3. How unlike to Christ are they, to whom a com- pliance with these terms is odious !
[None are so odious in the eyes of the ungodly world as the true, faithful, determined Christian. The generality, instead of loving him in proportion to his advancement in piety, will despise him ; and will make his high attainments, not only the occasion, but the measure, of their contempt. They will be ashamed to acknowledge a pious character as a relation, or friend, or even as an acquaintance. They would rather be seen in public with an infidel or debauchee, than with one who was eminent for his love to Christ. But how unlike to Christ are they; when the very thing which endears them to him, renders them odious in their eyes ! Surely it will be well for such persons to consider what Christ's views of them must be? for if the godly are so precious to him because they are godly, surely the haters and despisers of godliness must for that very reason be most hateful in his eyes. Accordingly he has told us, how he will resent the contempt shewn to his people ; and that " it were better for a man to have a millstone hanged about his neck, and to be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of his little onesq."]
<i Matt, xviii. 6.
Mark iv. 26 — 29. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not hoiv. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself ; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, imme- diately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
THERE is a rich variety in the parables delivered by our Lord. Almost every thing around him was made a vehicle of divine knowledge. Agriculture in particular afforded him many illustrations of his doc- trines. He dwelt on that subject the more, because it was so adapted to his hearers. In the passage before us he compares the kingdom of God to seed springing up in the field. This comparison is applicable to the erection of his visible Church in the world ; but we shall consider it rather in reference to a work of grace in the soul.