Exposition on John 5, John 5 · Verse 23
Verſe 23.
That all men ſhould honour the Sonne euen as they honour the Father; he that honoreth not the Sonne honoreth not the Father which hath ſent him.
THis verſe containes an Amplification of the former Effects by the end of them, wherein conſider.
1. The end it ſelfe, which is a duty of Honour to be performed.
2. The manner of performing it.
3. The motiues to vrge and preſſeit.
In the duty conſider, 1. the thing it ſ…lfe, 2. the extent. The thing it ſelfe is honour: which is a generall word compriſing vnderunder it all thoſe duties, which we owe to Chriſt, as it is vſuall to comprehend the duties of inferiours to ſuperiour in this word Honour, as the fift Commandement.
Doct. Honour is due to our Lord Chriſt Ieſus: Pſal. 2. laſt. For kiſſing was a token of ſubiection. Heb. 1.6. ſo we read that Chriſt was often worſhipped, as by the wiſe men, Mat. 2. by the leper Mat. 8. and by his diſciples.
Reaſon, becauſe Chriſt though he did abaſe himſelfe, yet he ſtill remained God and loſt none of …is exc…llency therefore we are ſtill to honour him.
Vſe, That it is not ſufficient to abſtaine from rebellion, and from diſhonouring and deſpiting of Chriſt but we muſt reuerence and honor him, for the omitting of a holy duty makes vsus liable to the iudgement of God, as appeares in the laſt ſentence of Chriſt. Wherfore it is not ſufficient to ſay we are no Arrians, nor Iews to denie Chriſt, nor Papiſts to confound his offices? but where is the faith in him? how doſt thou reuerence and feare him? &c.
2. Point, is the Extent, in this word (all)
Doct. All of what ſtate and condition ſoeuer are bound to this dutie of honouring Chriſt: the Angels, Pſalm. and Heb. 1.6.
Reaſon is Phil. 2.9. he hath a name aboue eueryevery name, and ſo eueryevery knee muſt bow to him.
The manner of performing this duty is in theſe words (as they honor the Father) which ſhewes the meaſure of that honour which we muſt doe vntounto the Sonne, for the foreign implies not only a ſimilitude and likenes, as ſome Heretikes would put it off, but alſo an equality implying ſuch an honour as is due to no creature but only to God.
Doct. So high and great honour as is due to the father, in that meaſure is it due to the Sonne as appeares by many places Iude verſe 25. in the ſalutation of Paul in his Epiſtles where he is ioyned with the Father, and hath the Church done in giuing glory to the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghoſt, &c. ioyning all together.
Reaſon of this is the equality between them, and this is alſo another argument (the ſixt) to proue that ſame equality, becauſe the ſame honour is giuen to Chriſt, that is giuen to God the Father; Eſay. 42.8.
Note this againſt Turkes, that account Chriſt to bee a great Prophet, and Arrians that count him to be a God, but an inferiour, and created God.
The Motiues to vrge this dutie are in theſe words [He that honoureth not, &c.] Where conſider, firſt, the Reaſon; ſecondly, the Amplification.
The Reaſon is [He that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not the Father] which is layd downe, Firſt, as a ſtrong reaſon, becauſe this honour is not only, in regard of a high account that he hath of his Sonne, as a King counts himſelfe honoured, when his ſonne is honoured, or in regard of a deare affection that he beares to him, or in regard of place and repreſentation of the perſon of the Father, the King is honored when his Ambaſſadour is honoured, but alſo in regard of an identity and ſameneſſe, that the Father cannot bee honoured but by the Sonne.
2. It is ſet downe to preuent an obiection that might bee made, that this honour was derogatory to the Father. Chriſts anſweres, Th…re is no ſuch conſequence, but that the Father is honoured in this, and not diſhonoured.
Doct. The Father is honoured in, and by the Sonne. Phil. 2.11 Thus God is to be praiſed by Chriſt; Heb. 13.15. Eph. 5.20. ſo are the Prayers of the Church concluded all in the name of Chriſt.
Vſe. 1. it ſhewes, that many deceiue themſelues in the worſhipping of God: for th…ugh all thi…ke that God is to be honou…ed, yet not knowing Chriſt, they worſhip not him, but their owne conceits.
2. It teacheth vsus, to behold all the attributes of God in Chriſt.
The Amplification is in theſe words [Who hath ſent him.] This may ſeeme to croſſe all that hath beene formerly ſaid. For an Embaſſadour is inferiour in honour to a King that ſent him.
Anſw. The Phraſe of ſending doth not alwaies implie an infe…iority.
It is here vſed in a threefold reſpect; firſt of diſtinction of the Perſons in the Trinity: So the ſecond may bee ſayd to bee ſent of the firſt: and ſo the Holy Ghoſt, though he neuer abaſed himſelfe, nor were incarnate, is yet ſayd to bee ſent by the Father and the Sonne: Ioh. 14.26. et 15.26.
2. Of Chriſts incarnation, that though he became man, yet was he Lord of Heauen and Earth, and ſent from God. So it implies an honour and dignity.
3. Of the Offices of Chriſt, as he is Mediatour in a twofold reſpect; firſt, that no Office that Chriſt had, but it was appointed and ordeined of God: Luk. 1.69. God is ſayd to rayſe vp a ſaluation. Secondly, as theſe Offices were appointed to Chriſt; ſo was he deputed to them: Heb. 5.4, 5.
This Phraſe then amplifies the reaſon, and ſhewes, that this equall right of honor to him, as to the Father, is no vſurpation, but a naturall communication, and voluntary diſpenſation.
Doct. Chriſt vſurped not that honour, to be equall in dignity to his Father: Pſal. 110. 1. Act. 2.36.
Vſe. 1. Of comfort, that the things that Chriſt did, are acceptable to the Father for vsus.
2. It ſhewes the ſinne to be the greater, in diſhonouring the Sonne.
3. Here we hauehave a good ground why we performe diuine worſhip to Chriſt. Why doe not the Papiſts bring the like for worſhipping of Saints.