Chap.I t. accordin3tvStrbiA TT H E vv. 353 grows upon his head : but let him draw up his heart to his ears, that one found may pierce both at once. Thushear, and your(dui: 1,;0R:9, jhalllive, Ifa.55.3 A 'heavy ear is afingular judgement, I/a.6. The good Hebrews are taxed tor their dull hearing, He6.5.1 r. Such ears are likely to be forced open by corree ion, /oh 33.16. and be made hear the rod, Mich. 6.9. So that if they did but fee their danger,they would doe,as the Prophet requires,cut their hair and calf it away, under the fence of the horreurof Gods heavy dif- plealure,ler.7.24 29. Verfe 16. But Whereuntofall I liI¿,en this generation ?] So great was the contumacy and obftinacy of this perverfe people, the Pharifees efpecially, that the wifdom of God Items tobe at a want for a fit word toutter to them, for their better convitiion. And do not Tomefuch fit before us at this day, as fencelefle every whit of what isfaid to them, as the feats they fit on, thepillars they lean to, the dead bodies they treadupon ? We may (peak to them,alas, till wefpet out our lungs, and all toas little purpofe, as Bededid,when he preached to an heap of bones. Verle 17. we have piped unto you &e.] It is probable that children, in chore daies, were wont to folace themfelves with fongs in this fort : And thence our Saviour leeks to repreffe the pride,and fèt forth the finof his untoward hearers. Fit fimilies doe excellently illuftrate : And hat's the belt Preacher, faith Luther, that deliverer) himfèlf vulgarly, plainly,trivially : noc (peaking in aRoman, Englifh, or other lofty language, that the hearers are nothing the wifer for : nor yet puzzling them with fcholafficall craggy difquifitions, that breed winde, and not nourifhment. But fo attcmpering their ditcourfes to the hearerscapacities, that their defires and endeavours may anfwerhis : as it was between S. Paul and the EldersofEphefau, Alts 20.31- --37. He tells them of his tears, and they anfwer him with tears : Ohappy compliance I But molt of our hearers are like thefe in the text, which whether piped to,or mourned to,are nothing at all affelted. Verfe 18. For7ohncame neither eating,&c.] So froward men are and trample, that no preacher can plcate them. If he preach plainly,it will teem carelefle llubbering : if elaborately; curious of. tectation. And for his life; Auftere john hath a devil, fociab:e Chrift is awinebibber. And it was the worfe,becaufe from Scribes and Pharifees, whole wordmuff carry Inchcredit with it, as alone to condemn Chrift ; and whole life molt be a rule to others. Doe A 3 3 any
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