17Je Vutys and Signs of t/,e &r. PART. Ill. 1Jire8io11s for t!Je Gowmment of the Bar. Direa. '· o· .a. ut · h d 1 b d Gc:n. 49 . 2• 9• I· Jif~..;1., I· Inip oy yoHr ears :n_t e ltiJI W'Jic they wert m~ e for : and tothat end underftanl Exod. 19. 9· thofo dutys: Wh1ch·are as followeth. 1. To be the organe of reception of f. h Deut. 1.16. communication/ from otherr, as is neceffary for our convcrfe in the world a~d ~~~:~-1~ s. • the dutys of our feveral relations and vocations. 2. To hear the word ofGod & >'· •J· delivered publickly by his appointed Teachers of the Church. 3· To hear the counfcl of thcfe that llrov. 1". 8. privately adv~ze us for our good: and th_e reproc;>fs ?f thofe ~hat tell usof ~ur frn and danger. 4 . To & 19. 2o, 2.7. hear the Pratfes of God fer forth by hts Church m publ1ck, and particular fcrvants in private: : z. 2 • 1~ 5· To hear from our ancellors and the· learned in hifiorie, what hath been done in the times before J~~t11: 19 ?· 5 · us. 6. To hearthe complaints and petitions of the poor and needy and difireffed, that we may corn~ lfa. 66. 4• patlionate them and endeavour their relief. 7· To be the paifage for grief and hatred to our hearts & 6r. u. by the tinful word• which we hear unwillingly. . ' ~~~: ~-~. :z; -§. 2· Direct. 2• Knofl! which.are the jinJ of the ear that you may aveid.them. And t.hey are fuch as Mal. 1 • :.. follow. r. A carelefl ear, whtch heareth the word of God., and the pnv.ne exhortations of his fer~ Att. 3· >;. vants, as if it heard them not. 2· A fottijh fleepy tar that heareth the word of God but as a conl<v. !·'· fufed found, and undertlandeth not, nor fetltth what is heard. 3• A fcornful ear, which defpifcth De.ut. 1 ~· 12 • the mdfage of God, and the reproofs and counfel of men, and lCorncth to be reproved or taught. Dml/. 2 • 4• An obj!inatc j!ubborn ear, which regardeth not advice or will not yield. 5· A prophane and impioM ear, which loveth to hear oaths, and curfes, :md prophane, and blaij>hernous expreilions. 6. A carnal ear which loveth to hear of f/ejhly things, but favoureth not the words which favour of ho!inefs. 7• An airy hypocritical ear, which loveth more the mufick and melody, than the fenfc and ~iritual elevation ofthe foul to God ; ~nd regardeth more the numbers and compofiue and tone, than the matter of preaching , prayer·or other fuch dutys; and ferveth God with the ear , w(len the heart is far from him: 8. Acuriour ear, which naufeateth the moll: profitable fermons, prayers or dif.. courfes, if they be not accurately ordered and exprcifcd ; and tleighteth or lofeth the offered benefit for a (modal ) imperfection in the offer, .or the intlrument ! and catleth away all tht gold becaufe ; piece or two did catch a little rutl : And perhaps quarrellerh with the tlyle of the facred Scriptures, as not exac5t or fine enough for its expectations. 9• An itching ear, which runs after novelties,and a heap of T eachers, and liketh fomething txtraordinary better than things neceffary. ro. A felfi.P' ear, which loveth to hear all that tends to the confirmation of its own conceits, and to be flattered or frnoorhed up by others, and can endure nothing that is crofs to its opinions. 1 r. Aproudear which Ioverhirs own applaufe, and is much plcafed with its own praifes, and harerh all that fpeak of him with mean underv:~luing words. 12· A pievifh impatieltt ear which is netled with alrnofi all it heareth; and can endure none5ut filken words, which are oyled and fugarcd and fitted by flattery or the lowell fub– miffion, to their froward minds: and is fo hard to be pleafed that none but graduates in the an of pleafing can perform it. 13• Aboili prtfomptuoH< esr, which will hear falfe Teachers and deceivers in a proud conceit and confidence of their own abilities to difcern what is true and what is falfe. 14. An ungodly ear, that can eafily hear the reproach of bolinefs, and fcorns at the Cervanrs and ways ot ChrifJ. 15· Aneutral indifferent ear, that heareth either good or evil, without much love or ha.. tted, but with a dull and cold indifferencie. 16. A dijfrmbling temporizing ear, which can complying– ly hear one fide fpeak for ho!inefs, and the other fpeak againfl it, and fuit it felf to the company and difcourfe it meets with. 17. An uncharitable ear, which can willingly hear the cenfures, backbirings, flandcrs, revilings, that are ufed againfi others, yea againfi the befi. 18. An unnatural ear, which can eafily and wlllingly hear the dilhonour of their parentJ, or other near relations, if any carnal in- .- teretl do but engage them againtl their honour. Ifl· A rebrUio~M difobrdient ear, which hearkncth not to the juHcommands ofMagifiraces, Parents, Mafiers and other Governours, but hearkneth with mor~ pleafure to the words of feditious perfons that dithonour them. 20. A filthy, unclean, a.dulttrom ear, which loveth to hear filthy ribbald fpeeches, and Love-fangs, and Romances, and lafcivious plays, and the talk of wanton lull and dalliance. 2 I· Afolj-prowkJng ear, that hearkneth after all that others fiy againfi them, which may kindle hatred or dillike or paffion in them. 22. Abujie medling ear, which loveth to hear of other mens faults or matters which concern them not, and to hearken to twatlers and carry-tales, and make-bates, and to have to do with evil reports. 23. A timcrom, .co– wardly unbelieving eu, which trembleth at every threatning of man, though in a caufe w.h1ch. is Gods, and he hath promifed io jufi:ifie. 24. An idle tar, which can hearken ro idle tune– wafting talk, and make the fins of twatlers your own. All thefe ways ( and more) you arc in danger of finning b.y the ear, and becoming partakers in the fins of all whofc: flnful words you hear, and of turning into f:in the words of Qod and his fervants which are fpoken fur your good. . . Vire[l. 3· §.. 3· DireCT. 3· Knowwhen the hea,.ing qf evil, anJ mt hearing good i1 your fin : that IS, .r. ~hen 1t w~e~ hearing is not out of a~y impojtd. necef!it)', but of your voluntary choice : and when you migbt.avo,d Jt upon "Ev1l ts a fin. lawful terms, wnhout agreater hurt, and will not. 2. when you batenot the evil, whtch you are ncc:eifitated to hear, and love not the good which through neceffity you cannot hear ; but your hearts corn- . pl)'
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