A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 3 · Part 4 · Subpart 14
The Word of God compared to Seed.
Mat. 13.
The Seed is the Word of God.
METAPHOR.
GOod Seed is prepared by the Husbandman, and is reserved out of the choicest Wheat, and principal Barley; 'tis that which the Husbandman highly esteems and values.
II. The Ground, before the Seed is sown, is plow'd up, and made fit to receive the Seed.
III. The Husbandman either sows the Seed himself, or employs a Seedsman to sow it, one that hath Skill in that Employment.
IV. When Seed is cast into the Earth, it must be covered, or else the Birds may pick it up; besides, it will not otherwise so well take Root.
V. Seed lies some time in the Ground, before it springs up; Clods also oftentimes hinder it from springing up.
VI. Frost and Snow conduce very much to the well-rooting of the Seed; they tend also to kill the Weeds, which otherwise might choak it under the Clods: by which means it roots, spreads, and flourishes more abundantly.
VII. The earlier Seed is sown, the better it is rooted, and enabled to endure the Sharpness of the Winter.
VIII. Some Seeds which the Sower sows fall upon stony Places, and some on thorny Ground, (as Experience shews) which Seed brings not forth Fruit unto perfection; and some also falls by the High-way-side, which the Birds devour.
IX. Fruitfulness of Seed depends much upon the Sun shining, and the Rain falling upon it; by this means it is quickned, and abundantly springs up.
X. Weeds many times come up with the Seed, and if they are not pluck'd up, or weeded out, they will hinder the Growth of the Seed, if not quite choak it.
XI. The good Ground only brings forth Fruit unto perfection.
XII. Men are very diligent and industrious in sowing their Seed, they are up early, and labour hard, morning and evening.
XIII. Winds and Storms do not prevent Sowers in the sowing of their Seed; but let the Wind be high or low, blow from the North, or from the South, yet they do and will sow.
XIV. Men usually are not sparing of their Seed, but scatter it abroad so plentifully, that all and every part of the Field which they intend to sow, may be sown therewith.
Parallel.
THe Word of God is a choice and precious thing, and that which God highly values and accounts of:Psal. 138.… He hath magnified his Word above all his Name. Thy Word it very pure.Psal. 119.
II. Our Hearts are naturally hard, and have need to be plowed up, which is also done by the Word, and Conviction of the Spirit; hence the Gospel is called a Plow. See Plow.
III. Jesus Christ is the spiritual Seeds-Man; 'tis he that sows the Seed, who wants neither Care nor Skill to do it: The Sower is the Son of Man.
IV. So the Word of God ought to be hid or covered in our Hearts,Mat. 13.37 that Satan may not steal it away from us, and that it may take good Root downward, and bring forth Fruit upward.Psal. 119.9 David hid the Word of God in his Heart. It is not enough to have it in our Heads, but in our Hearts: Let the Word of God dwell in you richly. We ought to labour to understand it, to love it,Col. 3.16. and keep it in our Memories, yea, and to let it be well rooted in every Faculty.
V. The Word of God does often (like Seed) lie hid for a while in the Heart of a Sinner, before it eminently shews it self. Clods of Corruption, and Temptations, hinder its Growth and springing up.
VI. So Affliction (when sanctified to gracious Persons, which they meet with after their Conversion, 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 strengthned in Holiness.
VII. So when the Word of God is early received in the Love of it, (when a young Person is sanctified in the Bud) Grace many times flourishes more abundantly. Such have treat Advantage above others. Long Experience tends much to the strengthning of Grace, enabling the Soul to hold out in an evil Day. It was a great Advantage to Timothy, 1 Tim. 3.that he knew the Holy Scriptures from a Child.
VIII. The Seed of God's Word, which the Son of Man by his faithful Ministers soweth in the Ministration of the Gospel, falls oftentimes upon a hard and rocky-hearted Sinner, who tho he receive the Word with much seeming Joy,Mat. 13.2… yet in time of Persecution falls away: Because of the Word be is offended. Others, like thorny Ground, receive the Seed; but the Cares of this World, and the Deceitfulness of Riches, choak the Word, and it becometh unfruitful. The other hear the Word, and understand it not; then cometh the Devil, (called the Fowl of the Air) and catcheth away that which was sown in the Heart: This is he that receiveth Seed by the High-way-side.
IX. So the Fruitfulness of the Word in Mens Hearts, depends upon Christ's gracious blessing, and shining upon it, and the Spirits bedewing and watering it: 'Tis God that gives the Increase.1 Cor. 3.6
X. So when the Word of God is received in truth into the Heart, Sin and Corruption will,Mat. 13. if not carefully weeded out, spring up, and hinder the Growth of the spiritual Seed. Hence the Apostle gives charge to the Saints, That they should look diligently, lest any fail of the Grace of God; Heb. 12.5.lest any Root of Bitterness spring up, and trouble them.
XI. So none but honest and sincere Christians stand in the Day of Trial, and bring forth Fruit unto Eternal Life.Mat. 13.23
XII. So such as God hath sent to preach his Word, do diligently attend their Ministry, early and late, in season and out of season,1 Cor. 15.58. as knowing that their Labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.
XIII. Even so hath the Seed of the Word been sown in all Ages, notwithstanding the Storms have beaten, and the Wind of Persecution hath blown very roughly, sometimes one way, and sometimes another; yet this hath not in the least prevented the sowing of the spiritual Seed of the Word.
XIV. How plentifully hath the Word of God been preached in England, and in other Countries? and how plentifully was this spiritual Seed dispersed by the Apostles and Servants of Christ: They went every where preaching the Word. Which is come unto you, Col. 1, 6.as it is in all the World, and brings forth Fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the Grace of God in truth.
METAPHOR.
SOme Men, either through want of Judgment, or to save Charge, sow bad Seed, such as will not bear much Fruit, although the Ground whereon it is sown be never so good.
II. No Seed that Men sow can be at all fruitful, or yield encrease, except the Plow go before to break up the Ground, which the Seed cannot do of it self by any Art of Man.
III. Many Men have sowed good Seed, and that upon good Ground, and it hath taken Root, and flourished, and yet by some Accident or other, they have had a bad Harvest, brought but little Corn into the Barn,Hag. 1.6, 9 or sometimes none at all.
IV. The Seed which Men sow is not quickned,1 Cor. 15.36. except it die.
Disparity.
But the Seed of the Word of God is good Seed, and was never sown into good Ground, (that is, a good and honest Heart) but it took Root, and became fruitful, as all true Believers have experienced.
II. But the Word of God, through the mighty Operation of the Spirit, is not only Seed, but also the spiritual Plow, by which the fallow Ground of the Heart is broken up, and made fit for it self to sink into, and take deep Root there.
III. But never was the Seed of God's Word sown in a good and honest Heart, taking Root there, and flourishing, but a blessed Harvest always followed; nay, tho they sow in Tears, they shall reap in Joy: He that goeth forth, and weepeth, Psal. 126.5, 6.bearing precious Seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoycing, bringing his Sheaves with him.
IV. But the Word of the Lord dieth not, but liveth and abideth for ever: The Words that I speak unto you, Joh. 6.63.they are Spirit, and they are Life.
Inferences.
IT may inform us, that the Cause why some Persons fall away, and turn with the Dog to his Vomit, and with the Sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the Mire, is, Because they were never sincere, nor upright in Heart. The honest and upright Soul falls not away, cannot fall so as never to rise again, but brings forth Fruit to everlasting Life, (as our Saviour clearly shews.)
II. O then let Men and Women take heed to their own Hearts, and see whether they were ever throughly broken in the sight and sence of their Sin. The Word and Gospel must first be as a Plow unto them, to break up the stony and fallow Ground of their Hearts, before (like Seed) the Word can be received by them.
III. Remember, that notwithstanding a poor Soul may meet with many Storms, and go through much Difficulty and Trouble, both within and without, rise early, and lie down late, (whilst he keeps his Hand on the Lord's Plow, in this Seeds-Time of the Word) yet the Harvest will make amends for all: You that have sowed in Tears, shall reap with Joy. Nay, the Day is at hand, wherein both the Sower and the Reaper shall rejoyce together.