16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth U under a bed ; but sett^th it on a candlestick, that they which en- ter in may see the light.
17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear : for whosoever hath, to him shall be given ; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that
which he seemeth to have.
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
20 And it was told him bi/ certain which said. Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these wkich hear the word of God, and do it.
These verses form a practical application of the famous parable of the sower. They are intended to nail and clench in our minds the mighty lesson which that parable contains. They deserve the especial attention of all true- hearted hearers of the Gospel of Christ.
We learn, firstly, from these verses, that spiritual knowledge ought to be diligently used. Our Lord teUs us that it is like a lighted candle, utterly useless, when covered with a bushel, or put under a bed, — only useful when set upon a candlestick, and placed where it can be made serviceable to the wants of men.
When we hear this lesson, let us first think of our- $elves. The Gospel which we possess was not given us only to be admired, talked of, and professed, — ^but to be practised. It was not meant merely to reside in our intellect, and memories, and tongues, — ^but to be seen ia
LUKE, CHAP. Vlll. VEK. 16 — ^21. 267
our lives. Gliristiaiiiiy is a talent committed to our charge, and one which brings with it great responsibility. We are not in darkness like the heathen. A glorious light is put before us. Let us take heed that we use it. While we have the light let us walk in the light. (John xii. 35.)
But let us not only think of ourselves. Let us also think
of others. There are millions in the world who have no
spiritual light at all. They are without God, without
Christ, and without hope. (Ephes. ii. 12.) Can we do
nothing for them P — ^There are thousands around us, in our
own land, who are unconverted and dead in sins, seeing
nothing and knowing nothing aright? Can we do
nothing for them ? — ^These are questions to which every
true Christian ought to find an answer. We should
strive, in every way, to spread our religion. The
highest form of selfishness is that of the man who
is content to go to heaven alone. The truest charity is
to endeavour to share with others every spark of religious
light we possess ourselves, and so to hold our own candle
that it may give light to every one around us. Happy
is that soul, which, as soon as it receives light from
heaven, begins to think of others as well as itself I No
candle which God lights was ever meant to bum alone.
We learn, secondly, from these verses, the great im- portance of right hearing. The words of our Lord Jesus Christ ought to impress that lesson deeply on our hearts. He says, " Take heed how ye hear."
The d^egree of benefit which men receive from all the m«ans of grace depends entirely on the way in which they use them. Private prayer lies at the very founda-
s