The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 173

does lte work within tke hearts of those for whom they care I Yet "the kingdom of God comes without observation." Convictions of their own spiritual nature and immortal destiny, of the obaracter and government of God, of the love and reign of Christ, are all forming within, becoming part of the spiritual being. And the vital growth, though unperceived, is giving signs of its reality. II. IT IB MYBTEBIOUS AND NOT TO BE UNDERSTOOD, The busbandman, the gardener, "knoweth not bow." Even the scientific observer cannot explain the mystery of life and growth. There is no caprice; all ie reason and law, yet the process baffles our understanding. So in the working of God's kingdom within, there is much that is mysterious. How can Divine truth, naturally BO unpalatable, gain a hold upon the heart? How can it overmaster other principles BO that it shall flourish as they fade? And, looking to the external, how can we account for it, that the kingdom of God, so unworldly, can advance to universal victory? The power of life must be that of the Holy Spirit, acting like the sunlight and the genial warmth, the frequent showers and the morning dew. It ie the Lord's doing, invisible, incomprehensible, admirable, adorable, Divine I III. IT IS AOOOBDING TO ITB OWN LAWS, NOT OUBB. In dealing with vegetation, there is much-which we can do if we work with: nature. We can till the soil, expose the seed to moisture and warmth, protect it from unfavourable conditions. But we cannot work against laws of nature; we cannot make pebbles grow, acorns produce elm trees, or barley yield a crop of wheat; we cannot grow the produce of the tropics at the poles. Providence has imposed laws upon nature, and with regard to life some things are possible, and others impossible. So spiritual life follows laws which we cannot change, and much of our interference has no influence or but little. The seed grows "of itself," i.e. as God appoints for it. The truth of God ie not trammelled by our notions or fancies ; the Spirit of God is not hampered by our rules. Men prove their own pettiness when they attempt to prescribe how the Divine seed shall grow. The Giver of the seed and Lord of the harvest does his work in his own way and time. He carries on a heavenly process in the conscience and the heart, in the bosom of human society. Vain is our fancy that we can rule the life. "Paul plants, Apollos waters, and God gives the increase." IV. THE PBOOESS IS USUALLY GRADUAL AND PROGRESSIVE. There ie a regular law of development, "first the blade," etc. We never get the fruit first, the blade last. Everything in its season. So in the spiritual kingdom of God. In the child or the young convert, we look first for signs of life-the blade which proves that the seed has germinated. By Christian nurture, scriptural instruction, and Divine discipline, gradual and sure progress is made. The promise is partly realized when the ear is formed; it is the time of vigour and manifest growth. Then with the long and profitable ytars comes the full com-the ripeness of Christian knowledge, experience, and service. A few favourable years bring the seedling to the sapling, and the sapling to the stalwart tree; o. few months cover the broad brown tilth with the golden shocks. Bo in the Church of Christ we eee the gradual unfolding of character, the gentle rifiening of experience, one stage of growth left behind in making way for that which succeeds. V. THE HARVEST IS THE END AND THE RECOMPENSE OF ALL. If the growth is unob- trusive, the harvest is conspicuous. The secret working has prepared for the open result. Life ends in fruit. It is so in the spiritual field. When there is ripeness, theu the time has come for the sickle to be put in. The harvest is gathered, and the gamer of God is filled with golden grain. Fruit is yielded upon earth ; and the richest crop is reaped hereafter. APPLICATION. 1. The Christian sower and labourer may learn to think humbly of himself, highly of his work. 2. There is encouragement for the " babes in Christ ; '' their stage of experience is the necessary preparation for the more complete fulfilment of the high purposes of God. 3. 'l'he glory must be given to God when life is vigorous and when fruit is ripe. Vere. 3O-32.-The mustard seed. The kingdom of God has its intension and its extension, its rule over the individual soul, and its sway over human society, it.I< invisible work within and its manifest and mighty achievement without; it trandurms  168 THE GOSPEL ACOORDING TO ST. MARK. [ea IV, l-4l