And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying] That is, he spake many parables according to the severall capacitie of his auditours, and their various imployments. Some of them might be husband-men, others merchants, others, fisher-men. He teacheth them all in their own element. Proverbs are sometimes called parables, although there be no similitudes in them, as Psal. 49. 4, &c. But here the word signifies, a setting forth of spirituall things under corporall similitudes. In this sermon on the mount, when he sets out heavenly blessednesse, and the true meaning of the law, and in many other sermons he speaks much in plain terms, and sometimes in parables easie to be understood: but here he speaks onely in parables, not expounding them to the people. The reason is given, verse 11, &c. and verse 34, 35. yet parables expounded (as some of these are afterwards) serve much to help the understanding, as shewing us the face of heavenly things in earthly glasses. They stir up the memory also upon sight of visible things, to call to minde invisible. They work much upon the affections, when they are taken from things we love, or hate. Behold, a sower went forth to sow] Luke 8:5. This is the first of the seven parables in this Chapter: wherein is intimated, That the seed of eternall life which is sown in the preaching of the Gospel, thriveth not so well in one, as in another. And the reason is, For that men for the most part, either do not receive it, or suffer it not to ripen. So he admonisheth his hearers, that their flocking after him would do them no good, unlesse they profited by his word, which in likelihood, a fourth part of them onely would do.