sm; and in the last parable a picture of the
closing judgment."

The parallel which the same critic institutes between the seven parables
of this group and the seven beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount, is an
attractive study, and some of the coincidences are obvious and
beautiful; but this line of observation should be jealously kept
subordinate to the primary substantial lesson which each parable
contains. On the one hand, I desire that these secondary and incidental
views should not by their beauty draw to themselves a disproportionate
share of our attention; and on the other hand, I am disposed to respect
every earnest, sober, and reverential suggestion which any believing
inquirer may throw out, regarding the lateral references and
under-current secondary meanings of the Lord's discourses; for they
possess a length and breadth, and height and depth, which will exercise
the minds of devout disciples as long as the dispensation lasts, and
pass all understanding when it is done.

I.

THE SOWER.

"The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. And
great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went
into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a
sower went forth to sow; and when he sowed, some seeds fell by the
way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: some fell upon
stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they
sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun
was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they
withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up,
and choked them: but other fell into good ground, and brought forth
fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who
hath ears to hear, let him hear.... Hear ye therefore the parable of
the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and
understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away
that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by
the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the
same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when
tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he
is offended. He also t