Ilook Iit. THE WORD OF GOD COMPARED TO SEED. 575 M ET A P HO R. V. Seed lies fome Time in the Ground, before it fpring up; Clods alfo ottenrimes hinder it fmm fpringing up. VI. Frott and Snow conduce very much to the well-rooting of the Seed; they rend alfo to kill the 'Needs, which otherwife might ehoke it under the Clods: By which Mtans it roots, fpreads, and flou– rilhes more abundantly. VII. ·The earlier the, Seed is fown, the better it is rooted and en– abled to endure the Sharpnefs of the Winter. PAR ALL EL. V. The Word of God does often, like Seed, lie hid for a while in the Heart of a Sinner, before it eminently !hew itfelf. Clods of Corrtlption, ani:! Temptations, hinder its Growth and fpringing up. VI. So Affliction, when fancrified to gracious Perfons, which they meet with after their Con– verlion, and many Times in their very Seed-time, tends to kill the Weeds of Corruption, and breaks and mollifies the Heart, by which means · they come to be better rooted in Grace, and ftrengthened in Holinefs. V!I. So when the Word of God is early re– ceived in the Love of it, (when a young Perfon is fanctified in the Bud) Grace many Times flou– riihes more abundantly. Such h<tve g'eat Advantage above others. Long Experience tends much to the ftrengthening of Grace, enabling the Soul to hold out in an evil Day. Ir was a great Advantage to 'l'imothy, that he knew the holy Scriptures from a Child, 1 '!'£m. iii. VIII. Some Seeds which the Sower fows fall upon ltony Places, and fome on thorny Ground, as Experience fhews, which Seed brings not forth Fruit unto Per– fection ; and fome alfo falls by the High-way-fide, which the Birds devour. VIII. The Seed of God's Word, which ihe Son of Man by his faithful Minifters f<>weth in the Minill:ration of the Gofpel, falls oftentimd, upon a hard and rocky-hearted Sinner, who though, he receive the Word with much feeming Joy, yer in Time of Perfecurion falls away: Becaufe of the Word he is offended, Matt. xiii. 2 t. Others like thorny Ground, receive the Seed; but the Carts of this World, and the Deceitfulnefs of Riches, ehoke the Wvrd, and it becometh unfruitful. '!'he other hear the Word, and underjfand it not; then cometh the Devil, 'called the Fowl of the Air, and catcheth away that which was fown in the Heart: '!'his is he that receiveth Seed by the High-way-fide. IX. Fruitfulnefs of Seed deIX. So the Fruirfulnefs of the Word in Mens pends much upon the Sun lhining, Hearrs, depends upon Chrift's gracious Bleffing, and the Rain falling upon it; by and fhining upon it, and the Spirit's bedewing this Means it is quickened, and and watering it: It is God that gives the Increafe, abundantly fprings up. 1 Cor. iii. 6. X. Weeds many Times come X. So when the Word of God is received in t!p witn the Seed, and if they be Truth into the Heart, Sin and Corruption will, if nor plucked up, or weeded out, not carefully weeded out, fpring up; and hi'nder they willl\inder the Growth of the the Growth of the fpiritual Seed, Matt. xiii. Seed, if not quite choke it. Hence the Apoftle gives charge t-o the Saints, '!'hat they jhou/d look diligently, left any filii of the Grace of God; left any Root ofBitterncjs jpring up, and trouble them, Heb. xii. 5· , XI. The good Ground only XI. So none bur honeft and fincere Chriftians brings-forth Fruit unto PerfeCtion. ftand in the Day of Trial, and bring forth Fruit unto eternal Life, Mall. xiii. 2-3. XII. Men are very diligent and induftriou~ in fowing their Seed, they are up early, and labor hard, Morning and Evening. XIII. Winds and Storms do nor prevent Sowers in the Sowing of their Seed; bur let the Wind be high or low, blow from the !ilorth, or from the Soutli, yet they do and will fow. XIV. Men ufually are not fpar– ing of their Sced1 bllt fcatter it XII. So fuch as God harh fe~ t6 preach his Word, do diligent-ly attend their Miniftry, early and late, in Seafon and our of Seafon, as know– ing that their Laborjhall not be in vain in theLord, I Cor. XV. s8. XIII. Even fo hath the Seed 6f the Word been fown in all Ages, notwitl1ftanding the Storms have beaten, and the Wind of Perfeeution hath blown very roughly, fometimes one way, and fometimes another; yet this hath not in the leaft prevented the Sowing of the fpiritual Seed of the Word. XIV. How·plentifully hath the Word of God been prea-ched in Eingland,>and in other Countries ? And
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