THE QUESTIONS. Q. How doth the natural world shew us that there is a spirit contrary to God? A. Because it shews us, that there is darkness contrary to light. Q. Is it necessary for us to believe that there is an evil spirit? A. Certainly; because we may be destroyed by his devices. Q. What are the names of the evil spirit? A. He is a destroyer, an adversary; the prince of darkness; a false god of this world; a devouring lion; a subtile serpent; a liar, a tempter, an accuser, a murderer. Q. To whom are wicked men like? A. To their father the devil. Q. Can good men and bad men agree together? A. God hath put everlasting enmity between his children and the seed of the serpent. Q. How did this enmity shew itself? A. In the crucifixion of Jesus Christ by the Jews, and the persecutions of his church by the heathens. Q. In what doth the devil delight? A. In war and confusion; and he sows the seeds of discord among christians, to make divisions in the church. Q. Whither will hatred and uncharitableness lead men ? A. Into the kingdom of Satan, where there will be no peace to all eternity. THE TEXTS. 2 Cor. vi. 14. What communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Eph. vi. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, agrint powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world. John viii. 44. Ye are of your father the devil. Matth. x. 22. Ye shall be hated of all men, for my name's sake. 1 John iii. 12. Cain was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. Ver. 14. He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. 1 Cor. x. 20. The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils and not to God, LES LESSON XVI. THE PARABLE. A PARABLE teaches us doctrines from the likeness of some things to other things: but we shall not see and allow of this likeness, if we either hate or disbelieve the doctrine which a parable teacheth. In the parable of the sower, we are taught, 1. That the word of God is like the seed which is sown in the field; that it may take root, and bear fruit against the harvest: 2. That he who preacheth is like him that soweth the one can do no more than the other; for God must give the increase in both cases. Without the rain and sunshine the seed cannot grow; and without the assistance of divine grace, the gospel will not take effect. In some cases the preaching of the word succeeds, and in other cases it doth not: because, 3. The hearts of men, into which the word is sown, are of different sorts; as the ground of the field is, upon which the seed falleth. Some are like the highway side; conformed in every thing to this world; open, and therefore E 3 therefore unguarded, and exposed to every common temptation: so that as the birds pick up what falls upon the highway, the devil steals the word out of the hearts of such people. Other hearts are like shallow earth, with hard stones underneath; which retain no moisture; and as the sun scorcheth the seed upon such ground, so cannot hardhearted impatient people bear such trials as the word of God brings upon them; but they are offended therewith, and so the word perishes. Others are like ground, upon which thorns grow up along with the grain, and smother it. Such are they whose hearts are full of worldly cares and pleasures, and intent upon getting riches, 1 As cares have the nature of thorns, so have pleasures too; for they wound the heart and prick the conscience; and riches themselves are mostly as unprofitable to the mind as thorns, and pierce us through with many sorrows. Amongst these the good seed cannot prosper; as wheat and thorns cannot grow up together. Happy then are they, whose hearts are as good ground, to receive and keep the word of God which the preacher soweth. Their hearts are soft and tender, and sincere; they hear and understand, and bring forth fruit with patience; some more, some less. As the seed groweth up into the ear or grain, so doth the word of God, when it comes to perfection, bring forth the fruit of good works. And when the harvest cometh, which is the end of the world, the fruitful sheaves shall be reaped by the angels, and laid up in the heavenly storehouse; but thorns and tares shall be gathered together and burned. Such will be the end of those who do not understand, and profit by the word of God. This word is preached to me in the gospel; and if it doth not take effect upon me, the fault will be in the ground, and not in the seed. Grant therefore, O Lord, that I may so hear and receive it, that by patience and comfort of thy holy word, I may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. THE QUESTIONS, Q. What is a parable? A. It teaches us to understand some things from the nature of other things. It is the doctrine of the gospel in the language of Q. There nature. E 4 |