SERMON XXVI.

BY REV. GEORGE W. WALKER.

THE FRUITFUL FIELD, AND BARREN WASTE.

"For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: but that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned," Heb. vi, 7, 8.

The figurative language of Scripture may, in some instances, render its true import somewhat obscure; but when it comes to be properly explained, and rightly understood, it exhibits the truth in the most interesting form, and has a peculiar tendency to fix it in the mind. May these observations be verified, while we attempt to explain and enforce this highly figurative passage! The design of the apostle, in this place, appears to be, to set forth,

I. THE EXCELLENCY AND NECESSITY OF The Gospel,

DISPENSED IN THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD.

In order to do this the more clearly and forcibly, he compares it to rain, which softens, refreshes, and fructifies the earth causing it "to yield seed to the sower, and bread to the eater." "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed." In this we are taught, that, as the seasonable showers of rain are to the earth, so is the influence of the Gospel intended to be to the moral world.

That we may be properly impressed with the beauty and strength of this figure, let us direct our attention, for a few moments, to the vast importance and indispensable necessity of the showers and dews of heaven to the earth. But for these, it would cease to yield its annual harvest, for the supply of man and beast. The most fruitful fields and gardens would become barren wastes; the fountains would

cease to send forth their refreshing streams; there would be no grapes upon the vine, nor olives, nor figs upon the trees; the herds would be cut off; the bleating race would perish, the song of the bird would cease, and the spirit of man would sink within him. So it is, where the Gospel is not preached in its purity-where the Bible is not known, and Christianity exerts no influence, or where persons refuse to receive the seed of the Gospel, or where it is received by the way-side, on stony ground, or among thorns; and, consequently, yields no fruit. In all such places, there exists a moral desolation. Infidelity, with its hydra-head, stalks abroad in the light of the sun, sowing the seed of the bottomless pit, which soon produces its legitimate fruit, called, in the text, "thorns and briers." There is every evil word and work-pride, vanity, ambition, avarice, inordinate affection, ingratitude, disobedience to parents, profanity, lying, theft, and murder. The truth of God is denied, the Son of God crucified afresh, and the long-suffering of God made an argument against his very being. "Because judgment is not speedily executed against an evil work, the hearts of men are set in them to do evil."

But, to keep to the figurative language of the text, we must notice, briefly, some of the benefits to the earth, of the "rain that cometh oft upon it." Under its influence, many portions of the earth are made exceedingly fruitful; yielding, abundantly, grass for the cattle, and herb and grain for the service of man. The valleys are thickly crowded with corn; the orchards bend beneath their rich autumnal fruits; the meadows are clad in green; the fountains send forth their cooling streams; the song of the birds is heard in the fields and groves. All nature is cheerful, and innocently gay. The rolling year fills her horn of plenty, to supply the temporal wants of man. The apostle would teach, that God has not only provided for the wants

of man as an animal, but, also, as an immortal spirit, by sending him the Gospel, in all its fullness. This proffers eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, speech to the dumb, health to the sick, liberty to the captive, salvation to the lost, and life to the dead. The Gospel, when embraced, brings pardon to the guilty, regeneration to the depraved, purity to the unclean, wisdom to the ignorant, and strength to the weak-gives power over temptation, victory over death, a glorious resurrection, and a blissful immortality in the world to come. The apostle also brings to view,

II. GOD'S CARE AND MORAL CULTURE OF THE WORLD:

"Bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed."

man.

Here we are to understand, that, as the husbandman cultivates his fields with great care and diligence, looking forward with desire and expectation to the time of harvest for a suitable return, so God is engaged for the salvation and happiness of man. In the figurative language of Scripture, the world is called the field, and the Lord the husbandThe Church is spoken of as a vineyard, over which the Almighty exercises a special supervision, and of which he takes all possible care; so much so, that he challenges all whom it may concern, to show what more he could do for his vineyard, that he has not already done. But who can correctly estimate God's benevolence, as manifested toward our world? No angel mind can comprehend it. Still we ought to meditate upon it, and gain as enlarged views of it as we are able. We should look into the revelation which God has made of his mind and will, through the instrumentality of prophets, evangelists, and apostles, and which contains a perfect system of law, morality, and religion, and sets the whole duty of man, in reference to his Maker, himself, and his fellow-intelligences, in the clearest light imaginable: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all

thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." In this great work the Holy Spirit was engaged, through the long lapse of many ages-shedding light, and imparting knowledge to men, as they were willing to receive. In this work, God has, also, employed the holy angels-sending forth the glorious attendants of his throne, as the interests of his kingdom and the necessities of man required thus keeping up a blessed intercourse between his throne and this revolted world. But God's care for our fallen world is more fully seen in "his unspeakable gift". the gift of his only-begotten and well-beloved Son-" the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person"-to be made flesh and dwell among us to be a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief-a homeless stranger-a houseless wanderer, in a world himself had madeto be mocked, insulted, reviled, and, finally, to bear the sins of the whole world in his own body on the tree. O, who can tell the agonies of the cross! There the blessed Redeemer was suspended between the darkened heavens and trembling earth-in pain extreme-in suffering beyond all human conception, for the space of three dreadful hourswhen he said, "It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." At this all nature felt strange pangs, which made the earth tremble to her deep foundation, rent in twain the temple's vail, burst the mighty rocks, opened the graves, and awoke the sleeping dead. The centurion's marble heart felt the mighty shock, and he exclaimed, "Truly, this was the Son of God." Jesus was taken from the cross, and laid in the tomb. Then it was that the sun of hope seemed to go down upon the world. Had Christ perished in the grave, all our hopes of immortality must have sunk, and perished with him. But it was not possible that death should hold Immanuel. Hence, on the morning of the third day, he overthrew the king of terrors upon his throne of skulls, and arose, triumphantly, in all the fullness

of his Godhead, pouring a flood of light upon the graves of all the saints, and planting the flowers of an eternal spring in the wintry territories of the dead. Having showed himself alive, after his passion, by many infallible proofs, from Bethany, not far from the place where, a short time before, he had been apprehended, bound, and led away as a captive, he ascended up on high, as a triumphant conqueror, dragging death, hell, and the grave at his chariotwheels, to appear in the presence of the Father, as the great, eternal advocate of man, and to dispense the mercies and blessings secured by his death and powerful intercession, to all who will receive and improve them. Thus it appears that angels, good men, and the triune God, are all engaged in the most unwearied efforts in behalf of this poor, fallen world.

III. THE RETURNS WHICH THOSE MAKE UPON WHOM THIS CARE AND LABOR IS BESTOWED.

Some bring forth fruit. The apostle compares such, in the text, to the earth, which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed." Where the Gospel is preached in its purity, there are but two characters, or classes of persons-believers and unbelievers-the faithful and the unfaithful. The people who answer God's care for them, are such as receive the seed of the Gospel in honest hearts, and bring forth the fruit thereof-thirty, sixty, or a hundred fold. The true Christian has a relish for the word of God. It is as living water to his soul. While he sits beneath the droppings of God's sanctuary, he is refreshed as with the dews and showers of heaven-he is strengthened with might in the inner man, and brings forth the fruits of holy living-he becomes prepared for every good word and work is steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. He acknowledges God in all his ways; seeks not his own glory, but the glory of God; presents