Exposition on John 5, John 5 · Verse 31
Verſ. 31.
If I ſhould beare witneſſe of my ſelfe, my witneſſe were not true.
WEe hauehave heard how in this Chapter, Chriſt doth proue himſelfe to be God; firſt, by a miracle. Secondly, by a diuine Apology occaſioned by the miracle. In which Apologie he confirmeth it by two ſorts of arguments; firſt, by diuine effects, ſuch as cannot be done, but by God himſelfe. Secondly, by diuine Teſtimonie. This we are now come to handle; and it is layd downe from the verſe 31. to the end.
The Teſtimonie is firſt, generally declared verſ. 32.
2. Particularly ſet forth in foure diſtinct inſtances, the firſt, of Iohn Baptiſt. verſ. 33.34.25. Secondly, of Chriſt his workes. verſ. 36. Thirdly, of the Father; verſ. 37, 38. and laſty, of the Scriptures, verſ. 39, &c.
But before he come to the teſtimonies it ſelfe, Chriſt doth firſt lay downe the occaſion of vſing of this kind of argument; which is to preuent, and meete with a ſecret obiection, which the Iewes might make on this wiſe, viz.
That thoſe great & excellent things, which before he had ſpoken of himſelfe, might well be ſuſpected, and called into queſtion; becauſe they concerned himſelfe, and himſelfe did auouch them of himſelfe. Now their readines to make ſuch an obiection, appeareth by Cap. 8.13. where they doe it plainly vponupon the like occaſion. Therefore to preuent this, Chriſt brings in other teſtimonies which might witneſſe the ſame things of him, which himſelfe had ſpoken.
This muſt be noted for the reconciling of a contradiction, which ſeemes to be betweene this place, and chap: 8. verſ. 14. For in that place Chriſt ſpeaketh litterally, and according to the truth of the thing; namely, that as he was indeed God, ſo albeit he had no other teſtimonie, yet was his owne ſufficient in his owne cauſe: but in this place he ſpeaketh by a Rhetoricall conceſſion and grant, according to the conceit of the Iewes touching him, that he was but a man and no more. Now then the witnes of a man in his owne cauſe, although it may be true, yet is not ſufficient to decide the matter.
Obſerue then here, firſt, What Chriſt yeelded vntounto, Secondly, VponUpon what ground.
Doct. Our Lord, Chriſt Ieſus, for the further confirmation of the truth, and ſatisfaction of the hearers, yeeldeth from that which he might hauehave ſtood vponupon: Though hee might hauehave ſtood vponupon his owne teſtimonie as ſufficient, he being God; yet becauſe this was not ſo clearely euident, vntounto them, hee bringeth in other teſtimonies and grounds for the confirming of this truth, that were more plaine and eaſie to their appprehenſion. So Mat. 17.26.27. he yeeldeth from his right, hauing other meanes to manifeſt himſelfe to be the Sonne of God: and Mat. 26.53. hee might hauehave called for Legions of Angels.
For Chriſt ſought not himſelfe and his owne glory Ioh 8.50. but the glory of God, by giuing euidence vntounto the truth, and the edification of the hearers. Which ſhewes, firſt, Chriſt his great meekenes, euen againſt his aduerſaries; and his great deſire to bring them to the knowledge of the truth. He might hau… only deliuered the truth, & being God, hauehave exacted credence on paine of eternal cōdemnation; but he conſidereth our weakenes, and ſo imitateth God his Father, who not only com…andeth, but bringeth with all arguments and reaſons, to ſhew the equity of his Lawes, to the end to perſwade vsus to yeeld obedience. Secondly, it is for our Imitation, that as occaſion offereth it ſelfe, we be ready to yeeld from our right, and not ſtand to ſtrictly on eueryevery thing that may be iuſtified, if by other meanes the truth may bee the better perſwaded and taught.
2. The ground vponupon which he yeeldeth is, that if hee had been man, as they conceited him to be, then his owne teſtimonie had not been ſufficient.
Doct. None are to iuſtifie themſelues and their actions, and to commend the things which they doe. For if Chriſt, who was free from an ouerweening conceit of his owne doings, from vaine glory, and deſire of applauſe, and whoſe teſtimonie was moſt true, would not yet commend himſelfe; how much leſſe may we, who are partiall in our owne matters and ſubiect to the other vices? Prou. 27.2.
For, firſt, If we commend our ſelues, it miniſters occaſion that our teſtimonie ſhould be ſuſpected; and it is hard but we ſhall mingle ſome vntruth, either in ſuppreſſing ſome circumſtances which might diſgrace vsus, or amplifying other hyperbolically which tend to our honour.
2. It ſauours of a deſire of vaine glory.
3. If we do things that are indeed praiſe-worthy, it is needleſſe; for they will commend themſelues.
Vſe. For reproofe of thoſe that ſtand ſo much vponupon their owne credit, that they will hauehave eueryevery thing ſo, becauſe they ſay it: as doth the Pope, who what he ſaies, ſitting in his chaire, men are bound in conſcience to beleeue: herein making himſelfe like God: 2. Theſ. 2.4. And as do many, who though they deliuer a thing but vponupon their owne authority, yet are offended if it bee called in queſtion. So much for the occaſion.