Chap. 42, an Expofition upon the Book of J' o'$. Vert. S 825 he cannot be fees. Mofes fan, him that re invifible (lieb. 11. 27.) that is, he fawhim by an eye of faith, who is invifihle to the eye of fenfe. Ihave heard of thee by the bearing of the ear, bat now mine eyefeetb thee. Hence note, Pirft ; It io agreat mercy, and much to be acknowledged, that we bave the word of God founding inour ears. K Faith comethby bearing (Roin.1o.17.) The Prophet faith (Ifa. s 5. 3.) Hear, and yourfoulfhall live. Now if faith and life come by hearing ; to have the word of God founding in our ears, muff needs bea great mercy. Though to have the word only founding inour ear, will do no man good, yet 'cis good to hear that joy- ful found. Though that fad Pròphefementioned by.Chria (Mar. 13.14.) be fulfilled in many, By bearing ye floafi hear, andMall not underfiand, and facingye_thanfee, and (hall not perceive ; Yet he faid to his faithful followers (verf.16.) Bleed areyour eyes, for theyfee, and your ears, for theybear. They receive a bleflìng by hearing, whofe ears are blcffed when they hear. O howcanny fouls are blefling God, that ever they heard of himfelf and his Son, our Lord Jefus Chrifl, by the hearing of the ear. To have an ear to hear, isa common blefling ; but to have an hearing ear, or to hear by the hearing of the ear, is a fpecial bleffing. Obferve, Secondly ; We fhould bear the Word very diligently. That phrafe, 1have beardof thee by the hearing of the ear (as the Hebrew Writers note) fignifieth a very attentive hearing. Everyhearing is not in hearing with the ear, nor every feeing like that we intend, when a man faith, Ifan, it with my eyes. One may fee and not fee, hear and not hear. The Word of God is to be beard with a hearing. Such doublings in Scripture have a great emphafis in them. As when the Lord faith, They are turfed with a curfe, it notes a great and a certain cuffe is coming; fo to hear by thehearing of the ear, implyeth fruitful hearing, and a laying upof thatin the mindwhich huh been heard (Pfal.44. 1.) We bave heard with our ears, O god, our fathers bave told us, what work thou ¿UP in their dayes, in the times of old. They who thus hear with theirears, treafure up in their hearts, and do with their N n n nn hands
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