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MATTHEW.

CHAP. XIII.

they hear not, neither do they underftand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Efaias, which faith, By hearing ye fhall hear, and fhall not understand: and feeing ye fhall fee, and fhall not perceive.

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15 For this peoples heart is waxed grofs, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed left at any time they should fee with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and fhould understand with their heart, and fhould be converted,and I should heal them.

16 But bleffed are your eyes, for they fee; and your ears, for they hear.

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endowed them with Abilities fufficient to make them acquainted with the truth of my Doctrine, altho they have heard my Difcourfes, and feen my Miracles they feem no more to have attended to them than if they had been destitute of the ufe both of their Eyes and Ears. Therefore I fpeak obfcurely to them, because having Faculties given them by God, they make no ufe of them, and are as if they were totally depriv'd of them. Thus it happens to the Jews of this Age what the Prophet Ifaiah iaith concerning thofe of his time; ch. 6. 9, 10. Hear ye indeed, but understand not, and fee ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the Heart of this People fat, and make their Ears heavy, and shut their eyes: left they fee with their eyes, and bear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. But bleffed are ye, in that having made a right ufe of the Gifts of God, you have realon to hope for the increase of his Favours towards you: for I tell you

that

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that many Prophets and holy perfons have defir'd to be witneffes of those things which you fee and hear, and it hath not been granted to them. But know you not the meaning of the laft Parable, which is not really obfcure? How then will you be able to come to the understanding of thofe that are?

Now the meaning of it is this: The Corn fow'd is the Revelation of God's Will The Sower of it is he that publishes this Revelation: The Hearers are the Ground on which the Seed falls: The High Road is an Image of those who liften to the Gospel when 'tis preach'd, but growing quickly negligent and careless, lay themselves open to the Frauds of evil Spirits, which quite efface the memory

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while believe, and in afterward time of temptation fall away.

root in himself, but root in themselves, no root, which for a
dureth for a while: and fo endure but for
for when tribulation a time
or perfecution arifeth when affliction or por-
because of the word, fecution arifeth for
by and by he is offend- the word's fake, im-
ed..
mediately they are
offended.

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of it, and thereby hinder them from making a right judgment concerning it; and fo deprive them of the means of obtaining Salvation. The ftony Ground reprefents thofe who willingly embrace the Gofpel at the firft Offer of it, but are not deeply affected with it, and fo in time of Perfecution upon the account of it are ready to abandon it, rather than to endure the leaft Calamity. The Ground overrun with Briars is a Defignation of thofe who at firft willingly receive the Gofpel, and for a while are mindful of it, but afterwards are diverted by anxious Cares after the Conveniences of Life, and the earnest purfuit of Riches; and thus neglecting to conform their Lives anfwerable to the Divine Prefcript of it, render the Revelation of it wholly ufelefs to 'em. Laftly, the good Soil reprefents thofe who receive it

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23 But he that re- 20 And these are 15 But that on the ceived feed into the they which are fown good ground are they, good ground, is he on good ground, fuch which in an honeft that heareth the word, as hear the word, and and good heart,having and understandeth it, receive it, and bring heard the word, keep which alfo beareth forth fruit, fome thir- it, and bring forth fruit, and bringeth ty-fold, fome fixty, fruit with patience. forth fome an hun- and fome an hundred-fold, fome fixty, dred. fome thirty.

21 And he faid un- 16 No man when to them, Is a candle he hath lighted a brought to be put un- candle, covereth it der a bufhel, or under with a veffel, or puta bed? and not to be têth it under a bed: fet on a candlestick? but fetteth it on a candlestick,

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Јони.

with an honeft and refolute Temper, who make it their business to meditate upon it; and treasuring up the Laws of it in their Memories, live all their Life-time after in conformity to it, be it attended with never fo great Calamities. These are they in whom this divine Seed brings forth the plentiful Crop I fpoke of, tho not equally in all.

Altho there may feem to be fome Obfcurity in this Parable, as you have obferv'd, yet my Defign was by no means to be unintelligible to all: For as no one lights a Candle on purpose to conceal the Light of it under fome Veffel or Couch, but to place it on high, that it may be confpicuous for the neceffary Occafions of the House fo neither do I propound my Doctrine to my Hearers fo as not to be underftood by any of them. Suppofe no one at first comprehend it, it is impoffible but it must shine out in a fhort time: for you may juftly apply to it that proverbial Saying, Nothing is hidden that shall not be discovered, nothing fecret that shall not be

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manifefted. Whoever therefore would understand my Words, let him give attention to them, and they shall become plain and eafy, provided he makes ufe of the Faculties God has given him as he ought to do..

Moreover, Jefus caution'd them against a negligent hearing of his Doctrine: for, faith he, if you receive what I now deliver with an honest and religious Temper, I will hereafter give you a more clear and copious Expofition of my Doctrine. Confider diligently what fort of Hearers you ought to be: for, if you make a right ufe of what I now fpeak to you, I will intruct you further; otherwife that very. Knowledg which you feem'd to have acquir'd thall become unprofitable to

you.

Several other Parables Jefus fpoke to the Multitude. In the heavenly Kingdom of the Meffiah there thall happen fomething like the Accident that befel that. man, who having fowed his Fields with good Wheat, an Enemy came privately

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