He explains it “anagogicè,” “allegoricè,” and “moraliter.” I shall give only the first two interpretations, as the moral signification has been given in the Gospel, and Meffreth does little else than repeat it. I. Anagogicè— 1. God the Father sows seeds of two kinds: A. Angelic nature, sown in the beginning, α. On the way; i. e. on Christ, its true resting-place, from which some of the angels were snatched away by pride. β. On the rock; i. e. on Christ. On this rock Satan fell and was broken. This is the rock which at the last day will fall on him and grind him to powder. γ. Among thorns; i. e. envy and ambition. δ. On good ground; this is the angelic nature, which rested unfallen on the good ground of God’s presence, and there ripened into the fruits of love, reverence, and obedience. B. Human nature, sown on the sixth day of creation. This fell— α. On the wayside of luxury: for the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasant to the eyes. β. On the rock of pride: for Eve was tempted by the promise, “Ye shall be as gods.” γ. Among the thorns of ambition: for the woman saw that the fruit was good to make one wise, and she desired “to know good and evil.” 2. God the Son went forth from the bosom of the Father to sow Himself— A. In the womb of the ever-blessed Virgin, that good ground where He would spring up and bear an hundredfold. In her womb He sowed— α. His Divinity. β. The humanity of Adam’s flesh. γ. The human soul, which is the breath of God. B. When He left the womb of Mary He went forth to sow— α. The Gospel, which fell— 1. On the wayside of the impenitent. 2. On the rock of Pharisaic pride. 3. Among the thorns of worldliness and avarice. 4. On the good ground of the elect. β. That He might sow His Divine grace. γ. That He might sow His mercy, pardoning iniquity: and this fell— 1. On the wayside of luxury. 2. On the rock of despair. 3. Among the thorns of riches. C. His own self did our Lord sow in His double nature, when He left earth for Heaven, there to sow the roses of martyrdom, the violets of confessors, and the lilies of virgins. II. Allegoricè— A. The sower is a preacher of the Gospel. The seed is the word. The resemblances are sixfold. α. The seed attracts the moisture of the earth, without which it is sterile. β. The seed occupies the place of weeds. γ. It generates seed in its own likeness.