eAcd no Fruit 3 but where the Sower ſoweth the Word, there 1s yet a very different Effet. Some bring forth the Fruit of Faith and Holineſs, and the Abiding Fruit of it, though in dit- ferent degrees : But many, yea, the moſt of thoſe that hear it, either bring forth no Fruit, or no Abiding Fruit, (witch 1s 1n- deed no true Fruit.) The Cauſes of this are, fome Mens per- funQory and carcleſs Hearing, never regarding to meditate on it, apply it to their own Souls, or to hide it in their Memories . Others, not ſuffering it to fink into their Hearts, and to take root in them, though it may at preſent a little afe& them, and make them Matter of Diſcourſe: Other Fcns Thoughts berg taken up with Buſineſs, and the Care of this World, ard tiicir Hearts filled with the Love of the Things of this Lite 3 whict; they. cannot part with, when Trouble and Perſecution for thc Owning and . Protefltion of the Goſpel arifeth. 3, It Iikewiſc teacheth us a ſure note of unprofitable Hearers of the Werd ;, as alſo of thoſe whom the Word 1s likely to profit, and have any good, and ſaving ctfeft upon « The former hear, but never 7c- gard whether they underftand what they hear, yea or no : The others are not ſatithed with hearing, unleſs they underttand 3 fo, thoſe who went to him to know the Parable, were not the Twelve only (who are often called hx Diſciples emphatica!ly,) but thct othcrs that were about him,to whom it was given 1» know the Myte rres of the Kingdom of God. 4. The moſt of our Saviour's Hearer were dou\tleſs Members of the Jewiſh Church, yet our Saviou: ver, Hi. fires the moſt of them thoſe that are without ; whicl. teach:tit us, that not only ſuch as are out of the Pale of th Church, but thoſe alſo who are out of the decreo of Elcfior- thoſe to whom jt is not given t bnow the Myſeries of the Kingdow ©% 94, are mm Chriſt's account withzt. For titer things con-
Chap. IV. S. M ARK.
cerning this Parable, they are fully ſpoken to in our Na+. Mat. 13. PE
21 And he ſaid unto them, * Is a cangl- brouet' Bug i
be {et on a candleftick ?
The import of this Verſe may be learned from 274, « L where the words are, and applyed by an Exhortation ©. nels, veing an Argument drawn from the End for ti receive Gifts and Grace from God, which is not only ©. own Advantage, though (like the Husb:ndman) tho@ ; have it, reap rſt of their own Fruit, but for the Gooo 1n. vantage of others alſo Some thivk that Chrift 1c; . Fa of bimſcit, who is the £325t of the IWorld, and therer po this Parable unto them. But the Context 11 Metthow S tothe true ſence of the words, I ſee no reaton tor us to” buf a {elves in {carching out another, eſpecially when the Congoxtc., lo fair with the foregoing Words, where he had Leen def + the g99d Ground, by bringing forth Fruit, fome tj, © {ixty, ſome an hundred-fild, What therefore the (hwin- ;1, 5.) in the good Ground, mention'd in the Parable is, that is the 1:1.) ng up of a Canal? 1 this Verſe ; and the Light ſhewed 51 +1 lighted Cand!2 not put under a Veſſel, or a Bed, but in a cr. 4. Stick, 1s the ſame thing with the Fruit before mentioned, 22 *FÞFor there1s nothing hid, which ſhall go + manifeſted:neither was any thing kept fecret;bur that it ſhould come abroad. 23 *Ifany man have ears to hear, let hin hc
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Our Saviour, Vat. 19. 26. ſending out his Apoftics.- fxit them, Fear them mt therefore 3; that is, not vour Enumic: + Pcrfecutors 3 for there is nothing covered, that ſhall nit be (e504) -1. and hid, that fhall nit be known. The ſence of which wys: we chere ſaid might be, Though your Innocency be now hid, vie it ſhall be made kno*«#n; or though the Goſpel be now hid, 1:4 preached in a little corner, and kept ſecret, it ſhall he mye« manifeſt, avd come abroad. Both Mark and Lube have it ij. mediately aiter the Parablc of the Sower, where it doth not ſec to have the ſam2 ſcuce as here. But more general Prove); common Sayings may be variouſly applyed to Things to which the common tence and import of them will agree. Some here apply them thus ; There 1s nothing in the Prophecies coneerr- ing Me, which ſhall not be manifeſted. Which agrees «i:!
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che ſence of thoſe who interpret the former Verſe concerni;; Chrift, as ifhe had been giving a Reaſon why he opened the Parables to thoſe that asked him of it, But thoſe who interpret 1: to the ſence which it beareth plainly, Mat, $. 15,15. make th; ſenie thus; For though you may play the Hypocrites, 2n: under a Protetſion of the Goſpel, but hide the Hypocrific, Li: and Corruptions of your Hearts ; yet that Mask will nc hog always ; there will come a Day of Judgment, which will man. feſt and diſcover all, and bring to light the hidd2n :!lings »: Diſhonzfty, What we have wer. 23. is but an uſual Conciufr which our Saviour hath-often made uſe of in many grave and in portant Diſcourſes.
hear: with what meaſure you mete, it ſhall be me: ſured to you; and unto you that hear, ſhall more S1VEN, |
25 Forhe that hath, to him ſhall be given: an!
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which he hat h.