"A CHA P. XIII. Bout this time, Jefus being teaching in the House, and finding that he wanted room, went out to the fide of the Lake, and there he fat and taught the People. 2. And when the Multitude of People, that came together to hear him, grew fo great that they preffed one another, he went into a Boat that he might be the more conveniently seen and heard, and the People ftood upon the Shoar before him. 3. And because there were but few among them that were able to comprehend, or prepared and worthy to hear the whole Truth fully declared to them, therefore he inftilled things into them by degrees, and taught them by the way of Comparisons 4 And when he or Similitudes. And firft he compared the Preaching of the Gospel, to a Husbandmans fowing Corn in his Field; to fhew them, that as the fame Seed produced better or worfe Corn, accórding as it was fown in better or worse Ground ; fo the Preaching of the Do&trine of Chriftianity had more or less effect upon the Lives of Men, according as • it was heard and received. by Men of honest and welldifpofed Hearts, or by those of an evil and contrary Difpofition. A Husband-man, faith he, went out to fow his Ground: Thus the Preacher of the Gospel scattereth his Inftructions, and as it were fows the Precepts of true Religion, in the Hearts of his Hearers. 4. And while he was fow fowed, fome feeds felling, fome of the Seed fell up by the ways fide,and the fowls came and devoured them up. on the beaten Road, and never entring at all into the Ground, was picked up by the Birds. Thus the Doctrine of the Gospel is heard by L fome, fome, who never confider and meditate upon it at all; but as they hear it carelefly and without regard, so the next trivial business that either the Devil or the World puts into their Thoughts, causes them immediately to forget it. 5,& 6. Again, fome other of the Seed fell upon rocky Ground, where the Earth being very fhallow, it Sprung up indeed quickly; but having no depth of Root, as foon as the Sun Seone hot, it withered away: Thus fome others hear the Doctrine of Chriftianity, who receive it in deed, and confider it also, and make Refolutions to obey it; but not having a fettled firmness and conftancy of Mind, they are overcome by Temptations, efpecially in Perfecution, and fall away from God. 7. Again, fome other of the Seed fell among Weeds and Thorns, which Sprung up with the Corn, and overgrew it, and killed it: Thus the 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, fome an hundred fold, fome fixty fold,fome thirty fold. preaching of the Gospel is heard by others, who also receive it and entertain it; but their Minds are fo taken up with the Covetoufnefs, Cares, and Pleasures of the World, that it hath little or no Effect upon their Lives and Converfations. 8. Laftly, Some other of the Seed fell into good Ground, which brought forth Corn proportionably to the goodness of the Soil, fome more plentifully, fome lefs: Thus fome others hear the Doctrine of true Religion; who being of good and honeft and well-difpofed Tempers, believe, embrace and obey it, and fhew the Effects of it in the Holinefs of their Lives; according to the different degrees of the Goodness of their Tempers and of the firmness of their Refolutions, making smaller or greater Improvements in Virtue. 9 Who hath .cars 9. He that is capable and defirous of being inftructed, to hear let him hear. let him attend and obferve what I fay. 10. This Parable of the Sower Jefus fpake unto the People, without applying or giving the explication of it. And when he was alone, his Disciples asked him, why he taught the People only by way of Similitudes, without giving them the Explication.. 11. Jefus answered: Becaufe though you indeed may have all the Truths, that concern the State of the Gospel and the King. dom of the Meffiah, clearly and fully explained to you; yet the mixt Multitude are not capable nor worthy of fuch a thing. 12. For they who with honefty and fimplicity receive Inftruction; and improve thofe Advantages, which God hath already given them, to the purpofes of Religion and the in |