Vol. 2

:CHAPTER VIII. 421down the seed ; and the love of glory as the fowlswhich devour it.In vain do men flatter themselves,as if they were not of the world, if they love it andseek its conversation : this is to be by the way-side,though not to be in it. Whoever loves the world,will never retain the word of God in his heart." 6. And some fell upon a rock ; and as soon asit was sprung up, it withered away, because it lackedmoisture."What man, when he considershis own hardnessand insensibility, has not reason to fear that he has aheart of stone as to the things of God? The tearsof repentance are that wholesome moisture whichnourishes the love of God's word, and of the truth,and which keeps the heart from growing hard, andthe seed sprung up from withering away. Lord, myheart is in thy sight like land where there is no waterlet the rain of thy grace descend upon it, and causethisfountain of the tears of true repentance to springup therein." 7. And some fell among thorns ; and the thornssprang up with it, and choked it."How can the love of evangelical truths possiblysubsist in a heart full of the thorns of worldly lusts ?Fear lest thy own is such.in this matter,How oft are we deceivedwhen we see the love of God's word,good desires, and even good works, subsist for sometime together with vanity, ambition, luxury, and otherlusts, and even grow up together with them !Sooneror later the thorns will choke the seed, if they be notplucked up in time.** 8. And other fell on good ground, and sprangup, and bare fruit an hundred fold. And when he