Exposition on John 5, John 5 · Verse 39
Verſ. 39.
Search the Scriptures: for in them yee thinke to hauehave eternall life, and they are they which teſtifie of me.
THeſe words containes the fourth and laſt teſtimony, which Chriſt alleadgeth for confirmation of his diuine power and authority. Now it ſeemeth that Chriſt obſerueth an order in ſetting downe theſe teſtimonies; firſt, to lay downe the leſſe, and then the greater. So that indeed this teſtimony of the Scripture is the greateſt of all the reſt. Not as was before noted, that there is any difference in regard of the truth of them; but in regard of the euidence and cleareneſſe thereof. This the Apoſtle Peter ſhewes, 2. Pet. 1.19. where hauing alleadged the former teſtimonie of the voice of God the Father, verſ. 17.18. and comming to ſpeake of the teſtimony of the Scriptures, he ſaith [we hauehave a more ſure word of the Prophets.] It is greater then in theſe reſpects: firſt, in regard of the long continuance of this witneſſe, that it hath been a teſtimony giuen of Chriſt from before ſo many ages, and ſo receiued by the Fathers, and approoued from time to time, as a certaine ground of Faith.
2. The very writing and recording doth adde weight vntounto it, ſeeing that the Scriptures alſo are the voice of God, as wel as that which we hauehave before ſpoken of.
3. Becauſe this teſtimony doth more diſtinctly and fully ſet forth Chriſt vntounto vsus, then any of the former doe; deſcribing him in his nature, actions, offices, death and ſuffering the benefit of it, and the meanes whereby wee come to be partakers of it.
4. This very Oracle, and alſo the workes of Chriſt, are now written and recorded, and ſo come vntounto vsus vnderunder the nature of the teſtimonie of the Scriptur….
Firſt, then ob…erue the generall ſcope and drift of Chriſt in this place, which is, to make the Scripture the Iudge, whether himſelfe had done and ſpoken well or no; vntounto it therefore he referres his aduerſaries, reſting himſelfe vponupon the iudgement thereof.
Hence ariſeth this Doctrine, that
Doct. The higheſt and chiefeſt Iudge of the myſteries of Godlineſſe, matters of Faith …nd Religion, is the holy Scripture: a point cleare by many places of Scripture, as Eſay 8.20. Luk. 16.29, &c. 2. Tim. 3.16. and ſo in many places it is called a Law, Statute, Ordinance, and Iudgement; becauſe it doth declare the Will and Councell of God, which he hath pronounced and dec…eed. Thus Chriſt hath alwayes recourſe vntounto the Scripture, determining all queſtions by them; as Matth. 12.3, 5. & 22.29. and the Apoſtles, as Peter, Act. 2. Apollos, Act. 18. laſt.
Reaſ. 1. The Sc…ipture is the very Word and Voice of God: Now who ſhall be Iudge of the great myſteries of God, but God himſelfe.
2. Becauſe the Scripture is a true and perfect Rule that cannot erre, Pſal. 19. It is a ſufficient Iudge to decide all controuerſies whatſoeuer: and laſtly, it is an vnpart…all Iudge.
Obiect. 1. Againſt this authority of the Scriptures, the Papiſts doe make many obiections, whereof wee will ſpeake of two onelyonly. The Scripture, ſay th…y, is a mute Iudge, and cannot declare which is truth.
Anſw. Though the Scripture cannot ſpeake with the voice of a man, yet it doth ſpeake as a Law doth ſpeake, declaring what is the will and counſell of God. And cannot wee vnderſtand the minde of a man as we…l by his writing, as by hearing of him ſpeake; and the rather, ſeeing we may the more ponder eueryevery word. And yet the Scripture doth giuegive a mouth vntounto the Scripture, if wee marke it w…ll; as Matth. 22.31. [what is ſpoken vntounto you of God] how ſpake God vntounto you, but by the Scriptures; Ioh. 7.42. [ſaith not, &c.] Ioh. 19.24. [which ſaith;] and eſpecially that, Heb. 12.5. [which ſpeaketh, &c.]
Becauſe the Word written doth declare vntounto vsus the will of God as plainely, and as diſtinctly, as if God with audible voice did ſpeake vntounto vsus. Yea, if he ſhould ſpeake, he would ſpeake no otherwiſe, then that which is in the Scriptures. And ſo a…e they ſaid to ſpeake vntounto vsus.
Obiect. 2. Heretikes, ſay they, make the Scripture their Iudge, and how then can it be a Iudge of truth?
Anſw. This obiection, though commonly alleag…d by …hem, to weaken the authority of the Scripture; yet if we well conſider it, it doth very ſtrongly prooue the ſame. A contentious man when he will wrong his neighbour in any matter, he will pleade the Law for his right vntounto his neighbors goods, as knowing, that without the ſentence of the Law hee cannot enioy them. Now this ſhewes, that therefore the Law is the onelyonly Iudge that muſt decide this matter. So in that Heretikes themſelues for to vphold their doctrine, doe relye vponupon the Scriptures, as without which they muſt needs faile in their cauſe, it is a very ſtrong proofe, that therefore the Scripture ought to be the onelyonly Iudge to determine of all matters of controuerſie. Againe, though Scripture hauehave been alleaged by Heretikes, yet did euer Scripture determine with, and for an Heretike?
Vſe 1. To reprooue thoſe vaine, opprobrious, and bl…ſphemous titles, that Papiſts giuegive vntounto the Scripture of a leaden Rule, &c. Preferring the determination of Popes and Councels before the Scripture: which is to preferre man before …od.
2. It teacheth vsus in all doubts and matters of controuerſie touching Faith, Religion, and Manners, to reſort vntounto the Word and hereon to hauehave our iudgement grounded and ſetled. Not taking any thing either for article of Faith, or rule of life that is not warranted by it. So much of the generall.
The words doe naturally, diuide themſelues into two parts:
1. A Precept.
2. Reaſons to confirme it.
The Precept is in theſe words [Search the Scriptures.] From whence the Doctrine ariſing is this,
Doct. The Scriptures doe require ſtudy and diligence, for the finding out of the meaning of them, and ſearching out the treaſures hid in them.
foreign] Scrutamini: Though in the Originall and Latine tranſl…tion, the word be ambiguous, and may be taken in the Indicatiue moode, and the Imperatiue alſo; yet I rather take it i… the Imperatiue, as moſt tranſlations doe, for a precept and duty, then in the Indicatiue, for a commendation of them; noting what they did: as if he had ſayd [ye ſearch the Scripture,] &c. yet both waies the Doctrine is ſound.
Search.] It is a Metaphor taken from ſuch as ſearch for gold and ſiluer Ore in the earth; who will not caſt it away by whole ſhouell fuls, but will ſearch, and ſift, and breake eueryevery clod to find out the gold. To this diligence in ſearching the Scripture, doth the Apoſtle exhort Timothy, 1. Tim. 4.13. and Salomon vſeth the ſame Metaphor; Pro. 2.4. Act. 17.11. the ſame word. This diligence is often vrged in the old Teſtament by the phraſe of meditating in the Word; as Iosh. 1.8. Pſ. 1.2. & paſſim alibi.
The Reaſons to moue vsus hereunto, beſides thoſe here mentioned in the text, of which wee ſhall ſpeake anon, are two:
1. The little hope of getting any good by the Scriptures, without ſearching into them.
2. The aſſured hope to get much good by ſearching. For the former, we muſt know, that God is hid in the Scripture, as gold is in the earth; and ſo is not found out at the firſt ſight, but after a diligent ſearch. Curſory reading may giuegive knowledge of the ſtory, and of ſuch things as are at the firſt ſight eaſie and plaine: but yet it yeeldeth little, or no profit. For theſe Iewes, who had the Word amongſt them, heard it, and read it in their Synagogue eueryevery Sabba…h, made no profit by it, they found not the treaſure hid in them; Chriſt Ieſus, him they knew not, and therefore Chriſt bids yet ſearch.
Obiect. But how can this ſtand with this perſpicuity, and plainneſſe that we affirm to be in the Scripture againſt the Papiſts.
Anſw. We muſt well vnderſtand, how the Scriptures ar… plaine, and how obſcure. Firſt, to carnal men they are obſcure, who diſcerne not ſpirituall things: but not ſo to th…ſe that are inlightened by the Spirit of God.
2. Neither is this obſcurity in the Scriptures themſelues, but becauſe the god of this world hath blinded their eyes, that they cannot ſee.
3. In the maine grounds of ſaluation it is cleare and plaine: yea, in all, to thoſe that are carefull and diligent, it is eaſie. For ſo the promiſe is, Prou. 2.3.4. and 14 but vntounto the careleſſe nothing is plaine.
The reaſons why God hath thus hidden his wiſedome in his Word, may be theſe. Firſt, to diſcouer vntounto vsus our ignorance, that when we ſee how many great myſteries wee are ignorant of, we may be humbled. Secondly, That he might make a difference betweene thoſe that ſeeke him in truth, and thoſe that contemne him, who like Hogs and Dogs regard not Pearles. Wherefore he hath alſo hidden them from ſuch. Thirdly, that God might maintaine his ordinances and we might th…rein be helpfull one to another, by preaching, by inſtructing, &c. Fourthly, to make vsus the more earneſtly deſire and long after the knowledge of his Word. Fiftly and laſtly, to bring vsus to the performance of this duty here preſcribed, to ſearch, and ſearch againe, that the more we ſearch, the more we may finde.
2. Now for our encouragement, conſider the ſecond reaſon, viz. that our labour ſhall not be loſt, but much rich treaſure is certainly to be found by ſearching. Therefore is the Law ſayd to be better then gold, then much fine gold of Ophir. So excellent myſteries are therein contained, as neuer entred in mans heart; yea, the Angels deſire to looke into them: 1. Pet. 1.12. Such myſteries as concernes not our worldly wealth, but the ſaluation of our ſoul…s. In reg…rd of which, the myſteries of all other bookes are ſtraw and ſtubble, droſſe and dung. And indeed what learning hauehave other bookes, that is not in the Scriptures. For doſt thou delight in Truth? This Word is the Wo…d of Truth both for the Author, for the matter, and for the effect; giuing vsus aſſurance, that it is the truth. Wouldeſt thou hauehave deepeneſſe and profound knowledge? Wheres greater profoundneſſe then in the Scripture? Wouldeſt thou bee an Antiquary? Here is a ſtory from the beginning of the World. Delighteſt thou in the Law? Here is the ground of all lawes, whence they ſpring & iſſue. Delightſt thou in Hiſtories? Heere are all ſorts admirable for pleaſure and profit. Or in Chronologie? No where is the like for truth, or for length of continuance, euen for 4000. yeares in ſeueral perſons, lineally deſcended from Adam to Chriſt.
Now the Word (ſaith S. Paul to Timothy, 2. Tim. 3.16.) is profitable firſt, to teach; ſecondly, to conuince; thirdly, to correct, and to inſtruct. According to theſe properties, let vsus make ſeuerall vſes.
Ʋſe. 1. This then teacheth vsus; firſt, that therefore we ought to know the ground of thoſe things that we beleeue: we muſt ſearch the Scriptures.
2. That it is neceſſary that the Scriptures be tranſlated, that all may ſearch.
3. That the Scriptures are plaine, or may be vnderſtood by thoſe that will ſearch: elſe why ſhould we ſearch?
4. That the Scriptures are a ſufficient rule and direction; and therfore Chriſt bids them ſearch in the Scriptures and no where elſe.
2. This refutes the errors of the Papiſt, who hauehave many poſitions cleane contrary vntounto this Doctrine: as,
1. That people are to be kept in Ignorance.
2. That the Scriptures muſt bee read in an vnknowne tongue.
3. That Traditions, Fathers, and Councels, muſt bee ioyned with the Scriptures.
3. For Correction. It ſerues to reproue diuers ſorts of men. Some care not to reade the Scriptures, but of all bookes make leſt account of it: Chronicles, Hiſtories, Playbookes are often read; the Scriptures ſeldome. Some will not ſuffer a Bible to be in their houſes, and count it a reproach to carry a Bible to Church. Some will reade at Church, and turne to places as they are quoted, but neuer at home, their buſineſſe ſuffers them not: who yet are better then many, that will bring other bookes to Church, and while the Miniſter is preaching, reade thoſe. Some content themſelues to hauehave read ouer a number of Chapters at a time, without any further ſearch. Some read and labour to ſearch out the true meaning of places, but all is, that they may know the occurrences of things, bee able to reconcile places, and maintaine them againſt the Aduerſarie, who yet faile in this duty, in that they are not caſt into the mould of the Scripture, and by their ſearch doe not finde out the hidden Pearle, Chriſt Ieſus.
4. For Inſtruction: it ſhewes, that this is a duty belonging to all to performe, and for our Direction in ſearching of the Scriptures, it is neceſſarie.
1. That we hauehave the Scriptures in our houſes, in our cloſets; that wee reade them diligently and frequently, with ſtudy and obſeruation; that we attend to reading, hauing thereunto appointed times at riſing, at going to bed, that beſides publike reading in the Familie, we vſe priuate reading by our ſelues. Not to tie our ſelues to reade ouer three chapters a day, ſo to reade the whole Bible in a yeere; but that we mark what bookes are eaſie, what more difficult, what beſt retained in memory, what more hardly; and according to make choice of places, and to reade thoſe that are moſt needefull and profitable for vsus: and ſuch bookes as are hardeſt, as the Epiſtles of Paul and the Poeticall bookes, Iob, Pſalmes, &c. to read them often.
2. That we doe not reade, without calling vponupon the Name of God for direction, to open our eies that we may vnderſtand his will.
3. That wee reade with a minde to ſubiect our ſeluess to it.
4. That in reading, we gather no collections contrary to the Analogy of faith contained in the Creed, Commandements and Lords Prayer.
5. That in thoſe things wee vnderſtand not, wee ſeeke for ſuch helpe of others as we may for the finding ou… of the truth, &c.
The reaſons brought to cōfirme this precept are two; the firſt is taken from that opinion which they had of the Scripture to whom Chriſt directs this exhortation. [For in them ye thinke, &c.] Herein conſider, firſt, The Subſtance of the reaſon. Which is, that the Iewes thought in the Scripture to hauehave eternall life. Which is not layd downe as a falſe opinion but as a true and orthodoxall ground, the more alſo to checke them, who although they had ſo good an opi…ion of the Scriptures yet did not ſearch them.
Doct. The Scriptures were written for our ſaluation that we might hauehave eternall life. Ioh. laſt. and laſt verſ. For they firſt, declare in generall the good will of God to ſaue man, ſecondly, they ſhew the mean…s whereby wee are ſaued. Thirdly, they wo…k Faith, wher…by we come to be partakers of this meanes.
From the Inference of this reaſon note firſt, That all that hauehave the Scriptures in high account doe not make true profit and benefit by them: as the Iewes here. And ſo did they highly eſte…me of Moſes, and yet beleeued him not. Secondly, that the good opinion that we hauehave of the Scriptures, ought to ſtir…e vsus vp to ſearch them; elſe it will be a witneſſe againſt vsus.
2. The ſecond point to be noted, is the manner of laying it downe [yee thinke:] not hauehave, for they miſſed of it.
Doct· Many looke for life and ſaluation, that in the euent …nd iſſue are deceiued: Rom. 11.7. thus doe all Heretikes, Idol…ters, &c.
The reaſon is, becauſe they miſtake the ground; they build o… a wrong foundation; they caſt anchor on quickſands, that …n the end ſwallowes them vp.
Vſe. Note this againſt ſuch, as thinke they may bee ſaued in any relig…on, ſo they hauehave a good conceit: 1. Theſ. 5.20.
2. To diſcouer the value hope of many that profeſſe themſ…lues Chr…ſtians, who whatſoeuer they doe, yet will ſay, they …eane well, and hauehave a good intent.
The ſecond Reaſon is in theſe words. [They are they which …ſt…f…e of me.] Becauſe the Scriptu…es giuegive witnes vntounto Chriſt: whi…h in that it is added a… a reaſon, and motiue to ſearch … Scriptur…s it giues vsus to vnderſtand, firſt, That
Doct. Chriſt, Ieſus is the maine and chiefe Treaſure contained in them. Runne we through the whole Scripture, we ſhall finde this true, how it alwayes points at him: Luk. 1.70. Luk. 24.27. Act. 10.43.
For Chriſt is the onelyonly Author and meanes, whereby we attaine vntounto life; therefore the Scripture muſt needs giuegive it vntounto Chriſt, elſe how could life be had in the Scriptures.
Vſe, it ſhewes whither we muſt goe to find Chriſt, not to the writing of men, but to the Scriptures.
Further, from the time wherein Chriſt did vtter this, viz. before any part of the new Teſtament was written, and therefore hee muſt needs meane the old: we may note, that
Doct. Chriſt made knowne to the ancient Fathers before his incarnation. Which may ſerue to refute the opinions of thoſe, that thinke the ancient Iewes were moued on…ly with temporall promiſes and iudgement, and not with ſpirituall. But it was Abrahams Faith in Chriſt, not his hope of the Land of Canaan, that was imputed to him for righteouſneſſe. How can Moſes be ſaid to hauehave ſuffered the rebuke of Chriſt, Heb. 11.26. if he had not beleeued in him.