d can make that to be again a field
of God which was a way for the feet of the prince of this
world."--_Stier in loc_.

Among the many incidental and collateral applications of which this
parable is susceptible, one of the most interesting and instructive
is--That every man has within himself the elements of all the four
kinds of ground. The conception is thus presented by Fred. Arndt:
"At the outset, the word of God finds all in the first unreceptive
condition; we go away without experiencing its power, and remain in
a state of nature, unconverted. Next, the word begins to take effect
upon us, and we are awakened. Oh now the word of the Lord burns with
a holy glow in our hearts! We give ourselves over with our whole
souls in those first days of love. We have found heaven; we have
seen it opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on
the Son of man. But this condition does not endure. The fightings
begin from within and from without, and the flame is quenched. The
heart becomes cold and empty. The life of faith becomes silent and
slow in its course. We become languid in watching and prayer; the
love of the world and its sinful pleasures awakes again; and before
we are aware, we are trying to serve both God and the world. Then
the war bursts out: this moment God is above us, the next beneath
us, and we get no rest until we have renounced the world, and
surrendered our heart and life to God wholly, and to God alone. Thus
we pass, in the faith-school of the Holy Spirit, through all the
four classes, deceiving ourselves and being deceived, until at last,
after many a bitter experience, we strike upon the narrow way, and
through the strait gate."--_Die Gleichniss-reden. Jes. Chr._

While all the ground that was broken, deep, and clean in spring and
summer, bears fruit in harvest, some portions produce a larger return
than others. The picture in this feature is true to nature; and the fact
in the spiritual sphere also corresponds. There are diversities in the
Spirit's operation; diversities in natural gifts bestowed on men at
first; diversities in the amount of energy exerted by believers as
fellow-workers with God in their own sanctification; and diversities,
accordingly, in the fruitfulness which results in the life of
Christians. While all believers are safe in Christ, each should covet
the best gifts. No true disciple will be contented with a thirtyfold
inc