fell by the way side, pared for sowing, but left to go on in passing through and the fowls came the field, and there that which fell was (trod on, and devoured them saith Luke, and so was never able to grow, but lay 3Some fell upon till it was) devoured by the birds.

up:

stony places, where sufficient mould to take root, only enough to cover they had not much them, and by that means, as the manner is, they came they sprung up, be- up the sooner for having no depth of mould to take cause they had no root in.

earth: and forthwith

deepness of earth:

d when the time of year came for the sun to get up

6 And when the to more strength and heat, they—

were scorched; and

sun was up, they e in some parts of the field, where there were roots because they had no of briers not destroyed; and the briers or thorns overroot, they withered grew the corn, and so choked it.

away.

f those corns sprang up prosperously to the harvest, among thorns; and every corn yielding plentifully.

7 And some fell

the thorns sprung

up,

them:

some

fold.

10. And his disciples wondered that he should and choked speak so mystically and obscurely to the people, and therefore asked him why he did so.

8 But other fell in- 11. And he gave them this answer, The underto good ground, and brought forth fruit, standing the higher and obscurer parts of the gospel [a] hun- is a privilege that belongs only unto you disciples, dredfold, some sixty- which are believers already, which have already refold, some thirty- ceived and profited, and undertaken to direct your lives according to the rules of my doctrine communi9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. cated to you; but these, which have not done so, are 10 And the disci- not yet fit for revealing of secrets to them (that which ples came, and said is fitter for their turn, is to be incited by the darkness unto him, Why of parables to inquire into the meaning of them, speakest thou unto

them in parables?

mysteries of the

ver. 13).

II He answered and 12. Whosoever hath to purpose, that is, hath made said unto them, Be- use of any degree of grace or knowledge afforded cause it is given un- him by God, shall have more given him, (as in the to you to know the seed that fell on good ground,) he shall have an kingdom of heaven, abundant increase; as proverbially it is known of rich but to them it is not men, it is easy and usual for them to grow richer soon given. by wise employment, and laying out of their wealth, 12 For whosoever and every man's presenting them; but whosoever is [b] hath, to him shall be given, and poor ordinarily grows poorer: and so shall it be in he shall have more the spiritual wealth; whosoever employs what he hath, abundance; but he shall increase by exercising his graces, and bewhosoever hath not, sides, have addition from God; but whosoever makes from him shall be not use of what he hath, and so by his own fault taken away even that falleth into poverty, he shall not only be denied more, he hath. but shall be deprived of what he hath, the means of grace shall be taken from him, and also grace itself, (as to that measure which is in all the children of God,) upon his wilful continuance in sin against conscience; and all degrees of it taken away, either

understand.

when he shall have filled up the measure of his iniquities, or (in all who die before effectual repentance) at death.

13 Therefore speak 13. Parables may be designed to several uses: I to them in para- 1. they are such things that those who desire sinbles: because they cerely to learn may by industry and examination of seeing see not; and the parables more fully discern by them than by the hearing they hear not, neither do they plainest speech, and withal better carry it away and retain the sense of them; but secondly, they that willingly shut their eyes against the light, because their deeds are evil, they do not use to see, but understand and discern less by parables than otherwise; (and yet, thirdly, if they have any desire of learning left, parables will more excite and inflame a desire of understanding and inquiring after the meaning of them than any thing else ;) and therefore do I not speak plainly to them, but in such veils as these, because what hath formerly been without parables delivered unto them, as plainly as what is before their eyes, they have not made use of.

ceive :

some of

14 And in them is 14. And so what Esaias foretold of God's dealing fulfilled the prophecy with an obstinate people, although it was foretold of of Esaias, which your ancestors, yet hath a most eminent comsaith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall pletion now, and is found most true of them, That not understand; and they shall not receive so much profit as otherwise seeing ye shall see, they might by what is represented or delivered to and shall not per- them; things shall be so enigmatically and darkly 15 For this peo- represented to them as that they (having before shut ple's heart is waxed tir eyes, ver. 13.) shall now discern but little. gross, and their ears 15. And this is a just judgment of God's upon are dull of hearing, them, for their former obduration and obstinacy, in and their eyes they that they have hung down their ears (as creatures do any time they should that hearken not, whereas others hold them up) and see with their eyes, shut their eyes against me, wilfully blinded themand hear with their selves; for fear, as it were, that they should see, or ears, and should un- hear, or understand, and by repentance and converheart, and should be sion become capable of my working cures of mercy converted, and I on them, which otherwise I should infallibly do, (and should heal them. also, on God's part, lest such precious knowledge 16 But blessed are should be exposed to further contempt.) See note [a] 18 for they your eyes, on Mark iv. see and your ears,

have closed; lest at

derstand with their

2 for they hear.

that by receiving what hath been already taught 17 For verily I say you, you are thus capable of these higher illuminaunto you, That many tions.

eous men have desir

prophets and right- 17. For though there have been many men emed to see those things ployed by God to reveal his will to others, and many which ye see, and so far in God's favour, that God hath made himself 2 that, öri.

1 that, 87.

have not seen them; known very particularly unto them, as Abraham and and to hear those Moses, with whom he talked face to face, yet the rethings which ye hear, and have not heard velations now made to you are infinitely beyond all those that were ever afforded men before.

them.

18 Hear ye there

the sower.

18. You disciples therefore, to whom it is given to fore the parable of know the mysteries, ver. 11, (from whence to this 18th verse all was spoken as in a parenthes. s,) h a ye 19 When any one heareth the word of the meaning of this parable.

the kingdom, and 19. When the gospel is preached to any, and he [c] understandeth it lays it not to heart, but by temptations is induced to not, then cometh the live an unchristian life: this is that is meant by the wicked one, and

catcheth away that seed that is sown by the path side, that is, by that which was sown in part of the parable mentioned ver. 4.

his heart. [d] This

is he which received

seed by the way side.

20 But he that re- 20. But the sowing of seed on the stony ground ceived the seed into denoteth him that at the first hearing receives the stony places, the same is he that hear-gospel with all greediness and joy, looking only on eth the word, and the smoother part of it.

anon with joy receiv

eth it;

21 Yet hath he not 21. But for want of an honest heart, a good soil, root in himself, but where it may take deep root, for want of resolution to dureth for a while: bear whatsoever the gospel requires of them, they for when tribulation last but a little while: as soon as ever Christianity or persecution ariseth because of the is persecuted, as soon as any chargeable duty is reword, by and by he quired of them, immediately they are galled and is offended. discouraged from going any farther in the ways of 22 He also that piety. See note [c] on ch. xi.

the thorns is he that

received seed among 22. But the sowing of seed among thorns denoteth heareth the word; him that heareth the gospel, but the solicitude and and the care of this care of preserving the things of this world (and of world, and the de- getting of riches) being in his heart, where the word is sown, suffocates it, and so renders the word in him choke the word, and he becometh un- unfruitful, makes him live never the better for being a Christian.

ceitfulness of riches,

fruitful.

23 But he that received seed into the

23. But the sowing the seed in good ground degood ground is he noteth him, that by hearing and understanding, and that heareth the laying to heart the precepts of Christ, expresses the word, and under- effects of it by bringing forth abundance of Christian standeth it; which practice all the life after, some in a greater measure also beareth fruit, than others, but all in a good proportion.

and bringeth forth,

some an hundred

fold, some

some thirty.

sixty,

4 that which is sown on stony ground, 5 And that which is sown, d dè σrapeis.

3 This is it which is sown by the path side. ὁ δὲ ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη σπαρείς : see note [d]. beareth, γίνεται. 7 that which is sown upon.

6 it

24 ¶ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of

The state of the gospel or success of Christ's

heaven is likened preaching in the world, is likened

unto a man which

sowed good seed in his field:

25 But while men slept, his enemy and sowed

came

way.

26 But when the

i all through the wheat, all over the ground, and—

26. This was not discerned at the time, but when blade was sprung up, the corn came up, and began to ear, then, beside the and brought forth wheat that was sowed, there appeared cockle also. fruit, then appeared

thetares also.

27 So the servants of the housholder came

and said unto him,

Sir, didst not thou j certainly all the seed which thou didst sow in sow good seed in thy thy field was good wheat, and yet we discern now a field? from whence then hath it tres great deal of cockle among it; whence should this be?

28 He said unto

k

them, An [e] enemy

hath done this. The servants said unto

* Some malicious person hath done this. Hereupon the servants offer their pains, if he please to him, Wilt thou then accept them, to go presently and weed up all the

that we go and ga

ther them up?

29 But he said,

cockle.

1 Nay; lest while ye 1 No, for some of them are in such a conjuncture gather up the tares, with the wheat that the one cannot be pulled up but ye root up also the the other will follow, if it be done by you that are not so able to discern them.

wheat with them.

30 Let both grow

m

together until the

m until my time of judgment, and then I will apharvest and in the point the angels my officers, saying, Gather—

time of harvest I

will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

31 Another para

ble put he forth unto

them, saying, "The n The state of the gospel is of such a growing prokingdom of heaven creative nature both in the world and in the heart of is like to a grain of mustard seed, which man, where it is received, that it is fitly resembled man took, and to a grain—

a

sowed in his field:

32 Which indeed is 32. Which being one of the least seeds that are, the least of all seeds: yet when it comes up prosperously, it becomes bigger but when it is grown, than any thing that comes from a seed, and

it is the 10 greatest

among the among herbs, and Jews grows into a tree with boughs large enough for becometh a tree, so birds to roost or lodge in. See note [a] on Luke xiii.

that the birds of the

air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable spake he unto them; The king

The gospel hath such a secret invisible influence dom of heaven is on the hearts of men, to change them and affect them, like unto leaven, and all the actions that flow from them, that it is fitly which a woman took, and hid in three resembled to leaven, so mixed throughly with the measures of meal, whole, that although it appeareth not in any part of till the whole was it visibly, yet every part hath a tincture from it.

leavened.

34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them:

35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will

PI will pour out all those mysterious truths which

[] utter things have been kept close from all time, and now, though which have been in parables, are revealed by me.

kept secret from the

foundation of the world.

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying,

૧

De

clare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;

a Explain, interpret unto us

38 The field is the 38. The field is this world, the place of our living world; the good seed here; that part of the parable that concerneth the are the children of good seed signifies the Christians; but that of the the kingdom; but fares signifies the wicked seducers; such were the children of the Gnostics, and other heretics of the first times; such

the tares are the

wicked one;

are all heretics and schismatics since.

10 greater than herbs, μεῖζον τῶν λαχάνων.