Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-20
Ears and no Ears.


Bad ears are as bad as no ears. A dis
ease in the ear not unfrequently leads to a
disease of the brain, and the converse is
also true. A captious ear brings On hard
ening the brain; dull ear softening of
the brain.
Itching ears have come to be an epidem
ic. The witty preacher, the startling
preacher, the preacher who gets his sub
jects anywhere but in the bible and in the
domain of conscience, who has little or
nothing to say about spiritual ruin, re-
demption, regeneration and christian ex
perience, is sure to be in demand. To be
admired and to be useful, to be approved
of God and of man, are two things which
have no necessary connection. Ahab had
four hundred preachers, and he liked them
much, but they were false prophets.
''In at one ear and out at the other" is
an ailment that has prevailed immemorial
ly in christian assemblies. 1t betokens a
sad want of appetite for truth, and an in
digestion that is alarming. Bibule aures
are greatly to be desired; ears that eagerly
drink in divine teachings. A horse that
is in good condition usually points one ear
forward and the other backward, to catch
sounds from all quarters. As swell be with
out these organs as not to use them. The
Great Teacher repeatedly employs the
simple, solemn, proverbial injunction, "He
that hath ears to hear, let him hear" To
what intent is this organ, if not to take in
the words of him concerning whom the
Adorable Father said, "This is my beloved
Son, hear him?"
John Newton says in regard to the Rev.
Thomas Haweis, Ii. B. that his preach
ing chad, like the report ola cannon sound
ed through the country, and attracted vast
congregations to Aldwinkle." He contin-
ued rector ofthat church in NOrthamption-
shire tifty-six years. Some of the most
profigate persons in the region were bro't
to repentance under his pungent appeals.
Among them was an inn keeper greatly
given to intemperance, and vehemently
opposed to evangelical truth But he was
fond of music; and hearing they had ex-
cellent singing at Aldwinkle, he went there
one Sabbath, though six miles distant. to
crafty his taste. The singing pleased him
much. When that was over he secured his
ears against the sermon with his forcing
ers. The sermon began with an earnest
appeal to the hearers to attend to the soul s
everlasting interests. A fly lighting on
the inn keepers face stung him sharply.
and he withdrew one of his fingers in or
der to brush off the intruder. Just at that
moment Haweis repeated with great sol
emnity the words of the text Mark iv. g.
: HE that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
They entered the unstopped ear like claT
of thunder. Presently the man withdrew
the other finger, and listened with deep at
tention. The result was q revolution 0
3 character and habits. He would drive sly
r miles, whatever might be the weather, t
worship and to listen with eager ear in tn,
church where he first received saving i'm
pressions. For eighteen years he main
, tanned walk with God, and died in hope
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear
, what good can preaching do you?' said
, gentleman to poor Scotch woman VIII
: was busy on Monday at the bleaching
ground, watering her webs of linen cloth
! and who could not remember even tn
text of sermon heard the day before
. "What good can preaching do you, if yo
forget it all?' ''Ah, sir" she replied, q
: you look at this web on the grass, you vii
see that as fast as ever put water on il
the sun dries it all up, and yet, sir, Sc
it gets Vhiter and whittier. - Congregation
L dLSt