An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…An exposition with practicall observations continued upon the thirty second, the thirty third, and…

First, The ear of man is naturally stopped against the teachings of God.

First, The eare of man is naturally stopt against the teachings of God.

There are many things which stop the ears of man, or man hath many ear stoppers. I will name seven, all which God removes and takes away when he effectually reveals his mind to man. First, the ear of man is stopped with ignorance, that's a thick veil or covering upon the ear, and keeps out the mind of God till it be removed. And, Secondly, Unbelief is another ear-stopper; till the Lord removeth that we cannot hear. Thirdly, Impenitency or hardness of heart stops the ear, there are a number of Scriptures I might give for each of these. Fourthly, the love of any particular sin is an ear-shutter or an ear-stopper, and the Lord removes that, when he opens the ear. Fifthly, Prejudices stop the ear, prejudices sometimes against the person speaking, sometime against the word spoken. That man will never hear a word to purpose, who hath a prejudice against the person, or a prejudice against the word, either a prejudice against the man, or against the matter. Sixthly, Pride stops the ear too, the proud man will not hearken, therefore God humbles and brings down the spirit that the word may be heard. Seventhly, and lastly, the World is a great ear-stopper, that locks up the ear against the word; the world in the profits of it, and the world in the pleasures of it, and the world in the cares of it, and the world in the fears of it, the world by or in every one of these stops the ear, and by these the ears of all men naturally are stopped, so that they are as it is said (Psal. 58.4.) like the deaf adder, that stops her ear, and will not hear the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. ⟨p. 292⟩Till all these stoppers are removed, and the ear opened, there is no receiving of the word.

There are many things which stop the eares of man, or man hath many eare stoppers. I will name seven, all which God removes and takes away when he effectually reveals his mind to man. First, the eare of man is stopt with ignorance, that's a thick vaile or covering upon the eare, and keeps out the mind of God till it be removed. And, Secondly, Unbelief is another ear-stopper; till the Lord removeth that we cannot hear. Thirdly, Impenitency or hardnesse of heart stops the eare, there are a number of Scriptures I might give for each of these. Fourthly, the love of any particular sin is an eare-shutter or an eare-stopper, and the Lord removes that, when he opens the eare. Fifthly, Prejudices stop the eare, prejudices somtimes against the person speaking, somtime against the word spoken. That man will never hear a word to purpose, who hath a prejudice against the person, or a prejudice against the word, either a prejudice against the man, or against the matter. Sixthly, Pride stops the eare too, the proud man will not hearken, therefore God humhles and brings down the spirit that the word may be heard. Seventhly, and lastly, the World is a great ear-stopper, that locks up the eare against the word; the world in the profits of it, and the world in the pleasures of it, and the world in the cares of it, and the world in the fears of it, the world by or in every one of these stops the eare, and by these the ears of all men naturally are stopped, so that they are as it is said (