The Parable of the Sower
(Matthew 13:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)

1He began again to teach by the sea-side: but there was so great a crowd gathered about him, that he was oblig'd to go into a ship, where he sat down, and stay'd on board while the people stood on the shore. 2then he addressed himself to them in many parables, and thus began his instructions.

3give your attention to what I say, a sower went out to sow: as he sowed, 4some of the seed happened to fall by the wayside, which the birds light upon, and devoured. 5some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth, and it soon sprang up, for want of a sufficient depth of earth. 6but when the sun was up, it was scorched, and for want of root, withered away. 7some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choaked it, so that it yielded no fruit. 8but part of it fell on good ground, which sprang up, and grew so fruitful, that some grains produced thirty, others sixty, and some an hundred. 9he that hath ears to hear, said he, let him hear.

The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
(Matthew 13:10–17; Luke 8:9–10)

10And when he was in private, the twelve, and some of his disciples asked him the meaning of the parable. 11he answered, you are admitted into the secret of the gospel-dispensation: but to unbelievers every thing is couch'd in parables; because, 12tho' they see, they will not perceive, and tho' they hear they will not understand: as if they were afraid of parting with their vices, in order to be pardoned.

The Parable of the Sower Explained
(Matthew 13:18–23; Luke 8:11–15)

13but if, said he, you don't comprehend this easy parable, how can ye understand any of the rest? 14the sower is he that soweth the word. 15they who receiv'd seed by the wayside, are those in whom the word is sown, who no sooner have heard it, but satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16in like manner, they who receive seed on stony-ground, are such as upon hearing the word, do immediately receive it with joy. 17but having no root at the bottom, they are only occasional professors, for if they meet with any trouble or persecution upon account of the word, immediately they revolt. 18as for those, who receive seed as among thorns: they are such as hear the word. 19but the cares of this life, the deceitful love of riches, and a crowd of different passions, stifle the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20they who receive seed as on good ground, are such as hear the word and entertain it, and bring forth fruit, some in one degree, and some in another.

The Lesson of the Lamp
(Luke 8:16–18)

21Again he said, is a lamp ever brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? or to be set on a stand? 22for there is nothing conceal'd but what shall be made manifest: nor was any thing kept secret, but in order to be divulged. 23if any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 24And consider, said he, how you hear; for in proportion as you weigh what is communicated to you, new light shall be given: 25for he that makes use of what he has shall have more, but he that does not, shall be stript of what he has.

The Seed Growing Secretly

26Again, he said, the state of the gospel is like that of the grain, which a man sows in his land: 27however he takes his repose by night, or is employ'd by day, the grain shoots up and grows without his inspection. 28for the earth spontaneously produces, first the blade, then the ear, after that the grain of corn in the ear. 29but as soon as the fruit is ripe, the sickle is applied, because the harvest is come.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
(Matthew 13:31–32; Luke 13:18–19)

30Again he said, to what shall we compare the state of the gospel? or by what parable shall we represent it? 31it is like a grain of mustard-seed, which when sown in the earth, is less than any other grain that is sown there. 32but after it is sown, it grows up, and becometh larger than other plants of the pulse kind, and shooteth out its branches so high, that the fowls of the air may lodge under its shadow.

33Thus he instructed them by such a variety of parables as were adapted to their capacity. 34his stile in publick was figurative, but he explain'd every thing to his disciples in private.

Jesus Calms the Storm
(Matthew 8:23–27; Luke 8:22–25)

35The same day in the evening, he said to them, let us cross over to the other side of the lake. 36when they had dismiss'd the people, the bark he was in, set sail, in company with other small barks. 37at length a violent storm ensued, and the waves beat into the ship, that it began to fill, 38whilst Jesus was at the stern, asleep on a pillow: upon which they awak'd him, crying out, master, have you so little concern to let us sink? then he rose, 39and rebuked the wind, hush, said he, and be still, immediately the wind subsides, and a settled calm ensued. 40why, said he, are ye so frighted? are ye still so void of faith? 41and they were exceedingly afraid, and said to one another, who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey him?