address to persons of this character-a caution against supposing the passions have little or no concern in religion-the real but timorous christian encouraged.

PART II.

III. The apostacy of these hearers considered-the seed having sprung up, in a little time withers away; so these hearers having endured for a while fall away.

1. The term of their profession short-the real christian advances by degrees towards

perfection-these quickly arrive at the zenith of their glory.

2. The manner in which their profession is renounced--some silently quit it--others publicly renounce it.

IV. The cause of their apostacy.

1. Something wanted within--the seed had no deepness of earth-no root--lacked moisture--so these professors have no principle of religion in their hearts.

2. A concurrence of circumstances without unfavourable to their profession-the scorching sun burns up the grass--so persecution or tribulation arising because of the word, they are offended--the state of religion, as to external things, in early and present times--various occasions of offence. Examples of such apostates--the five thousand Our Saviour fed with loaves and fishes-the men of Nazareth; the Jews who led him triumphantly into Jerusalem, and a day or two after crucified him; the Laodiceans-digression on enthusiasm--not the offspring of religion, but of a particular cast of mind or temperature of animal spirits--common to men of all professions--reflections on the subject.