Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 13:19

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart, this is he which received the seed by the way side.

Mark hath this thus, Ch. 4. v. 14, 15. The Sower soweth the Word. And these are they by the [illegible: 1 word] side, where t[illegible: 1 letter]e Word is Sown, but when they have heard, Satan cometh immed[illegible: 1 letter]ately, and taketh away the Word, which was sown in their Hearts. Luke hath it thus. Ch. 8.11.12. The Seed is the Word. Those by the way side, are they that hear: Then cometh the Devil, and taketh away the Word out of their Hearts, lest they should believe, and be saved. From Luke we learn, that the Seed is the Word. From Mark ▪ that the Sower is the Preacher. Christ in the first place, then all who derive from him as his Ministers, and are exercised in Preaching the Gospel, which Matthew calleth the Word of the Kingdom, because it is the Instrum[illegible: 1 letter]nt by which God raised up Christs Kingdo[illegible: 1 letter] on Earth, both in the Church, and in particular Souls, and by which he prep[illegible: 1 letter]reth Men for the Kingdom of Glory. This is a mighty Commendation of the Word. The S[illegible: 1 letter]yl is the Hea[illegible: 1 letter]t, the Soul of Man. Now there are some Hearers, to whom the Word Preached, is like Seed, that a Sower throweth upon some Foot path, or high way, the Plow never turneth the Earth upon it▪ or the Harrow never goeth over it, so it lyeth b[illegible: 1 letter]re, and is trodden down by the Feet of Passengers, and the Fowls of the Air come and pick it up: So saith our Saviour, there are some that hear the Word, but never meditate upon it, never lay it to their Hearts, never cover it with Second thoughts, The Wicked o[illegible: 1 letter]es, the Devils who are [illegible: 2 letters]raid of the Power of the Word digested, (like the Fowls of the Ai[illegible: 1 letter] ) by Sugge[illegible: 1 letter]ting other thoughts, or by presenting other Objects to them, Catch away the Word, that was [illegible: 1 letter]own in their Hearts. These are they, whom I compared to the High way-Ground receiving the Seed. But some may say, How was it Sown in t[illegible: 1 letter]eir Hearts, if the Devil could thus catch it away? Ans. By the Heart here is meant the So[illegible: 1 letter]l, which hath several Powers and Faculties. Every thing we hear, goeth into our Heart, in some Sense. As the Heart may signify T[illegible: 1 letter]e [illegible: 1 letter]maginati[illegible: 2 letters] Power of our Soul, or that Power, by which we take the Notion of a thing. The Word doth enter into Sinners Hearts, so far as they spend some thoughts upon it, and gain some Knowledge and Notion of it, yea they may entertain it with some sudden and temporary Affection and Passion, indeed it is never so in their Hearts, as that they truly believe it, or that their Wills are conquered into the Obedience of it.