290 Chap. 3 3. An Expofition upon the Book of J o a. Verf. r dí wife, whatfoever we may think our felves warnedor warranted to doe by dreames,is but a mock or trick put upon us by the DevilI, or a deceit of our own foolish felfifh hearts. Thus we have feene the firfl way of Gods fpeaking tomen of old, by dreamer and'vi ionsof the night ; what work God is pleafed tomakewith and inman byfuch fpeakings, will appeare diflinetly in the three following verfes. Verf. 16. Then be openeth the ears ofmen, andfealeth there infirntiian. In this verfeElihst, ives us the firfl of thole gracious defignes er'purpofes of God in fending dreams or vifions of the night ; thenhe openeth the ears of men. There is a twofold eare of man,. íirf+,external!, that organof hearing placed in the head.Secondly inrernall, that power of hearing feared in the heart. God can un- cover or open both. There are but few whohave their outward care flopt, we rarely meet with adeaf man. But we every where meete with and fpeak to thofe who are internally, deafe. The Lord openeth this inwardBare, and he only is able todoe it. Cod openedthe heart (or internal' eare ) of Lydia to attend to the things f47 n"u's- whichwere fpokenofPaul (Adis 16.14.) The Septuagint render 4rraa r "r this place of ob ex reflel fo. Then he'openeth the mind of men. 9pm'rrup.Sep. F y p Their tranflation comesclofe to-the fence, though not to the let- 0ùddam ha, ter of the Originali. doquendi forma Further, theHebrew' is (aswe put in theMargin) He reveal- damñstani cif& eth or uncovereth'the Bares of men. This revealing or uncovering putant em he- ofthe care, fay fotne, noteth only private fpeaking, and is a firm- breamcon- litude taken from a common cuflome-among men,who when they cumuárímtiqúrt would conveytheir mind fecretly to a friend that hands by, put fecudis prolix-. their headnear to his eare,and takeup the brim ofhis hat, orput am.aderent ce -,by his haire (if long ) that theymay whifper in his Bare. Thins rnam, eaq;. au-- in a' dreame God whifpers and fpeaks filently unto men. 'This rofópertrent,,/Teems to have a futableneffe with that (Chap. 4, r t, I 3.) where Wuis Eli phaz, fpake.ofa thing broughtfecretly tohim, or that was whif pered or floln into him. But I conceive there is mere in this place then the intendment of a fecret and private conveyance of the mind of God into manina vifion ar dreame. And .therefore this opening ofthe Bare imports the removing
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=