The Gospel Stifled by Covetousness. 235
Sermon Thirteenth.
THE GOSPEL STIFLED BY COVETOUSNESS.
'-And the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and he he cometh unfruitful."— Matt, xiii: 22.
The interpretation of this parable teaches us a truth which lies deep in the philosophy of our nature. We see here that the prosperity of a sermon depends far more on the ear of him who hears it than on the tongue of him who utters it; that when you come and sit in this house your profiting is suspended less upon what the preacher brings than upon what you bring; and that in the matter of listening to the Gospel, as well as with reference to charity, "it is more blessed to give than to receive." Hence the admonition which Luke records as the practical lesson of this parable, " Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever hath to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have." He who comes to the truth with a sincere, teachable disposition shall receive instruction. "If any man will do (is willing to do) he shall know." But the converse is equally certain. If a man is not willing to do, he shall not know ; he hath not the heart to receive the truth in the love of it ; and therefore he is given up to believe falsehoods, and the light which seemed to be in him becomes darkness.
Parables convey truth, not directly but circuitously, through the imagination; and in this parable of the
