I confess I believe the Evangelist rather than the modern Divine.

I cannot conceive how so strange a notion could ever have possessed the companions of Jesus, if it had not been true.

If really this parabolical method had been peculiarly intelligible, what could make them imagine the contrary?
Unless they found it very obscure themselves, whence came the idea that it was obscure to the multitude?
As a fact, it _is_ very obscure, to this day.

There is much that I most imperfectly understand, owing to unexplained metaphor: as: "Agree with thine adversary quickly, &c.

&c.:" "Whoso calls his brother[2] a fool, is in danger of hell fire:" "Every one must be salted with fire, and every sacrifice salted with salt.