1. When it makes no impression on the minds of those who hear it —
[Many hear the Gospel for years, and yet never come to the knowledge of it. Not that they want a capacity to under- stand it ; but they want an inclination to attend to it with that seriousness that it requires. They listen to the voice that utters it; but they do not reflect upon the subject itself; so that it passes through their minds, like a vessel in the ocean, leaving no trace behind. Our Lord compares them to the way-side, on which good seed is sown, but is instantly taken away again by the birds, so that none of it springs upa. It is truly said of them, that " hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand."]
2. When it makes no other impression than what mere moral suasion will produce —
[Oratory on some occasions will produce very powerful effects. Even the recital of some calamitous event will greatly affect the passions, and either rouse us to indignation, or melt us to tears. But these emotions are only transient : the memory of the things that caused them vanishes away ; and no abiding effect is produced. Thus it is with many who hear the Gospel. They are affected by it for a time : sometimes they are depressed with fear and terror, and sometimes elated with hope and joy : but they experience no radical change of heart and life. Such were many of Ezekiel's hearers : they were delighted with his eloquence, as people are with a per- formance of vocal or instrumental music ; but their hearts were as much addicted to covetousness, and as averse to real piety as everb. Such persons are represented by our Lord as the stony-ground hearers, who receive the word instantly and with joy ; but, having no root in themselves, they quickly wither, and come to naught0.- St. James also compares them to men who see their face in a glass, but go away and forget what manner of persons they ared. Whatever impressions therefore the Gospel may make upon them at the time, it cer- tainly comes to them in word only.]
Such an application of the Gospel being of no value, we proceed to shew,
II. In what way it must come, in order to be effec- tual—
To whomsoever it be declared, whether to men of greater or less capacity, it must come,
a Matt. xiii. 4, 19. »> Ezek. xxxiii. 31, 32.
c Matt. xiii. 5, G. 20, 21. (1 Jam. i. 23, 24.