A godly and learned exposition or commentary upon the three first chapters of the…A godly and learned exposition or commentarie vpon the three first chapters of the…

Secondly, seeing this commandment is directed to the hearing hearers; we must hereby be admonished to use all good means to become good hearers of Gods word; bringing with us not only the bodily ears which we have by creation, but the spiritual ears of the heart, which we have by regeneration. For it is not sufficient to our salvation to receive the word into the outward bodily ears, unless the inward ears of the heart be opened, that our soul may be affected with the word, and fitted to receive, to believe, and obey the same. Thus did good king I•sias hear the law read, the text saith, ^(e)His heart […] within him, And thus did David hear when the Lord said to the church, ^(f)Seek •ee my face: his heart answered, I seek thy face O Lord. And as we must be careful to get spiritual ears; so we must take heed of deaf ears. Which is when a man cometh & heareth the word of God, but yet hath no care in his heart to learn, believe, or obey the same. This deaf ear is a fearful judgement of God, whereof we may read, Isay. 6.9. where the Prophet is sent, To make their ears heavy, and their harts fat, that they might not bear, nor believe: lest they should turn and be saved. And this the rather we must look unto: because it is a judgement of God upon many among us at this day. The greatest part of hearers are deaf hearers; which appeareth by this that after long teaching they neither increase in knowledge, nor in faith, nor in obedience: but remain the same for blindness of mind, hardness of hart, and profaneness of life, that they were at their first hearing of the word; these must know that Gods judgement is on them; and if they would be saved, they must labour to come out of this estate, & endeavour so to hear with their hearts that they may be turned unto God both in mind, heart, and life.

Secondly, seeing this commaundement is directed to the hearing hearers; we must hereby be admonished to vse all good meanes to become good hearers of Gods word; bringing with vs not onely the bodily eares which we haue by creation, but the spirituall eares of the heart, which we haue by regeneration. For it is not sufficient to our saluation to receiue the word into the outward bodily eares, vnlesse the inward eares of the heart bee opened, that our soule may bee affected with the word, and fitted to receiue, to beleeue, and obey the same. Thus did good king Isias heare the law read, the text saith,