Lube faith, chzp. 8. 9. His Diſciples asked him, ſaying, What mizhr this Parable be? Mark faith, When he was alone, thoſe that were about him with the twelve, asbed of him the Parable. It thould ſeem, thar his rwelve Apoſtles underſtood his meaning, bur others that with chem were about him when the Multitude were gone, did nor : They therefore defire of him, 1. Thar they might underſtand rhe reaſon why he ſpake to the Multicude 1n dark Say- ings and Similirudes, without plainly opening his meaning to them. 2. They own yheir own dulneſs ot Underſtanding , and conteſs that they themſelves were ignorant, and therefore defired him chat he would tell chem the meaning of chis Parable, with which he had entertained the Multirude, Their ſtaying wich the Twelve , when the Generality of the Multitudes, were de- parted , argued thar they came with a defire co learn, and to be inſiruted, not our of a meer Curtiot'ty to ſee Chriſt, or in a meer Formality : They ſhew borh rneir Charicy, in defiring others mizhr be intelligibly inſtructed; and their Piery, in defiring char they might be more fully themſelves inſtrufted.
Wa
11 He anſwered. and ſaid unto them, Becauſe * it
ye
is given to you to know the myſteries of the king-
b! om of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12*For whoſoever hath,to him ſhall be given,and
| - he ſhall have more abundance : but whoſoever hath
not, from him ſhall be taken away, even that he hath.
Mark ſaith, chap. 4.11. Unto you it is given to know the Myſte- ries cf the Kingdom of God : But unto them that are without, all theſe things are done in Parabies, Luke ſaith no more than, Unto yu it #s given to bnow the Myſteries of the Kingdom of God : But to them in Parables. Only chap. 8. 18. he ſaith, Take heed theie- fre how you hear : For whoſoever hath, to him ſhall be given ;, and why/oever hath not, from him ſhall be taken, that which he ſzemetly to hve; becauſe it is given to yu , Kc. , Given by my Father. God, according the good Pleaſure of his Will, hath given ro ſome Perſons to know the Myſteries of the Kingdom of God, more than to cthers. Some here diſtinguiſh concerning the things Which concern the Kingdom of God : The Laws of his Ring- dm, they ſay, are delivered plainly ; viz. Thoſe things which are neceſſary to be known in order to our Salvation , are delt- vered plainly, fo as we may underſtand rem. Bur there are cer things that belong ro his Kingdom , nor ſoneceifary to be known in order to Salvation; theſe God giveth to ſome_only t know, I cannot apree to this Notion : God manifeſted in the Hh, is the Great Myſtery of the Goſpel , the Myſtery hid from Ages; yet I am ſure the Knowledge of Chriſt as 1uch, is ne- ceilary ro Salvation. | therefore think the Empheſis lyerh upon knw, There is a more General and confuſed Knowledge of a wing; and there is a more diſtin, clear, particular Know- icdag, 2. There is a meer Notional Knowledge; and there is a more Affettive', Experimental Knowledge. To you my Father hath given Ecernal Life, and as means in order to it, ro know more clearly, particularly and diſtinatly the things that concern the Kigdom of God; ro know, and to believe in me, who am te Saviour of the World : My Father hath no ſuch ſpecial and Particular kindneſs for the Generaliry of this People, and there- tore he hath nor given to them the ſame Aids and Aſſiſtances,
Fr whyſoever hath, to him it ſhall be given , and he ſhall have in "ure eundance.) By Him that hath, ſome underſtand , He that |
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flon of the Parable abour the 7alents, But tho' che preceding Parable plainly leadeth to ſuch a Senſe there, yer the preceding Words ſeem as direfaly to lead to another Senſe here, and whac 1s the more natural and proper Stynification of rhe word Huh which moſt naturally fignihes to have a thing in our Poſleſtion. He that hath therefore in all reaſon, fignines, He that hath thar which, wv. 11. is faid to be given. He that hath the javirg Kniw- ledge of the Myſteries of the Kingdom of Gcd. To him t:,ar doct, nor fo much come to hear me our of Curioticy, and cumprehenc- cth by his Underſtanding, ſomething of my W:ll; bur hath an Hearr that imbraceth and receiverh me, ſo as he belieyerh in Mc. To him that hath the Seed of God, in him as in g924 Grzund, { Shaf be given ,\ that is expounded by clic next words, Ard ſpall have m more abundance; he ſhall have more Grace, a more tv!l , and clear, and <1{tin& Knowledge of me, and the thin>s which con- cern my Kingdom. [ But from him that hath not Y Thar hart; nor the Seed of God, a true Root of Grace, in whom the Sed of my Word hath nor fallen as in g12d Ground , but only as 19 ce High-way, or in Thorny or Stony Ground , | ſhall te rahen away even that which he hath,) how can thar be ? ſw. It muſt vor be underſtocd of things in the ſame Nature and Kind; Luke ex- pounds 1t, chap. 8. 18. by, 6 Hx6 5yey, that which either to him- telf, or co orhers, he ſeemeth ro have. He that harh nor a Truck ot Grace, may think he hath: 2s Scope, and Opinion of himſelf, ſhall fil. Others may, from his Gifts and Parts, think hs hath; God ſhall unmask him, taking away his common Gifes, or- ſut- tering him to fall into, and be overcome by toul Temprations. His Gitts and Parts ſhall decay ; his Mofal Riglteoutneſs will abate by _—_ juſt Dercliction of him , and wichkolding his reſtraining race.
12 Therefore ſpeak I to them in parables : be-
cauſe they ſeeing, ſee not : and hearing , they hear not, neither do they underſtand. _ Neither 37h nor Luke hath chis , but ic direQMly followetk trom whar they have, which alfo tollowerh here; only here ic is plainly afierted concerning theſe Hearers, and given as 2 Reaſog why our Lord fpake to them in Parables. We hall in the Explj. cation of the following Words, inquire in what Senſe ir is ſaid 1 This People ſeeing, ſaw int; and hearing, heard not. :
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Eſaias, which ſaith , By hearing , ye {hall hear, and {hall not underſtand : and ſeeing, ye ſhall ſee, and [ball not perceive.
15 For this peoples heart is waxed groſs, and their ears are dull of hearing , and their eyes they have cloſed ; leſt at any time they ſhould ſee with their eyes.and hear with zhezr ears,and ſhould under- {fand with 7heir heart, and ſhould be converted, and I ſhould heal them.