A commentary or exposition upon the four Evangelists, and the Acts of the Apostles: wherein the text is explained, some controversies are discussed, divers common places are handled, and many remarkable matters hinted, that had by former interpreters been pretermitted. Besides, divers other texts of Scripture which occasionally occur are fully opened, and the whole so intermixed with pertinent histories, as will yeeld both pleasure and profit to the judicious reader. / By John Trapp M. A. Pastour of Weston upon Avon in Gloucestershire.

Verse 4. And when he sowed, some seed, &c.]

The word is a seed of immortallity. For, 1. As seeds are small things, yet produce great substances, as an acorn an oak, &c. so by the fool∣ishnes of preaching souls are saved, like as by the blowing of rams∣horns the wals of Iericho were subverted. 2. As the seed must be harrowed into the earth, so must the word be hid in the heart, ere it 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 3. As the seedsman cannot make an harvest without the influence of heaven: so, let us to the wearing of our tongues to the stump (as that Martyr expressed it) preach and pray never* 1.1 so much, men will on in their sins, unlesse God give the blessing, Paul may plant, &c. 4. As good seed if not cast into good ground yeelds no harvest: so the word preached, if not received into good and honest hearts, proves 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Pharisees were not a but on the better for all those heart piercing Sermons of our Saviour, nay, much the worse. 5. As the harvest is poten∣tially in the seed: so is eternall life in the word preached, Rom. 1. 16. As the rain from heaven hath a fatnesse with it, and a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 influence more then other standing waters, so there is not the like life in other ordinances, as in Preaching. None to that, as Da∣vid said of Goliahs sword.

Notes

• * 1.1

  M. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 serm. of step. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 est 〈◊〉〈◊〉, vest 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, Dei 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Cyril.