Lectures Upon John 4, Part 11
THE FIVE AND FORTIETH LECTVRE, ON MARCH, XIII. MDCIX.
IOH. IIII. XXVI.
Iesus saith vntounto her, I that speake vntounto thee, am He.
WE heard the last day, what a confession this Woman of Samaria made of the Messiah; 1. She knew he would come: 2. She knew his comming was then at hand: 3. She knew that when he should come, he should teach his Church all things that concerned Gods true worship, and the saluation of man. In these words that I hauehave now read, and the verse following, two things are set downe.
1. How Christ made himselfe knowne vntounto her to be the Messiah, which she spake of, verse 26.
2. How this conference betweene them was broken of, by the comming of the Disciples, verse 27.
In the first, we are to obserue, that it is somewhat strange, that he thus plainely reuealeth himselfe vntounto this Woman here, and to inquire what may be the reason of it, that so we may receiue a doctrine and instruction from it.
1. We shall not finde that in any Sermon he made to the Iewes, hee did euer manifest himselfe so plainely to be the Messiah, as he doth here to this Woman of Samaria, and yet we know he was not sent to the Samaritans, but vntounto the lost sheepe of the house of Israel, Matth. 15. 24. We reade Iohn 10. 24. That the Iewes came about him as he was walking in Salomons Porch, and compassed him round (that he might not get from them) and expostulated with him in this manner, how long doest thou hold vsus in suspense; If thou bee the Christ, tell vsus plainely, yet would he not in plaine tearmes tell them that hee was he, yea when Iohn the Baptist sent two choise Disciples to him to know whether he were he that should come, or they should waite for another, he makes them not a plaine and direct answer, but bids them shew Iohn what workes of his they had seene done, Luke 7. 19. 22. yea he straitly chargeth his Disciples, Matth. 16. 20. That they should tell no man that hee was Iesus the Christ, and yet behold he plainely makes himselfe knowne to this poore Woman.
2. The Reason why he vouchsafeth this rare fauour to this poore Woman is for that he saw her heart was now prepared to receiue the truth; hee told her not so much at the first, till he saw her heart was prepared to receiue it: he saw her heart was now truely humbled in sense of her sin, he saw she esteemed reuerently of his person; he saw she was very desirous of sauing knowledge; he discerned in her a longing desire for the Messias comming, because she knew when he came, he would teach his Church all things; and therefore now he thus plainely reueales himselfe vntounto her. In this manner did Christ also deale with the poore man that was borne blinde, when he had heard, what zeale and grace he had shewed in answering of the Pharisees, and enduring of their excommunication, he sought him out, and finding him, made himselfe more plainely knowne vntounto him, then he did vntounto any other almost, Ioh. 9. 3…. 37. To the Iewes in Iohn …0. …4. he did not make himselfe so plainely knowne, because he saw they sought it out of an euill purpose. And he charged his Disciples not to make him knowne, because he saw the people were not yet prepared to receiue this truth.
This then is the Doctrine that we are to learne here. That the Lord will Doctrinecleerely reueale himselfe, to all such as with an humble and honest heart doe desire to know him.
When God hath thus prepared the heart of any, and made it 1. Humble in sense of his owne ignorance and sinne. 2. Vnfainedly desirous of sauing knowledge. 3. Desirous of it with an honest heart and purpose to obey the truth, he neuer vseth to leaue it there, but is wont further to reueale his sauing truth vntounto that soule
See how this is confirmed in all these three particulars. For the first: Psal. 25. 9. They that be meeke shall he guide in iudgement, and teach the humble his way, The man that seeth his ignorance and corruption, is poore in spirit, and mournes for nothing so much as for it, you see God hath promised he will teach him his way For the second: the blessed Virgin saith in her Song that this hath euer beene Gods manner, Luke 1. 53. To fill the hungry with good things, and to send the ri…h away empty, to such as vnfainedly and earnestly desire to know Christ, he will vndoubtedly reueale himselfe. For the third: Psal 25. 12. What man is he that feares the Lord, him shall he teach in the way that he shall chuse. And verse 14. The secret of the Lord is reuealed to them that feare him, and his Couenant to giuegive them vnderstanding, Iohn 14. 21. He that loueth me, shall bee loued of my Father, and I will louelove him, and shew mine owne selfe vntounto him. And Psal. 50. 23. To him that disposeth his way aright, will I shew the saluation of God. Such as with an honest heart desire to be taught of God, because they feare to offend him, because they louelove him, and desire to please and serue him, such he will teach the way they should chuse, he will reueale his secrets to them euen the secret of all secrets, his decree touching their eternall election.
The Reasons of this are three. 1. The good pleasure of God, The free, and Reas. 1.infinite louelove the Lord beareth to them that are his. This Reason our Sauiour giueth: Mat. 11. 26. euen so Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.
2. The vnchangeablenesse of this louelove of God, and care he hath to perfect 2.his owne worke: according to that, to eueryevery one that hath shall be giuen, and he shall hauehave abundance, Mat. 25. 29. And that speech of the Apostle, Phil. 1. 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good worke in you, wil performe it vntill the day of Iesus Christ.
3. The respect God hath to his owne glory, which he knowes he shall receiue thereby according to that, Psalme 50. 15. I will deliuer thee, and thou 3.shalt glorifie me.
This ser…es 1. To answer them (be they Papists, or carnall Protestants) Vse 1.that are wont to complaine so much of the difficultie and obscurity of the Scriptures, they say it is not possible for a man by reading or learning the Word, to grow vntounto any certainety in Religion. The Scriptures say they are very obscure, and there is great difference euen amongst learned men about the interpretation and meaning of them. Therefore say the Papists, 1. It is the safest way to depend vponupon the Church for the interpretation of the Scriptures. 2. And to receiue only that in the matters of our Faith and Religion, which the Church teacheth. Therefore (say they) 3. It is not fit that common people should meddle with the Scriptures, but it is meet they should content themselues to beleeue as the Church beleeueth. Therefore also saith the carnall Protestant, it is to no purpose to trouble our selues with the reading of the Scriptures, or to busie our heads about matters of Religion, it is sufficient to know God is mercifull, and to beleeue Christ died for sinners, and there's an end.
Before we giuegive …ull answer to these men, three things are to be granted. 1. That the Scriptures, and matters of faith and Religion set downe in them, are indeed obscure and hidden from most men. No man by his owne wit and learning, shall euer be able to attaine to a sound and comfortable vnderstanding, and a full perswasion in these things, therefore Paul saith: 1. Cor 2 7. We speake the wisedome of God in a mysterie, euen the hidden wisedome, verse 8. Which none of the Princes of the world hath knowne, and verse 14. The naturall man receiueth not the things that are of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishnesse to him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Therefore is the true Religion of God called a hidden treasure, Matth. 13. 44. Many things there be that hide this treasure from most men. 1. The obscurity of the Scripture. 2. The differences and dissentions that are amongst learned men about it. 3. The scandalous life of such as professe it. 4. The great disgrace that it is in with the world. These and such like things are so many meanes whereby this treasure is hidden from most men. 2. There be some things obscure in the Scripture to the best of Gods seruant, For that which Peter said of Pauls Epistles: 2. Pet. 3. 16. may much more be said of the whole volume. The best learned of Gods seruants may well professe they vnderstand not all things: you know who it was that said, we know but in part, 1. Cor. 13. 9. 3. The true Church and Ministry thereof is a necessary helpe ordained of God to bring his people to the true vnderstanding of his Word, neither doth God ordinarily instruct his people but by this meanes, for so said the Eunuch: Acts 8. 31. How can I vnderstand except some man doe guide me.
But yet for answer vntounto these men, these three things we must know.
1. The cause why the Scripture is so difficult, and this treasure is hidden from most men, is not in the Scripture it selfe, but in the blind and corrupt heart of man. To the carnall man it is darke, he cannot vnderstand it, (no more then the blinde man can see the light of the Sunne when it shines most bright) But to the man whose eyes God hath opened, whose heart God hath prepared, the Scriptures are very plaine. All those points the knowledge whereof is necessary to saluation are plainely set downe in them, so as the simplest man that commeth to the reading of them with an honest heart may clearely vnderstand them, that that is more darkely set downe in one place, is clearely set downe in another. This is that, that Dauid speakes, Psal. 119. 130. The entrance into thy Word sheweth light, and giueth vnderstanding vntounto the simple. And Prouerbs 8. 9. They are all plaine to him that vnderstandeth, and straight to him that would finde knowledge.
2. There is no man, that with an humble and honest heart, desires to know God, but God will giuegive him a good teacher. God hath that care of them whose hearts he hath thus prepared, that he will prouide his ordinance for them. This you may see in the example of the Eunuch, Acts 8. 26. 29. and of Cornelius, Acts 10. 20. and of the Macedonians, Acts 16. 9, 10. And this I dare confidently say, that the people that want a good Teacher (whatsoeuer their Patron be, how bad soeuer the times be) if they had good hearts, and could vnfainedly desire to be instructed, God would send them better meanes. The Lord of the haruest is neither so carelesse, nor so poore or meane a person, that he should suffer any of his corne to be lost for want of labourers to inne it.
3. There is no man, that with an humble and honest heart desires to know God, but God will in his hearing and reading clearely reueale himselfe, make himselfe and his will clearely knowne vntounto him, so farre forth as it shall be necessary and good for him. The Spirit that indited the Scripture will interpret them to such, and resolue them in the true meaning of it. Iohn 6. 45. It is written in the Prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. And Matth. 5. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Yea, so certainely and cleerely will he reueale his will to such, as that though the whole Church should (if that were possible) iudge otherwise, it should not mooue him, He that is spirituall iudgeth all things, yet hee himselfe is iudged of no man, 1. Cor. 2. 15. If the faithfull Martyrs euen simple men and women, had not beene thus taught of God, and thus clearely and certainely resolued in the truth, could they hauehave suffered such things as they did, with such constancie and cheerefulnesse? This reason the Apostle giues for this constancie in suffering: 2. Tim. 1. 12. For which cause I also suffer these things: Neuerthelesse I am not ashamed, for I know whom I hauehave beleeued, and am perswaded that he is able to keep that which I hauehave committed vntounto him against that day.
How chance you differ then so much among your selues, Caluinists from Obiect.Lutherans, and Puritans from Protestants?
We deny not but Gods owne people may be ignorant in some parts of his Answ.truth. God hath not promised to any the perfect knowledge of eueryevery thing that is reuealed in his Word; but in fundamentall points, God hath promised to giuegive by his spirit cleere direction, to all such as truely feare him, and with an honest heart doe earnestly desire it. And in such points, we doe all agree.
EueryEvery Schismatique and Heretique will pretend for themselues, that they Obiect.hauehave the spirit, and that they are thus taught of God.
Doth it follow, that none hauehave it, because that there bee very many Answ.that pretend to hauehave it, that hauehave it not? Shall Gods promise bee therefore false, and fulfilled to none, because there be very many to whom it was neuer made, that doe falsly challenge an interest and right vntounto it?
2. The spirit and the interpretation that it giues of any place that is any way difficult or obscure, is to be cleerely discerned by this, if it be consonant to the Scriptures in other places that are more plaine, Esay 8. 20. To the law an… …o the Testimony, if they speake not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Application. 1. When therefore thou goest to reade or heare, labour to bring with thee an humble and honest heart, fearing God, 1. Pet. 2, 1, 2. Laying aside all malice, and all guile, &c. As new borne babes, desire the sincere milke of the word, that yee may grow thereby.
2. If thou canst learne nothing, grow to no certainety in thy Religion, though thou reade and heare much, and doe thy endeauour to serue the Lord in all things, yet the Lord hath not made himselfe knowne vntounto thee, examine and finde out the true and iust cause, lay the fault where it is, vponupon the badnesse of thine owne heart, and vponupon nothing else.
2. The second Vse is to shew how necessarie it is, that eueryevery Preacher Use 2.should be a sanctified and godly man; for they of all men, had neede to be taught of God. Now the Lord (as we hauehave heard) vseth not to reueale his secrets to any, but to those that feare him with all their hearts. A man of a proud and prophane heart, and of a dissolute life, say he be the greatest Doctour, the most learned and eloquent man that liues, yet can he not indeed be a sound and good Diuine. He cannot himselfe hauehave any sound and comfortable vnderstanding in the matters of saluation, neither can any of Gods people hauehave any sure or sound hope, to receiue resolution from him in the doubts and perplexities of their consciences. Therefore see how God commends this Ministry of godly men, Malachie 2. 5, 6. I gaue him my feare, and hee feared mee, and was afraid before my name. The Law of truth was in his mouth and iniquitie was not found in his lippes, hee walked with mee in peace and equitie, and did turne many from their iniquities. And so is the Ministrie of Barnabas commended vntounto vsus likewise, Acts 11. 24. Hee was a good man full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith.
Application. 1. This should therefore be our chiefe studie, to hauehave good and sanctified hearts, this is the onelyonly way to make vsus good Diuines, 2. Tim. 2. 15. stand to shew thy selfe approued vntounto God.
2. And for you that are Gods people, when you heare the credit and learning of any Diuine spoken of, to discredit any truth of God, that you hauehave learned (as the manner hath alwaies beene, hauehave any of the Rulers or of the Pharisees beleeued him? Ioh. 7. 48) marke what manner of men they be; true it is, That though an Angell from heauen teach any other Gospell then that wee receiued, we should account him accursed, Gal. 1. 8.
But if they be proud and pompous men, if worldly and couetous, if licentious and dissolute, if vtterly voide of all care to reforme themselues and their families, know you that it is a very vnlikely thing, that these men should be of any great iudgement in matters of God and his Religion. This rule the Apostle giues, I beseech you brethren marke them which cause diuisions and offences—for they that are such, serue not the Lord Iesus Christ but their owne belly, Rom. 16. 17, 18. And it is madnesse for Christians to be mooued much with the credit and authority of such men.
3. The third Vse is for the comfort of such as vnfainedly feare God, Use 3.and desire nothing more then to know his will that they might obey it. Many such are oft in great doubts and perplexities, and complaine that they cannot bee certaine of their saluation; the Lord Iesus their Sauiour doth not shew himselfe to them; they cannot profit by that they heare or reade; they are discouraged from reading, because they profit so little by it. To such I say in the Name of the Lord, Doest thou vnfainedly feare and serue God? Wouldest thou doe nothing that might offend him? …hast thou no griefe to this that thou canst not serue and please God as thou wouldest? Then 1. Certainely (though he hide himselfe from thee for a time,) before it be long, he will reueale himselfe to thee, and he will shew thee his saluation; he will giuegive thee that certainety as thou shalt be able to die with comfort; for Psal. 145. 19. Hee will fulfill the desire of them that feare him, hee also will heare their cry, and will saue them.
2. In the meane time, comfort thy selfe in the consideration of these two points. 1. That this very desire that is in thee, is an vnfallible fruit of grace, nourish it, and make much of it, so long as thou canst finde this, be sure thou art in the state of grace, for if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that that a man hath, and not according to that hee hath not, 2. Cor. 8. 12. 2. That the Lord with-holds from thee this certainety, and continueth thee in these doubts to humble thee, and to prepare thee better for the receiuing of his grace.