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verfations, to produce real and substantial Acts of Piety and Charity.

8. Laftly, fome of the Seed fell into good Ground, where it grew up and increafed, and came to ripeness, and brought forth good Corn, fome more, fome less; Thus the Doctrine of true Religion, when it is preached in the World, meets with fome honeft and well-difpofed Perfons, who both hear it willingly, and believe it heartily, and obey it fincerely, and perfevere in that Obedience refolutely and conftantly; bringing forth the Fruits of Holiness and of all Vertues, according to their feveral Difpofitions, Abilities, and Callings.

9. Whoever is capable and defirous of Inftruction, let him hear and confider what I fay.

10. This and many other Parables fpake Jefus to the People; expreffing the Similitudes only, without adding their Interpretation: And when the People were gone, his Apoftles and Difciples defired him privately to explain thefe Things clearly to them.

11. Then faid Jefus: To you indeed, God has vouchfafed to reveal clearly and plainly all the great Truths relating to the State of the Gofpel, and the Kingdom of the Messiah: But the mixt Multitude are not yet capable nor worthy of this Privilege. For the greatest Part of them have fuch ftrong Prejudices, that they will not understand the plaineft Doctrines, nor be convinced by the clearest Truths: Wherefore, I fpeak to them in Parables only, that all fuch may yet continue ignorant, who defpife

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14 J The fower foweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way fide, fown, but when they

where the word is

have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the

word that was fown in their hearts.

16 And these are they likewife which are fown on ftony ground, who when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with glad

nefs :

17 And have no root in themselves,

Admonition, or are not defirous to be
inftructed, and will not take Pains to
confider and fearch out the Truth.

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τικόν.

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12. * In whom accordingly is exactly fulfilled that Prophecy of Ifaiah, ἐκβατικὸν, but understandeth not; and feeth indeed, (Ifai. vi. 9.) This People heareth indeed, not diria but perceiveth not; fo as to be converted and faved.

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14. Then he told them, how by the Husbandmen that went out to fow his Field, was meant Christ or the Preacher of true Religion; and by the Seed, the Word of God.

15. That by the hard beaten Road, where the Seed could not enter the Earth at all; were reprefented fuch Perfons, as hear the Preaching of the Gofpel carelefly, fo as noto regard what they hear, nor remember it at all, or at least retain not long the flight Impreffion it makes upon them.

16 & 17. That by the ftony Ground covered with thin Earth, where the Seed quickly grew up, and for want of Root as quickly withered away; were meant thofe who readily indeed embrace the Doctrine of Christianity, and are pleaffor a time; after-ed with it, and make Refolutions of ward when afflicti- obeying it, but, for want of Courage on or perfecution a- and Steddinefs, of Mind, are overcome rifeth for the words by Temptations, and return to their Sins. fake, immediately they are offended.

and fo endure but

VOL. I.

R

18 & 19.

18 & 19. Again, that by the Earth full of Weeds and Thorns, where the Weeds growing up together with the Corn, over-ran it and choaked it; were to be understood fuch Perfons, who likewife readily entertain indeed the Doctrine of true Religion, and pretend to obey it; but the Hurry of Bufinefs, and the Deceitfulness of Riches, and Allurements of Pleasure, diftract and corrupt their Minds, fo as to binder them from bringing forth the Fruits of Righteousness.

20. Lastly, That by the good Ground, where the Seed grew up, and took Root, and brought forth good Corn; were reprefented honeft and good Men, who hear and believe and obey the Gospel, and perfevere in that Obedience to the End, bringing forth the Fruits of Righteousness according to their different Difpofitions, Abilities, and Sta

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21 And he faid unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bufhel, or under a bed? and not to be fet on a candleftick?

*Note, that Tapetes here, and in Matt. xiii. does not fignifie fown in the fenfe that we fay Seed is fown, but in the Senfe that we fay Ground is fown; (Men being here compared, not to the Seed, but to the Ground:) and This is the proper Ufe of the Greek Word. Wherefore the Words, οι σπαρέντες εις γῆν την καλήν, ought not to be rendred, they that are forwn upon good Ground, but they that are foun (that is, who receive the Seed,) themselves being good Ground. And fo alfo is so to be rendred in the foregoing Verfes.

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in the Doctrine of true Religion, ought now to take Care not to fupprefs it, but to become as Lights to the World; converting Men by the Excellency and Strength of your Doctrine, and by the confpicuous Example of your good Lives, to the Belief and Practice of this true Religion.

22. For the Things which I now tell you privately, ought to manifest themselves publickly by their Effects in your Life and Doctrine. And though it be neceffary at prefent to conceal fome Things from the Multitude, becaufe their Prejudices make them uncapable to receive them now; yet the Time is coming, when all thefe Things must be published openly and plainly to all the World.

23. Wherefore obferve what I fay; and lay it up in your Memories, and confider it, and act accordingly.

24. Jefus added moreover, and faid: 'Tis a thing of the highest Importance, and therefore I repeat it again and inculcate it upon you. Take heed that the Things I teach you, fail not to have their due Effect upon your Minds and Lives, fo as my Inftructions may not prove in vain. For in Proportion as ye improve and make good Ufe of your prefent Advantages and Inftructions, fo will God afford you greater Grace and Affiftances.

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continually afforded him: But he that neglects to improve the Advantages he already has, and continues impenitent; fhall be thought unworthy of greater Affiftance, or fhall for his incorrigiblenefs be even deprived of what he at first

had.

26. But to proceed in the Hiftory. After the Parable of the Sower, Jefus continued to utter many other Comparifons to the People. And he faid; The State of the Gofpel may yet further be compared to a Husbandman's fowing Seed in his Ground.

27 & 28. For as the Seed, after it is once fown, without any further Knowledge or Care of the Husbandman, grows up and increafes Day and Night by fecret and imperceptible Degrees, till it comes to its juft Bignefs and Maturity So Chrift, after he has once taught the Doctrine of true Religion, and preach'd it to the World, appears no more himself vifibly to aflift and promote it, but fuffers it to spread and increase by Means fecret and undif cerned, till at length it obtains and produces its full Effect.

29. But at Harvest when the Corn is grown ripe, then the Husbandman comes again, and puts in his Sickle and reaps it: So at the End of the World Chrift will again vifibly appear, to take to himself and reward thofe, who have received his Doctrine and brought forth the Fruits of it.

30. Again; How, faid be, fhall I defcribe the State of the Gofpel?

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30 And he faid, Whereunto fhall we

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