There is a resemblance between seed in a field, and grace in the heart, I. In the manner of their growth —
In the parable of the Sower, our Lord comprehends those characters who receive not the word aright. In this he confines himself to those characters that are truly upright. The growth of grace in their hearts resembles that of corn in a field, in that it is,
1. Spontaneous —
[Seed, when harrowed into the earth, is left wholly to itself. The husbandman " sleeps by night," and prosecutes his labours " by day," without attempting to assist the corn in the work of vegetation; whatever solicitude he may feel, he abstains from such fruitless endeavours. " The earth must bring forth the fruit of itself" or not at all. There is a principle of life in the corn which causes it to vegetate ; nor is it indebted to any thing but the kindly influences of the heavens3: thus it is with divine grace when sown in the heart of man. We do not mean that any man naturally and of his own will, lives to God ; this is contradicted by the whole tenour of Scripture b : but grace is a seed which has within it a principle of lifec ; it operates by a power inherent in itself, and is dependent only on Him who gave it that power d : the exertions of ministers, however unremitted, cannot make it growe; it must be left to the operation of its own native energy f ; it will then put forth its virtue, through the invigorating beams of the Sun of Right- eousness, and the refreshing showers of the Spirit of God.]
2. Gradual —
[Seed does not instantly spring up in a state fit for the sickle. It passes through many different stages before it arrives at maturity. Thus also, in a work of grace, " the blade, the ear, and the full corn," arise in regular succession. A Chris- tian in his earliest attainments wears a different appearance from what he ever did before ; he is not less altered than a grain of wheat when it puts forth " the blade ;" he feels him- self a sinful, helpless, and undone creature ; he cleaves to Christ as a suitable and all-sufficient Saviour, and shews by his whole deportment that he has been quickened from the dead: but still he is prone to entertain self-righteous hopes, and too often yields to unbelieving fears. Hence, though sincere at heart,
a 1 Cor. xv. 38. *> Rom. viii. 7.
; 1 Pet. i. 23. Hence Christ, from whose fulness we receive that grace, is said to live in us, and to be our life. Gal. ii. 20. Col. iii. 4. A 1 Cor. xv. 10. e i Cor. iii. 6, 7. f John iv. 14.