Without some degree of external order and obedience to the laws of natural life, it is, I hold, next to impossible, to plant in the mind any seeds of spiritual truth.

There is no ground there.

The parable of the sower that went forth to sow illustrates this law.

Only the seed that fell on good ground brought forth fruit.

Our true work, then, among this heathen people, of whom the churches take so little care, is first to get the ground in order for the planting, of heavenly seed.