each of all. Even the dead shall hear his voice, and they
that hear shall live. "He that heareth my word, and believeth him that
sent me, hath everlasting life." "Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in
no wise cast out." "He that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit
reap life everlasting." "This is life eternal that they might know
thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." "If
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed
away; behold, all things have become new."

Obedience to the ordinances of God's house has its place here in
connection with faith. By works is faith made perfect. The first
command that Paul received in connection with his conversion was:
"Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name
of the Lord." The instruction of Peter to the convicts on the day of
Pentecost was: "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the
gift of the Holy Ghost." In preaching Jesus to the eunuch Philip
evidently preached our Lord's baptism, else what would the eunuch have
known about baptism? How else can we account for his remark to Philip
and implied request: "See, here is water, what doth hinder me to be
baptized?" "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest," was
Philip's answer. Sinner, you are invited to come and take of the water
of life freely. Come, believe, obey, and live forever.

FRIDAY, April 12. Plant corn in the lower field.

SATURDAY, April 13. Finish planting the lower field. I never plant
corn or commit any seed to the earth, but I am filled with wonder in
the contemplation of God's power. In my thoughts over things of this
kind my mind and heart find pleasant relief, by recalling in memory
the beautiful similitude which Mark, alone of all the evangelists, has
left on record for us. These are his words: "And he [the Lord] said,
So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth,
and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up
and grow, he knoweth not how. The earth beareth fruit of herself;
first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear." These
words greatly encourage me to labor more faithfully in the ministry of
the Word: for as we know the Lord has power to make the dry seed in
the dry ground grow unto a rich harvest, we know not how, so has he
power to make the seeds of his truth spring up and gr