THE GOOD GROUND - Burns, William Chalmers

CHAPTER 7

“But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” – Matthew 13:23

Men’s hearts are, in the parable before us, compared to soil; the word is compared to seed; and Jesus Christ primarily, and his ministers and servants after him, are typified by the sower going forth to sow his
seed. There are here four descriptions of hearers mentioned, and although we have on former occasions endeavoured to explain to you the character of three of these classes, we shall again, before proceeding to the fourth, briefly notice them also.First, we are shown that “when anyone heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then
cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way-side.” No husbandman would willingly deposit his seed on a highway, or on a beaten path; but
should it fall there by accident, it could not possibly take root. So it is with careless hearers; the word makes no impression, and they retire from the house of God just as they came into it, — except that they are more
guilty than before.The second class is like the “stony places; the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” This class, my dear friends, includes many who suppose themselves to be Christians; having been only slightly convinced of sin, they have taken unto themselves peace and false confidence. The seed sown in such “stony places” springs up quickly of necessity, and has no root, so that it as quickly withers away. We would remark in passing, that the great want in such cases is that of the conviction of the understanding: we must understand before we can believe or feel. The danger of setting up a certain standard of intensity to which we think our feelings and emotions should rise is indeed great. If fact, it is very often the case that such feelings, when produced, turn out to have been the fruit of mere excitement.Some persons, seeing in others much visible agitation and anguish of heart under conviction of sin, immediately begin to try to excite their own feelings not from seeing sin in a strong light, but from seeing that the anxiety of others is genuine. They then work themselves into a state of agitation, counterfeiting what in the other case is the work of the Spirit of God. We earnestly beseech you to beware of this and especially at a time when the mighty working of the Spirit of the Lord upon many, leads to much of such unreal excitement. Don’t try, I beseech of you to work upon your feelings; don’t try to excite them further than your judgment carries you: wherever true conversion takes place, people will feel; but remember also that it is possible to experience much emotion from causes quite independent of a saving change. Deceive not yourselves, then. Let your judgment be convinced; let your reasoning powers be exercised. Believe, and then you will feel. Don’t force your feelings; that’s not necessary. Understand, and you will believe; believe, and you will feel. Your feelings, so to speak, will master you.

Remember, however, that it is also very possible to err on the other side. Some people, called prudent, deny the necessity of feeling altogether; they call it enthusiasm and fanaticism. Convince the judgment, they
say, but for any sake do not allow the feelings to be moved. This is just as wrong and unscriptural as the other error: such persons do not distinguish between feeling and enthusiasm. Yet there is a wide difference between the two. Ah, my dear friends there will be no enthusiasm at the day of judgment, but there will be much feeling then, Let a man once be convinced of sin, and, going a step further, let him be convinced of what salvation is, and tell him not to feel! Ah, but he will not be able to obey you; no, not though it were to gain worlds. Let him see the arm of divine justice bared, and the sword of vengeance suspended over his guilty head. That man will feel, that man must feel; he will not require to work up his feelings by fictitious means. Try then to wait upon the Lord until you become really convinced of sin. Pray earnestly for true
conviction; and then the balm of Gilead will be sweet, and lasting too, when it falls into a newly-probed wound. The good see of the word will not be withered in you as in the case of those who, received it with
joy and without understanding, lose its power whenever temptation arises. The difference between the unprofitable and the fruitful grains may not be known now, nor known indeed till the day of trial, when
every man’s work shall be proved of what sort it is, and when such as are found wanting shall be cast into everlasting burnings.And now we come to the next class of persons named. “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cared of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” The seed is prevented from coming to perfection by the interference of sinful care.Men say, “We cannot free ourselves from the world, we cannot throw away the riches which have been given to us;” and, my dear friends, who ever said you should? Who ever dreamed of that? It is not said that
the world must necessarily choke the word in the heart; we have been placed in the world, and we are to “use this world as not abusing it.” It is not the actual riches in themselves that do this; it is not the possession
of them; it is only their deceitfulness. “If riches increase, set not your hearty upon them:” we should not despise such gifts of God any more than we should trust in them. The figure puts it in this light: — The soil
has been sown, and the seed is springing up and promising well; but being more prolific in the production of thorns than of the seed, the former soon gets the upper hand, and destroys the latter. Riches, and earthly vanities, and cares of this life, holding the chief place in the heart and the affections, the weaker principle is of necessity obliged to yield, and is finally exterminated.But there yet remains one class more: a class to which may God grant that all here may yet belong. “He that received seed into the good ground is he that beareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Let us direct our earnest attention to this description of the true hearers of the word of God, who hear it and “believe to the saving of the soul.”The first mark is that they hear the word. Of those unhappy men who enter not into God’s house at all we
say nothing here, but we would anxiously press on those now present the truth that it is possible to go to church without hearing. If you go to a Popish church, you won’t hear. You will not hear the gospel there in
its fullness and freedom. If you go to a Unitarians chapel, you won’t hear; and, what is more, if you go to a Presbyterian church, where the full gospel is not preached, you won’t hear there either. When we speak of the
gospel not being preached, we mean where Jesus Christ and Him crucified, is not made the sum and substance of all doctrine, and all righteousness, and all hope to the sinner. If you go to such a church, when there may be one within your reach in which Christ is reached with scriptural fullness and freeness, and set forth with life and power, you do not hear, and the safety of your soul, must to say the least, be a
peradventure.But it is also possible to go to a church where Christ is thus preached, and yet not to hear. The man that sleeps in church won’t hear! And it is possible to go with the ears closed and the heart untouched; possible to hear the most precious truths of the blessed Bible declared, and yet not to hear – not to believe – not to be converted, and this because the Holy Spirit is not given. Still it is our bounden duty to hear, and to allow others with whom we have influence to hear. Ah, brethren, why is the permission to attend the house of God denied to so many? Why, for the few paltry services which we might receive during the time from our
domestics, should we keep them from Divine worship, or refuse to let them attend meetings when they wish it? We know of some masters who have forbidden their servants to attend, and we have heard of others who
permitted them to go out several times, so long as it made no impression, but who, as soon as the servants became alarmed about their eternal state, and began to follow their usual occupations with a heavy heart
and downcast countenance, shut the doors of their houses, and would allow their poor servants to go out no more. This is sad; just when they were beginning to feel their need of a Saviour, of a peace that the world
does not give, and when, humanly speaking, by coming again they might have found that peace which their souls were seeking, all the opportunities have been take away. Far, far from us be it to say, that all who come here shall find Jesus Christ. Ah no! dear friends; would this were the case! But we say such persons, or any others, may find Christ here; may, in a blessed hour, discover that which, once believed, once felt,saved the soul. And if this is possible, if this is daily happening in the case of many, surely, surely, those who detain any from these opportunities are guilty, and responsible to God.Masters of families, we speak to you, and hesitate not to tell you that you are highly culpable, if, when you see your domestics touched by the word of life, you keep them from any means of grace, on the plea that they are becoming unfit for their labours. You are the servants of Satan, working for Satan’s hire. Your servants may for a day or two be laid aside in measure, and unable for their work. But wait a little, and see how they will do their work then. If they are converted, we know that you will see a change. At – during
the revival of religion, for two days no work was done, no labour was attempted, not a loom was touched; every shop was deserted; there was but one cry heard, — “What must I do to be saved?” Worldly labour
seemed neglected. But do you ask, “What is – now?” Every account we receive from thence bears glorious testimony to our present subject. We heard this confirmed accidentally through some of the warehouse
correspondents in the neighbouring city, who say, “The men of – do double work now.” There must be numberless proofs of this in every place where there is any vital godliness.No servant is so much sought after as a godly servant; none to whom even worldly men like to confide
their possessions so well as to Christians. Tell me, worldly man, the head of a young family, wouldn’t you prefer to have a Christian in your nursery, to care for your little ones? And why is that? Ah, because the
godly man’s a trusty man, and you know very well that while you might be in doubt about trusting others in your absence, a godly servant will obey you when you are away, exactly the same as if your eye were present on the spot. And, oh! I can say for myself if the poor testimony of a sinner saved by grace is worth the having, that I never served man faithfully till I knew what it was to love my God. When will a man do his duty so perfectly, and when will his eye be so single, and when will he throw his mind into his work so fully as when he does it with heaven in his eye, with Christ in his heart, with the world beneath his feet, and with the love of God his Redeemer flowing through his soul! Is it not natural that when anxiety concerning eternity is first felt, a man should be filled with distress until his views of God’s salvation become clear? Is itunreasonable that the sinner should be overcome when he finds himself under the condemnation of the law? Do not wonder then if your servants or children should be for a time unable to take an interest in ordinary
occupations. Give them every opportunity of becoming wise unto salvation; and, in the end you will see how good it is that they have been afflicted, even in as far as your worldly interests are concerned. Should
they employ a longer time in devotional exercises, do not murmur at that. Think you that the abounding of prayer will bring evil on your dwelling? If your child should in all things act under the guidance of a Father
in heaven, think you that you will be less honoured and obeyed as its earthly parent? Why reproach it for serving you with tenfold zeal, or for loving you with an infinitely higher affection?

What allowance you make, my dear friends, when a son or daughter returns at daylight from a ball, or from one of your late parties, full of life and gaiety! You are glad to see them happy and enjoying
themselves. “Poor things,” you will say, “it’s just what I used to be so fond of myself at their age; they are just like their years, and every time of life has its own enjoyment.” But were the same child to come home
late from church, — “Oh, there’s something quite wrong; it’s out of the question; it can’t be tolerated.” And, oh! further still, should they perchance have been deeply affected by something heard there, is there a decree at once that never shall they enter it again? Do not, however, suppose, from anything we have said, that the mere comprehension of the plan of salvation, with the natural faculties, will suffice to save you; for this purpose, it is true, every faculty must be employed, but there is a far higher understanding which is indispensable. Why can the natural man not comprehend the things of God? Because he has not the Spirit of God. Thus even when the faculties have given their assent to a doctrine, the heart yet refuses its consent. My dear friends, if you have not the Spirit
of God, you will not even know what I now mean, you will not even consent to the fact that you do not understand me. Were you to tell the philosophers and theologians, who profess to expound Scripture, that
they did not know what they read; “What,” they would say, “not understand the Bible! We have studied and taught the original tongues in which it was written; we are well acquainted with the first Greek authors;
how, then, should we not understand the dialect of the unlettered fishermen of Galilee, or the simple language of the Apostle Paul?” Such men as these, after having studied and critically examined the Oracles
of Truth, and having facilitated the same study to others, by means of deep research and hard investigation, see no difficulties in the Bible, and yet they may never have come in the spirit of little children to learn the
truth as it is in Jesus. Many of them, alas! by their very explanations and interpretations of Scripture, show that one beam from the Sun of Righteousness has ever lighted up the sacred page.And so with you, till the Spirit comes. He breaks the shell of the nut, and gives the kernel to the humble believer. Dear fellow-sinners! you have not reached the kernel yet. The Bible possesses no attraction for you; it is dark; it is uninteresting; it is unread, save when a sense of duty forces you to take it up; and then it is laid uside, unmedittated upon, unthought of, unloved. But, let the Spirit shine into the heart, let him remove the scales from a blinded understanding, to which hitherto every beauty and every glory has been as darkness, and oh! then the night has passed away, the sunbeams glance over very page; one wonder after another springs into being, one truth is revealed to the delighted understanding, while another and another follow in quick succession, until every leaf seems radiant with the brightness of heaven, and streams of grace and glory beam from every line. The Spirit breaks, as it were, the surface of Scripture, tears off the veil, removes the covering that is on the face of all people, and then the humble Christian goes forward to new and rich discoveries of truth in the inspired volume. I lately visited a poor woman in Edinburgh, who was afflicted with occasional blindness, which has visited her sixty times with seven years. She is confined to bed from another complaint, and on the bed of sickness has she found the statutes of the Lord to be indeed her song in the house of her pilgrimage. She remarked to me, that once, after sixteen days of blindness, she in the morning discovered that sight had
returned; she lifted her Bible, opened it, and turning a page to begin to read, her eye caught the word JESUS in the large letters. She looked, but found her sight was gone again; and so she laid down the volume. Her
sight had never since returned when she spoke to me. “But,” she said, “I saw enough that morning for many mornings – for all my days here; that word was enough; it was my meditation them, and if I never see again,
I need no more.” To this poor disciple the Lord had unsealed the Scriptures. Plead with him that He would reveal it so to you. The word has often seemed to me like a clear sky at the hour of sunset; when one looks at it just as the sun is disappearing, the blue sky is unbroken by one twinkling star; at length one appears; we gaze on, another shines; and while we look, another and another, and hundreds more start upon us, till at length the whole firmament in crowded with worlds of light.

But we find here another mark of the true reception of the word into the heart. The time is so short, that we cannot enter at length into the evidences of regeneration, or the numerous fruits of the Spirit, which are
“love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” One thing we may mention again as being indispensable to the existence of the Spirit’s work on the heart – conviction of sin.
No real faith or hope can be in us without that, because it is the first thing that arraigns us at the bar of God, and forces us to sue for mercy. We have already entreated you this night to examine your souls. Search out your sins, and a sufficient number will be brought to your mind to overwhelm you at the very idea of having to bear the consequences of them in your own person. Brethren, do pray for this conviction of sin; if you have hitherto been indulging a false confidence, and living happy in it, leave it! leave it! Oh! cast it away! It will avail you nothing at the day of judgment. Sum up your sins, and write “innumerable.” This night have them searched out. This night have them blotted out, through Jehovah’s infinite grace. This night have them forgiven. This night have them forgotten; and oh, brethren, we cannot, though the hour be late, we cannot let you depart without once more offering Jesus to your acceptance.If you leave this house to-night without Christ, you had far better not have come here. To-morrow it may no longer be granted to you to accept him. But oh! to-night is yet ours, to-night is yet given us. Tonight we have yet the permission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to every creature. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Oh! is that command hard to be understood? Do you want something more simple still? Then we say to you, Trust. You all know what it is to trust a person, to confide in a person. You know, if you had a sum of money, which you wished to be taken care of, and if you knew a
man of power and of untarnished honour, you would understand what it would be to trust that person, and to say, “Take this money, and keep it for me till a future day.” Then act so towards the Lord Jesus; his
power is boundless as his love, and he changes not. Commit your soul into his hand, or if you have not strength to do this, at least say, “Lord, take it, take this heart and keep it.” The will is all He wants. He has
been knocking at the door of your dead hearts for long. Do you not hear him knocking now? Give in, give in; He calls. His Spirit calls. Surely you will not let him call in vain. And now is it possible, oh, is it possible,
that after all you have heard in this place, and after all you have been hearing during your past lives, is it possible that any deluded soul is saying, “That is not for me; I have been too guilty – too depraved?” What,
brethren, you are at that again/ How often shall we refute – how often shall God refute that mad, willful delusion, and you believe it still? Away with it. Oh! how often must these proud excuses for not coming to
Christ be combated? Be sure that pride makes you say, “I’m too guilty, this is not for me.” Who told you, sinner, that this is not for you? Who, who but the god of this world! Ah, could I find out the sinner on this
earth who is most abandoned, most profligate, most desperately sunk in crime of the deepest dye, could I find that man in this assembly, I would carry the message to him, and say, “It is for you, it is for you. My
commission is to all, but pre-eminently to you.”

The Lord gave us the precedent for this. Arisen from the dead, having borne all that man could suffer, and all that One more than man could suffer, at the hands of the Jews, whom did He select as the first
subjects of this salvation? To whom did He send his ambassadors? Ah! brethren, it was to these very Jews, these very murderers, these very Satan-possessed, Satan-serving Jews. Salvation by his blood was to be first declared to the men who had caused that blood to flow, “beginning at Jerusalem.” Oh, my dear friends, surely none of you will now say that the gospel is not for you. Come in to Jesus, come in, come in or perish! Say,
“Into thine hands I commit my spirit.”Where are the dear souls who are doing this? Delay not, you who are just coming to Jesus; you, who in
self-despair are saying, “Lord, I come: save me!” Happy, thrice happy souls, He will not reject you; your souls are safe; your trust is secure; you have committed your spirits into the hands of a most merciful
Saviour, who changes not. We have every reason to believe, that not a few happy souls have, during the last few days and weeks, been emancipated from Satan’s thralldom. We dare to hope that some inroads have
been made by the Spirit of God on his infernal sway. Why then, beloved, should this not happen to-night also? Why should not this night a blow be given to his kingdom, which should be felt through all its parts? Come in multitudes to the Lord Jesus! If you are still hardened, ask of him a willing heart. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” My dear friends, I testify to
you, that in the case of everyone who refuses to be saved, that word “shall” in the promise, will be a dagger in your heart to all eternity. What will your feelings be, if you ever lift up your eyes in torment, and think “I
might have been saved, for the promise was, ‘ye shall find’ but now –

IT IS TOO LATE!”

O that such may not be the doom of anyone of us! Come now, come before you leave this house, and now join in earnest supplication to the God of all grace, that He would receive you. Come before him, pleading in
Christ’s name, and for Christ’s righeousness’ sake, the fulfillment of the full, free declaration of Jehovah’s purpose of mercy: “As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the
wicked turn from his way, and live;” while ye obey with sincerity the command, “Turn ye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”