But secondly, know for certain, That the things signified by Parables, are wonderful realities. O what a glorious reality was there signified by that Parable! The Kingdom of heaven is like to a net that is cast into the Sea, &c. Signifying, that sinners of all sorts, of all Nations, should be brought into Gods Kingdom, by the net of the Gospel. And O how real a thing shall the other part thereof be, when it's fulfilled! which saith, And when it was full, they drew it to shore, and put the good into vessels, but threw the bad away, Matth. 13. 47, 48. signifying the mansions of glory that the Saints should have, and also the rejection that God ⟨image 5⟩will give to the ungodly, and to sinners. And also that Parable, what a glorious reality is there in it! which saith, Except a corn of wheat fall to the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it doth bring forth much fruit, Joh. 12. 24. To signify, That unless Jesus Christ did indeed spill his blood, and die the cursed death, he should abide alone; that is, have never a Soul into glory with him; but if he died, he should bring forth much fruit, that is, save many sinners. And also how real a truth there was in that Parable, concerning the Jews putting Christ to death! which the poor dispersed Jews can best experience to their cost; for they have been almost ever since a banished people, and such as have had Gods sore displeasure wonderfully manifested against them, according to the truth of the Parable, Matth. 21. v. 33. to 41. O therefore, for Jesus Christ's s•ke, do not slight the truth, because it is discovered in a Parable; for by this argument thou mayest also, nay thou wilt slight almost all the things that our Lord Jesus Christ did speak; for […] spake them for ⟨image 5⟩the most part (if not all) in Parable. Why should it be said of thee, as it is said of some, These things are spoken to them that are without in Parables, that seeing they might not see, and that hearing they might not understand, Luke 8. 10. I say, take heed of being a quarreller against Christ's Parables, lest Christ also objecteth against the salvation of thy Soul at the Judgment Day.
But secondly, know for certain, That the things signified by Parables, are wonderfull realities. O what a glorious reality was there signified by that Parable! The Kingdom of heaven is like to a net that is cast into the Sea, &c. Signifying, that sinners of all sorts, of all Nations, should be brought into Gods Kingdom, by the net of the Gospel. And O how real a thing shall the other part thereof be, when it's fulfilled! which saith, And when it was full, they drew it to shore, and put the good into vessels, but threw the bad away, Matth. 13. 47, 48. signifying the mansions of glory that the Saints should have, and also the rejection that God ⟨image 5⟩will give to the ungodly, and to sinners. And also that Parable, what a glorious reality is there in it! which saith, Except a corn of wheat fall to the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it doth bring forth much fruit, Joh. 12. 24. To signifie, That unless Jesus Christ did indeed spill his blood, and die the cursed death, he should abide alone; that is, have never a Soul into glory with him; but if he died, he should bring forth much fruit, that is, save many sinners. And also how real a truth there was in that Parable, concerning the Jews putting Christ to death! which the poor dispersed Jews can best experience to their cost; for they have been almost ever since a banished people, and such as have had Gods sore displeasure wonderfully manifested against them, according to the truth of the Parable, Matth. 21. v. 33. to 41. O therefore, for Jesus Christ's s•ke, do not slight the truth, because it is discovered in a Parable; for by this argument thou mayest also, nay thou wilt slight almost all the things that our Lord Jesus Christ did speak; for 〈…〉 spake them for ⟨image 5⟩the most part (if not all) in Parable. Why should it be said of thee, as it is said of some, These things are spoken to them that are without in Parables, that seeing they might not see, and that hearing they might not understand, Luke 8. 10. I say, take heed of being a quarreller against Christ's Parables, lest Christ also objecteth against the salvation of thy Soul at the Judgment Day.
