As for the Parable where it is said that the Seed of the Word fructifies in the good and honest heart, I answer, that the Seed of the Word may be said to fructify two ways, either internally in the production of ⟨p. 436⟩inward Graces, or externally in the production of outward good Works: Now our Saviours scope in this parable, at least in the latter part thereof, touching the good Ground, was to show how the Word did fructify in the production of outward good Works; this is clear, because it is such a fructification as presupposes a good & honest heart: so that our Saviour doth not here deny the Words fructification in the production of Graces, but assert the Words fructification in the production of good works. Nay, in the former part of the Parable touching the three sorts of bad Ground, laying down the impediments of the Words fructification, and those impediments being in themselves impediments to all kind of fructification, as well that which is in the Production of Graces, as that which is in the production of good Works; he seems by way of implication to hint out the Words fructification in the production of Graces, according to the Method of the two Instants; for he saith, that the word did not fructify in the stony ground, because they had no root, Luk. 8. 13. intimating that the Word must first root, before it can fructify at all: So that if we might gather out of this Parable the whole Method of the Words fructification, ⟨p. 437⟩it seems to be thus; first, the Word must be notionally understood, which was wanting in him by the way-side; then it must be inwardly rooted, which was wanting in the stony Ground; then it must cast the choking World out of the heart, which was wanting in the thorny Ground; then it makes the Heart a good and honest Heart; and lastly, it makes that good and honest Heart fructify in all outward good Works: Wherefore this Parable is so far from contradicting, that it seems rather to illustrate the Method proposed in the two Instants abovesaid.
As for the Parable where it is said that the Seed of the Word fructifies in the good and honest heart, I answer, that the Seed of the Word may be said to fructifie two ways, either internally in the production of ⟨p. 436⟩inward Graces, or externally in the production of outward good Works: Now our Saviours scope in this parable, at least in the latter part thereof, touching the good Ground, was to shew how the Word did fructifie in the production of outward good Works; this is clear, because it is such a fructification as presupposes a good & honest heart: so that our Saviour doth not here deny the Words fructification in the production of Graces, but assert the Words fructification in the production of good works. Nay, in the former part of the Parable touching the three sorts of bad Ground, laying down the impediments of the Words fructification, and those impediments being in themselves impediments to all kind of fructification, as well that which is in the Production of Graces, as that which is in the production of good Works; he seems by way of implication to hint out the Words fructification in the production of Graces, according to the Method of the two Instants; for he saith, that the word did not fructifie in the stony ground, because they had no root, Luk. 8. 13. intimating that the Word must first root, before it can fructifie at all: So that if we might gather out of this Parable the whole Method of the Words fructification, ⟨p. 437⟩it seems to be thus; first, the Word must be notionally understood, which was wanting in him by the way-side; then it must be inwardly rooted, which was wanting in the stony Ground; then it must cast the choaking World out of the heart, which was wanting in the thorny Ground; then it makes the Heart a good and honest Heart; and lastly, it makes that good and honest Heart fructifie in all outward good Works: Wherefore this Parable is so far from contradicting, that it seems rather to illustrate the Method proposed in the two Instants abovesaid.
