The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 195

every progressive step in hie pilgrimage hie eye le on the Book, and thus he reads and walks, and walks and reads, ever reuding as he goes. Like David, "his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in that Law he meditates day and night." In reference to this Law it was said of Israel, "What nation is there so great that bath statutes and judp;ments so righteous as all this Law which I have set before you this day?" We, with Law and Gospel in our hands, are sure1y bound to be grateful, and to feel- " How greatly blessed the people o.re The joyful sound that know I " 5. Our duty in relation to tlie Word of the kingdom. The statutes of an earthly kingdom are carefuUy studied as well as frequently peru~ed. How much more ought the Word of the kingdom, that is, the statutes of the kingdom of heaven, to be daily and diligently read and consulted I If the King of heaven condescends to be at pains to teach us his statutes and his judgments, surely the least that we, who are "of the earth, earthy "-creatures of a day, worms of the dust, should do, is to be at pains to learn those statutes of the Lord that are right, "rejoicing the heart." .Again, where the word of a king is there is power, consequently the Word of him who is King of kings and Lord of lords should come home to our hearts, not in word only, " but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance." When the word or law of an earthly king is transgressed, such transgression is usuaUy visited with pains and penalties proportionate to the transgression. Can we reasonably expect, then, that the transgressors of Heaven's Law shall escape with impunity? The King who rules in Zion will, we a.re assured, rule also in the midst of his enemies. If we refuse to touch the sceptre of his mercy, or if we reject the Word of his grace, then assuredly we shall be broken with a rod of iron and dashed in pieces like a potter's vessel. The Word of the kingdom is the Word of the King of glory; if we follow its directions they will conduct us on the way to glory. It is the Word of him whose kingdom is not of this world; if we walk according to its instructions, then shall our conversation, or citizenship, even now be in heaven. 6. This seed is absolutely necessary for salvation. It is, as we have seen, the Word of God and the Word of the kingdom, but it is still the seed ; and what the seed is in the natural world, the Word of God, or of the kingdom, is in the spiritual world. Without seed there can be no vegetation-neither root nor fruit, neither bud nor blossom, neither leaf nor flower, neither stalk nor plant. The soil may be as rich as that of the primeval forest when it is cleared, or as that of the virgin prairie when it is for the first time opened by the ploughshare; ther~ may be gentle showers and genial sunshine, reviving heat and refreshing dews. The season, may be most propitious; they may follow each other with successive and suitable blessings- the purifying winds of winter, the freshness of spring, the sultriness of summer, the maturity of autumn; but notwithstanding all this, if the seed be wanting, there cannot be a single stalk of grain nor plant of any kind-neither "grass for the cattle nor herb for the service of man." So spiritually, the Word of God is seed of regenerating power; for are we born again? Then it ia •• not of corruptible seed, but of incorrupti hle, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." Thus the Word of God is seed-the seed of grace in this world, and of glory in the next ; the seed of holiness in time, and of heaven through eternity. 7. The seed needs quickening. We have seen that without the seed of God's Word there is neither grace nor glory, neither holiness nor heaven; and therefore as much as justifies the inference thnt all that is good and gracious, all that is really noble and truly Christian, every grace and every good work,-all spring from the seed of the Word. In the economy of nature, the vigorous stem, and green leafage, and lovely blossom, and abundant fruit are all owing to the seed, and could not possibly exist without it; so in the economy of grace, strong faith, lively hope, and ever-advancing holiness,-all spring out of the seed which is the Word of God. But granting all this, the seed only contains the material of life-it is the means of life; but it is dependent on the quickening, vivifying, life-giving Spirit of God. By his Spirit he fructifies the seed ; by his Spirit he vivifies bis Word. The Word of God, the Son of God, and the ~pirit of God must all go together in the salvation of every human soul. The Son of God brings salvation, the Word of God reveals it, and the Spirit of God applies it. B. Then ia vitality in every verso cw well a3 in the whole volu11W1. Even where the Bible  192 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [011. IV. 1-4L