But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Ver. 23. But he that received seed, &c.] Which is but a fourth part, if so much, of those that have the word purely and powerfully preached unto them. As at Ephesus, Acts 19:31, so in our church assemblies, the more part know not wherefore they are come together. They will say, to serve God, and hear his word, but who this God is, or how his word is to be heard, they neither know nor care. If the belly may be filled, the back fitted, &c., a they have as much as they look after. And of such dust heaps as these all corners are full; our Church is as much pestered and even dark with these epicures and atheists, who yet will not miss a sermon, as Egypt was with the grasshoppers. These are those last and loosest times, wherein, by reason of the overflow of iniquity, "the love of many is waxen cold, but he that endureth to the end shall be saved," Matthew 24:12,13. Where note, that for many that lose their love to God's word, it is but a he in the singular number that holds out therein to the end.
Some an hundred fold] As Isaac's seed did, that he sowed in the land of Canaan. This is not every man's happiness: yet we must propound to ourselves the highest pitch. "And let as many as are perfect be thus minded." That man for heaven, and heaven for him, that sets up for his mark, "the resurrection of the dead," Philippians 3:11, that is, that perfection of holiness that accompanieth the estate of the resurrection.
Some sixty, some thirty] It befalls not every man to excel, but it behoves every man to exact of himself such a growth in grace, that his profiting may appear to all, and that he is "neither barren, nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus Christ," 2 Peter 1:8. The vine is the weakest of plants, yet bears abundantly. Philadelphia had but a little strength, yet a great door opened, Revelation 3:8. The Colossians were but quickened, and not born, yet preciously esteemed of God, Colossians 2:13. He accepteth according to that a man hath, be it more or less, he blesseth our buds, Isaiah 44:3. Courage, therefore, though not so fruitful as thou wouldst be. Thine earnest pantings, inquietatious, and desires of better cannot but commend thee much to God. Prima sequentem honestum est in secundis tertiisque consistere, saith one. And Summum culmen affectantes, satis honeste vel in secundo fastigio conspiciemur, saith another. b Aspire to the highest pitch, but be not discouraged, though ye fall somewhat short of it. Every man cannot excel.
a Si ventri bene, si lateri, &c. Hor. Epist. I 12. 5.
b Cicer. de Orat. Columella, lib. 1, in praefat.