The parables (in which he speaketh to the Iewes because they were reprobate) he expoundeth
to his Disciples, shewing that in his sowing, three parts of foure shal perish, through the fault
of the hearers. 21. And that his seruants must confesse their faith, 24. and vse their guifts
(contrary to those stony and thorny hearers.) And that his Church (notwithstanding the losing of
those three parts of the seed) shal be brought by his prouidence to the haruest, that is, to the
end of the world: 30. growing ouer al in time, though in the beginning it be as the litle mustard-seed,
35. and though such tempests of persecution in the sea of this world doe rise against it.
1.
*
Mat. 13,1.
Luke 8,4.
AND againe he began to teach at the sea side; and a great multitude was gathered together
vnto him so that he went vp into a boat, and sate in the sea, and al the multitude about the sea
was vpon the land.
2. And he taught them in parables many things, and said to them in his doctrine:
3. Heare ye; Behold, the sower went forth to sow.
4. And whiles he soweth, some fel by the way side, and the soules of the aire came,
and did eate it.
5. And othersome fel vpon rocky places where is had not much earth: and it shot vp
immediatly, because it had not deepnes of earth:
6. and when the sunne was risen, it parched, and because it had not roote, it withered.
7. And some fel among thornes: and the thornes grew vp, and choked it, and it yealded not
fruit.
8. And some fel vpon good ground; and it yealded fruit that grew vp & increased, and it
brought forth, one thirtie, one sixtie, and one an hundred.
9. And he said: He that hath eares to heare, let him heare.
10. And when he was alone, the Twelue that were with him, asked him the parable.
11. And he said to them: To you it is giuen to know the mysterie of the Kingdom of God;
but to
✟
Such as be out of the Church, though they heare and read neuer so much,
they cannot vnderstand. Bed. in 4. Marc.
them that are without, al things are done in parables:
12. that
*
Isai. 6,9.
seeing they may see, and not see; and hearing they may heare, and not
vnderstand:
Lest they should be conuerted.
God is not authour of sinne, but mans owne wil.
These speaches here and els where, we must not so vnderstand as though he spake
in parables of purpose and to this end, that the hearers might not vnderstand,
lest they should be conuerted; which were as much to say as that he would not haue
them vnderstand, nor be conuerted: but we must learne the true sense of this very
place in S. Matthew and in the Actes, where our Sauiour and S. Paul speake thus:
*They have heard heauily, and haue shut their eyes, lest perhaps they may see, and
vnderstand, and be conuerted, and I heale them. Wherby it is euident, that the
speaking in parables was not the cause (for many beside the Apostles heard and
vnderstood) but them selues would not heare, and vnderstand, and be conuerted: and so
were the cause of their owne wilful and obstinate infidelity. And therfore also he spake
in parables, because they were not worthy to vnderstand, as the other to whom he
expounded them.
*Mat. 13. Act. 28.
lest at any time they should be conuerted and their sinnes be forgiuen them.
13. And he saith to them: Doe you not know this parable? And how shal you know al parables?
14. He that soweth, soweth the Word.
15. And they by the way side, are these: where the Word is sowen, and when they shal haue
heard, immediatly commeth Satan, and taketh away the Word that was sowen in their harts.
16. And they likewise that are sowen vpon the rocky places, are these: who when they
heare the Word, immediatly with ioy receaue it;
17. And they haue not root in them selues, but are temporal: afterward when tribulation
is risen and persecution for the Word, forthwith they are scandalized.
18. And other there be that are sowen among thornes: these are they that heare the Word,
19. and the cares of the World and the deceitfulnes of riches, and concupiscences about other
things entring in choke the Word, and it is made fruitles.
20. And these are they that were sowen vpon the good ground, which heare the Word, and
receaue it, and yeald fruit one thirtie, one sixtie, and one an hundred.
21. And he said to them:
*
Luke 8,16.
Commeth a candle to be put
✟
Christ came not to teach his doctrine in corners and hucker mucker as Heretikes
doe, but to lighten the whole world therewith.
vnder a bushel, or vnder a bed?
and not to be put vpon the candlestick?
22. For there is nothing hid, which shal not be made manifest: neither was any thing
made secret, but that it shal come to light.
23. If any man haue eares to heare, let him heare.
24. And he said to them: See what you heare.
*
Luke 8,16.
In what measure you mete, it shal be
measured to you againe, and more shal be giuen
✟
'to you that heare.'
to you.
25. For he that hath, to him shal be giuen: and he that hath not, that also which he
hath, shal be taken away from him.
26. And he said: So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man cast seed into the earth,
27.
And sleep.
The Church, and Christs doctrine, (sleep we, wake we) increaseth by the great prouidence
of God, only the Preachers must sow, and plant, and water, and *God wil giue the
increase, nourishing the seed in mens harts. And therfore we may not giue ouer, or be
impatient and solicitous, if we have not alwayes good successe: but doing our duty,
commit the rest to God.
*1. Cor. 3.
and sleep, and rise vp night and day, and the seed spring, and grow vp whiles he
knoweth not.
28. For the earth of it self bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the eare,
afterward the ful corne in the eare.
29. And when the fruit hath brought out it self, immediatly he putteth in the sickle,
because haruest is come.
30.
*
Mat. 13,31.
Luke 13,19.
And he said: To what shal we liken the Kingdom of God? or to what parable shal we
compare it?
31. As a
Mustard seed.
The Church visibly increasing.
If the Church and Truth had more and more decayed and been obscured after the
Apostles time vnto ours, as the Heretikes hold: then had it been great in the
beginning, and smal afterward: where this Parable saith contrary, that it was a
mustard seed first, and afterward a great tree. vide Chrys. to 5 contra Gentiles
in vita S. Babylæ Mart.
mustard seed; which when it is sowen in the earth, is lesse then al the seeds
that are in the earth:
32. And when it is sowen, it riseth vp, and becometh greater then al herbes, and maketh
great boughes, so that
The birds.
Christian religion wonderfully spreading.
Of al Sectes or doctrine, Christs religion at the beginning was the smallest, and
most contemptible; but the successe therof farre passed al mans doctrine: in so
much that afterward al the wisest and greatest of the world made their residence
and rest therein.
the birdes of the aire may dwel vnder the shadow thereof.
33. And with many such parables he spake to them the Word, according as they were able
to heare:
34. and without parable he did not speake vnto them; but apart, he explicated al things
to his Disciples.
35. And he saith to them in that day, when euening was come:
*
Mat. 8,23.
Luke 8,22.
Let vs passe ouer to the
other side.
36. And dimissing the multitude, they take him so as he was in the boat: and there
were other boats with him.
37. And there arose a great storme of wind, and the waues beatt into the boat, so that
the boat was filled.
38. And he was in the hinder part of the boat sleeping vpon a pillow; and they raise
him, and say to him: Maister, doth it not pertaine to thee that we perish?
39. And rising vp he threatned the wind, and said to the sea: Peace, be stil. And the
wind ceased; and there was made a great calme.
40. And he said to them: Why are you feareful? neither yet haue you faith? And they
feared with great feare: and they said one to an other, who is this (thinkest thou) that both wind
and sea obey him?