The hearing ear, and the seeing eye
There may be an ear that hears not, and an eye that seeth not,
and which men may make; the painter can paint an ear and an eye,
and a carver can carve both; but they are ears that hear not, and
eyes that see not, ( Psalms 115:5
Psalms
115:6 ) ; but such as can hear and see are of the Lord's own
make; the Lord hath made even both of them;
they are the effects of his wisdom, power, and goodness; see (
Exodus 4:11 )
( Psalms
94:7 Psalms 94:8 ) ; they
are both senses of excellent use and service; great mercies and
blessings of life, for which men should be abundantly thankful,
and pray for the continuance of, and make use of to the best
purposes; they are means of conveying much knowledge to the mind,
and by which it may be cultivated and improved in it. The words
may be considered in a figurative as well as a literal sense.
Some by "the seeing eye" understand the civil magistrate, who is
that to the body politic as the eyes are to the natural body,
eminent in it, overlook it, watch and provide for its good, and
against its hurt; see ( Numbers
10:31 ) ( Job
29:14-16 ) ; and by "the hearing ear" the obedient subject,
that hearkens to the laws and directions of his governors, and
cheerfully obeys them, and both these are of the Lord's making;
civil magistracy is his ordinance, and civil magistrates are
ordained by him; and from him they have their qualifications
fitting them for their office; and it is owing to the overruling
providence of God on the hearts of men that they are inclined to
yield subjection to them. Others think that by the "seeing eye"
are meant the ministers of the word, who are set in the highest
place in the church; whose business it is to inspect, take the
oversight of, and watch the souls of men; to pry and search into
the truths of the Gospel, and show them to others: and by the
"hearing ear" the hearers of the word, that receive it readily in
the love of it, and heartily obey it. I am rather of opinion that
one and the same sort of persons are intended; converted ones,
who have the "hearing ear", who try what they hear by the word of
God; understand what they hear, know it experimentally; can
distinguish truth from error, approve and love the Gospel,
receive it with all gladness and readiness, with eagerness and
pleasure; keep it when they have it, and practise what they hear,
and bring forth fruit to the glory of God: this they have not of
themselves, being naturally averse to and dull of hearing, and
even stop their ears to the truth; but it comes by the word, and
is the Lord's work, and owing to his mighty power, who opens
their ears, gives them new ears, which they have in regeneration;
when they hear spiritually, profitably, pleasantly, comfortably,
and to their great astonishment: these also have the "seeing
eye", a sight of themselves, their sinful and lost estate; of the
plague of their own hearts, their want of righteousness, and
impotence to do anything that is good; a sight of Christ, of the
loveliness of his person, of the fulness of his grace, of their
need of him, and of his suitableness as a Saviour and Redeemer;
and this is not of themselves, who are dark and darkness itself,
but they are made light in the Lord; he opens their eyes by his
spirit and by means of his word, which is a work of almighty
power.