(seq. 9)

is thus described by Jeremiah.
'To whom shall I speak & give warning
yt they may hear? Behold yr ear
is uncircumcised, yt they cannot hear -
ken - behold ye word of ye Lord
is unto you a reproach, & they
have no delight in it.'

The Shutting ye Eyes is a phrase
which denotes ye same {thing}. It is moral blindness
- insensibility of danger - inatten-
tion to ye most important concerns.

//These several phrases are used to express
yr {great} corruption & {wickedness} & to signify yt
Every avenue, was closed up by
{which} the influence of divine truth
could enter to move & awaken you,
was close up.

It is proper to take notice
Farther - That (tho) the prophet is said
To shut their eyes, yet else-
where they are said to make yr
own heart fat - to have closed yr
own eyes - {Matthew} 13.15. In them is
fulfilled ye prophesy of Esaias for this
peoples' heart is waxed gross, & yr
ears are dull of hearing, & yr eyes
//have they closed - And again, in another
place, this effect is ascribed to God -
John 12.40. Esaias said- ye hath
blinded yr eyes & hardened yr heart.

// Now God is often hard God hardens no
man by a positive influence - [In
this sense. Let no man say, when he
is tempted, I am tempted of God. But
God is often said to do yt, {which} he per-
mits to be done. He took away Jobs
substance by permitting Satan