Chap. 34. An E.pofttion upon the Bookof 1 o B. Verf. 3. 50; Angels in Heaven,dayly rifing up to a fpiricuall and heavenly life ; God- lifts us up to Heaven ( as I may fay ) r rte eares. Our Bares were -not. given ns only to heare delightful' founds, or to commune one with another about the affaires of this life ; the ufe of-the care is yet more noble, even to helpe.us in the receiving of all laving and fm&ifying knowledge. Faith comae; by t tams, Rom. 15 .17 ) and fo doh everygrace,both as to the implan- tation and growth of it,. till wecome toglory. Therefore confi- ., der how you ufe this excellent fnle of heating, and how you im- prove in fpiritualsbywhat you have heard. We were made after the Image of God inknowledge and ríghteoufneffe, and it fhould be the great defigne of our lives to get this image renewed ; and that is done at the eare,'tis wrought by hearing ; fairh,repentancc, -and every grace come in and ate wrought at the care. Some ícoffe at thislatter age, calling it a hearing age not a working age; we ( fay they) are much for ear-wort¿, little forhand-worn; a`l' for Preaching, nothing for doing ; no, can this reproach be quire wiped off, feeing with our plenty of Preaching, there is fdltttle prat -tifing ; asif men had turned all the members of their`hody into cares; and were nothingbut hearing': To doe nothing' hilt heave, or toheare and doe noshing, to heare much andaa little, is a high provocation. To have a fvel'dhead anda feeble hand is the difeafe of Religion. Yet let not voluptuous Epiceres'who are all for the palateandbelly-cheere think to excule ihemfelves, for trot hearing, or for feldome hearing; becaufe fume-who hear much are found doing little, or feldomedowhat they hear : for as theft fhali be condemned by the word sohieh they have! heard and not done, fo (hall th.fe for not hearing the word which'would have (hewed them what todoe. It bath been anciently laid, 71e' belly bath no earui nor will they either mind hearing, or min1 what they hear,whe mind their.bellyes.(not for hunger and the fupport of nature, that is ( as Selomon fpeaks ( Eccfef. ró. t;., ) for flrength but ) for drunkenneffe or furfet. When a volup`u- C:!m &iívooe ous perfon definedCato that he might live wi:(; him : No, laid nun Pollan cui Iarum ma u lrro, I like 'tut your fociety, I doe not love to converge with a 1 a snan who ufeth his mouth more thenhis Bares ; who i;bufied more, uut to pleafe his raft in catingand drinking, then to enrich his under- Chu) in vita ;landing by hearing and difcourun:,. The Aronle (lit. i. t x: C'c+.arriso referringthem tooneof their own Poets) calleth the C ir:ans T t t ez. ;12
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