Lectures Upon John 4, Part 4
THE TWELFTH LECTVRE, ON APRILL, XXV. MDCIX.
IOH. IIII. XV.
The Woman faith vntounto him, Sir, giuegive me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
OVr Sauiour hauing in the two former verses prooued, that the Water of life which he had to giuegive, was farre more excellent then the water of Iacobs Well, this poore woman (though she had before obiected and reasoned against it) is now through the diuine power that shee felt in his word, conuinced, and beleeueth that he had indeed a water to giuegive that was better then that of Iacobs Well, which he that hath once drunke of, shall neuer thirst againe. And (out of this perswasion she had of the truth of that he had said) shee did now beare a reuerent estimation to his person (whom at first she esteemed basely of, as of an ordinary Iew) she desireth this water that he had spoken of, and saith vntounto him. Sir, giuegive me of that water, yet (still conceiuing that this thirst he had spoken of, was but the thirst of the body, and the Water of life but a materiall water) she desires it onelyonly out of a carnall respect she had to her owne profit and ease, for so she saith, Sir giuegive me of that water that I may not thirst, and come hither to draw. First, then in that this woman (being yet a naturall and wicked woman) beleeues now the word of Christ, likes it, and was affected with it, and desires this water he had spoken of, and yet doth all this in a carnall respect to her profit and ease. We learne, That the principall thing the naturall man respecteth Doct.in the affection he seemes to beare vntounto the Word, is his carnall ease and contentment; so farre as religion is a friend to that, he liketh and imbraceth it: but when once it crosseth him in that, he regards it not, but will be ready to renounce it. Before he entertaineth any truth of God, he vseth to enquire first whether it will further or hinder his profit, be for or against his aduantage yea or no. What profit should wee hauehave if we pray vntounto him, say such kinde of men, Iob 21. 15.
The truth of this Doctrine will appeare in these three points.
1. Many things in Religion he likes, because they seeme to make for his profit.
2. There is no truth that he receiues, but he turnes and applyes it to his worldly and carnall aduantage.
3. There is no truth that he is so well perswaded of, but he will be ready to renounce it when once it prooues an occasion of losse and trouble to him in the world.
1. A naturall man, yea, a very wicked man may in many things consent vntounto the truth of God, and both in profession and practise, shew a liking and louelove to religion; and that onelyonly for the carnall contentment, and benefit that he findes in it. You shall finde (Iohn 6. 14, 15.) that a great multitude of the Iewes, about 5000 people, giuegive a notable testimony of Christ, and shew a marueilous affection vntounto him. Of a truth this is the Prophet (say they) that should come into the world: yea they would needs hauehave made him a King. But our Sauiour saith of these with a vehement asseueration, that they did this onelyonly, because they had eate of the loaues and were filled, verse 26. And the Lord saith of the wicked Israelites, Hos. 10. 11. E…hraim is as an H…yfer vsed to delight in threshing (alluding to the manner of their threshing; the oxen that trod out their corne, were at liberty to eate, and might not be musled, Deut. 25. 4.) that is, they tooke delight in such duties of religion, as did not curbe nor crosse their nature, but yeelded profit vntounto them. Ye shall hauehave many a meere naturall man, yea many a very wicked man, that vseth ordinarily to pray, and will seldome misse a Sermon, yea sometime performe extraordinary duties, yea and that not for the credit he hopes to receiue thereby from men (for those are the grosser sort of hypocrites, Matth. 6. 5. but) euen because he is perswaded in his conscience, it will be profitable vntounto him in his worldly estate, and that God will that way reward him for it. See a proofe of this, Esay 58. 2. They seeke me daily, and will know my waies euen as a nation that doth righteously; yea they fasted, verse 3. and what moued them to doe this? Surely, their worldly profit and safety, they looked for and hoped to merit thereby, as appeares verse 3. Wherefore hauehave we fasted, and thou seest it not. Some temporall iudgement (it seemes) befell them, which they hoped by their forwardnesse in religious duties to hauehave preuented, whereby God (as they conceiued) testified that he regarded not their seruices, and this did greatly disquiet them.
But can any one be so simple, as to thinke the seruing of God will aduantage him in the world?Obiect.
Yes surely; for 1. The naturall man may know that the earth is the Lords; & that God hath made many great promises, euen for this life, vntounto them that Answ.serue him, godlines is profitable vntounto all things (saith the Apostle, 1. Tim. 4 8) hauing promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come, such a promise is that, Psal. 34. 9, 10. O feare the Lord ye his Saints, for there is no …ant to them that feare him: The young Lyons do lack and suffer hunger; but they that seeke the Lord, shall not want any good thing. 2. He finds by his own experience, that when he hath serued God (euen after his fashion) he hath prospered the better: for such is the louelove the Lord beareth to piety, as he hath beene wont to reward with outward and temporall blessings; the very outward duties of his seruice, when they hauehave beene performed, but euen in a naturall deuotion; without an vpright and faithfull heart. See a manifest proofe of this, Ps. 78. 34. They sought him. Ver. 37. Their heart was not vpright. Ver. 38. Yet he being mercifull, forgaue their iniquity, destroyed them not, but oftentimes called backe his anger. So it is said of Ieho…haz, 2. King. 12. 14. He besought the Lord, and the Lord heard him, and yet ver. 2. he was a most wicked man. While the Ark of God did but remaine and rest in the house of Obed-Edom three monethmonth, it is said, The Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom, and all that he had, 2. Chro 13. 14. Neuer did man entertaine any guest that will pay so well for his lodging, and so recompence the kindnesse he receiues, as religion will do God hath euer been wont to blesse the family where the outward duties of his worship hauehave beene constantly performed and but an outward conformitie yeelded vntounto them. 3. Yea, God hath bin wont to blesse many a wicked man, for the piety of such as hauehave belonged vntounto him, and to whom he hath giuen entertainement▪ though himselfe hauehave not serued God at all, Gen. 12. 2. Thou shalt be a blessing (saith God to Abraham) and expounds himselfe in the next words, Verse 3. I will also blesse them that blesse thee. See an experiment of it in Putiphar, Gen. 39. 5. The Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Iosephs sake. Now this many a naturall man obserueth well: and this makes him both to serue God himselfe, and to like Religion in others. It is certaine, many a naturall man likes his child and his seruant the better, if they be religious; and if they be not, he wisheth that they were. But why doth he so? surely, he knoweth that he shall hauehave the more profit by them, if they were so, he knowes they will be more diligent, and more dutifull, the more faithfull vntounto him, and that God will blesse him the better. You shall see a plaine proofe for this in Putiphar, Gen. 39. 4. He loued no seruant so well as he did Ioseph, he trusted him more then any, and aduanced him aboue all, but marke the reason, Verse 3. His master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did, to prosper in his hand: I do not say that eueryevery naturall man is thus minded, for many hauehave not that wit and policy in them, either they see not that Religion brings such blessings to the place where it is entertained, or they are so wicked and prophane, that they will rather lose these blessings, then they will be beholding to Religion for them. But yet this is the disposition of many, they like Religion, because it is so commodious; and were it not for this▪ God should hauehave no seruice at all done to him by them, there would not be so much as a shew of Religion in them; so that of these men it may be said, as Rom. 16. 18. They that are such, serue not our Lord Iesus Christ, but their owne belly.
And thus much for the first point.
2. The second point wherein I told you the truth of this Doctrine may appeare, is this; That there is no truth which the naturall man receiues, but he 2.turnes and applies to his carnall aduantage; he reades and heares, onelyonly in hope to find contentment to his flesh. The most holy and wholsome parts of Gods truth, he vnderstandeth carnally, and applies to the feeding of his owne humour, and contentment of his flesh. This is the onelyonly vse tha… they make of all that they heare and read, that they may sinne with more contentment and quiet of mind. Euen as the spider that gathereth poyson of eueryevery flower, Unto them that are defiled and vnbelieuing is nothing pure, but their minds and consciences are defiled, Tit. 1. 15. Whensoeuer they come to heare Gods Word, they bring with them an Idoll in their heart (some corruption or other) and whatsoeuer they read or heare, they turne to the seruice of their owne Idoll, Ezek. 14. 1, 3. These men hauehave set vp their Idoll in their hearts, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face. Yea it is certaine, that many wicked men receiue not that confirmation, that quiet and contentment to their heart, in their sinne, by any thing in the world, as they do by the blessed and holy Word of God. Such there were in the Apostles dayes, Rom. 3. 8. who did affirme that the Apostles said, Let vsus do euill that good may come of it. They wrest the Scriptures (saith the Apostle, 2. Pet. 3. 16.) to their owne destruction. They turne the grace of our God into lasciuiousnesse, saith another Apostle, Iude 4. Thus most men peruert these most comfortable Doctrines that are taught in sundry places in the holy Scripture; as that in Mat. 24 24 that it is not possible for the elect to be deceiued, or to perish. And that in Rom. 4. 5. To him that worketh not, but belieueth in him that iustifieth the vngodly, his faith is counted for righteousnesse. And that Rom. 6. 14. Ye are not vnderunder the Law but vnderunder grace. And that 1. Ioh. 2. 1, 2. If any man sinne, we hauehave an aduocate with the Father, Iesus Christ the righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sinnes, and not for ours onelyonly, but also for the sinnes of the whole world. And that sentence wherewith we begin our Lyturgie (which, though not in the same words, yet in sense and effect is deliuered by the Prophet, Ezek. 18. 21, 22.) At what time soeuer a sinner doth repent him of his sinnes from the bottom of his heart, I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance, saith the Lord.
And this is also the cause, why they will heare and conferre with, and moue questions to the best Preachers of the Word; because they are in hope to get some what from them, that they may make to serue for their purpose; and if they can, it will quiet and comfort them more, then the speeches or iudgements of an hundred other men. It is true indeed, they louelove the corruptest teachers best, the good fellow Priest, Mic. 2. 11. If a man walking in the spirit and falshood do lie, saying, I will prophecie vntounto thee of wine, and of strong drinke, he shall euen be the Prophet of this people. But yet they will not onelyonly heare such, but the best also, in hope to heare from them somewhat that may serue their turne. These are like Balaam, that when God had giuen him his answer, Num. 22. 12. yet out of this hope he waited still for another answer, verse 19, 20. So Ahab, 1. King. 22. 16. had wont oft to send for Michaia, and to charge him to speake nothing but the truth, why so? It would hauehave comforted him more to hauehave gotten somewhat from Michaia for his turne, then from all the foure hundred Prophets besides.
Thus you see then this second point confirmed, which I obserued to you concerning the affection that a naturall man beares vntounto the Word. Now as this is a fearefull sinne, so two things are to be obserued concerning the dangerous estate of these men.
1. That in all the places where the Scripture speakes of them, there the Holy Ghost sets a black marke vponupon them, and speakes of them as of Reprobates; the Apostle Paul speaking of such as peruerted the Word and Doctrine that he taught, whose damnation is past, saith he, Rom. 3. 8. And Peter speaking of them that wrested the Scriptures, saith, 2. Pet. 3. 16. that they did it to their owne destruction. And Iude saith of them that turned the grace of God (the doctrine of Saluation by Gods free grace onelyonly) into lasciuiousnesse, that they were of old ordained vntounto this condemnation, Iude 4.
2. That the Lord hath threatned to feed these men in their humour, so as, such men do neuer lightly read, or heare, but somwhat they find that may serue their turne. To Ahab that was vnwilling to be faithfully taught, and acquainted with the will of God, but willing to be flattered and deceiued, God sent a lying spirit with efficacy of terrour, Thou shalt perswade him, saith the Lord, 1. King. 22. 22. And preuaile also: go forth and do so. And of eueryevery one that hauing set vp his Idoll in his heart, came vntounto the Prophet, the Lord saith, Ezek. 14. 4. That he himselfe would answer that man according to the multitude of his idols.
3. The third point. The naturall man will be ready to forsake and renounce any truth that he hath seeme… to hauehave beene best grounded in, and to hauehave receiued with greatest comfort, when once it becomes an occasion of losse or trouble to him in the world: while peace and prosperity lasts, he may seeme to like the Gospell, and eueryevery truth of it, as well as any man: but if he cannot professe it without interrupting his peace, he is ready to renounce it. See the proofe of this in the hearer of the Word that is resembled to the stony ground, Mat. 13. 20. 21. He heareth the word, and anon with ioy receiueth it; but when tribulation or persecution ariseth, because of the word, by and by he is offended. And in that rich man that had seemed for a time full of zeale and deuotion towards Christ, Mar. 10. 17. 22. Of these the Apostle saith, that because they are enemies to the Crosse of Christ, and mind earthly things, therefore their belly is their God, and their end damnation, Philip. 3. 18, 19.
1. To teach vsus how to iudge of others that make profession of Religion, and shew louelove to the Word. Praise God when thou seest any (how lewd Use 1.soeuer they hauehave beene) to do so; and hope the best; and fret not, nor like worse of our assemblies and Religion for this, as the Pharisees did of Christ, because the Publicans resorted to him, Luke 15. 2. But yet build not too much vponupon this, as if that therefore they must needs be soundly religious; nor be offended with Religion, because thou hearest and seest many of these to fall away; for they may hauehave gone thus farre, vponupon meere carnall respects, and be very hypocrites.
2. To teach vsus how to iudge of our owne profession, and liking to the Word whether it be carnall or spirituall. It is necessary eueryevery one of vsus 2.should examine this. Take heed (saith our Sauiour to them that shewed such zeale in hearing of him, Luke 12. 1.) of hypocrisie. And Luke 8. 18. Take heed how ye heare. We should in this case ask our owne soule, as Christ doth Andrew, and the other Disciple, Ioh. 1. 38. What seeke you? Labour to approue thy heart to God in that profession thou makest; for what hauehave we gained by all our hearing and profession, if we be still hypocrites? Rom. 8. 8. They that are in the flesh cannot please God.
I will therfore giuegive you foure notes, wherby you may approue your hearts to be vpright in the profession of the truth.
1. If thou canst be willing to heare, and receiue (without difference) eueryevery truth of God, though it crosse thee in thy disposition and delights neuer so much. True it is, 1. A man is not bound to receiue any thing in Religion, vponupon the credit of any man whatsoeuer, till he hauehave tried and examined it by the Scriptures. They that heard the Apostles themselues, were not bound to do so, Act. 17. 11. Now we are expresly forbidden to do so; Proue all things, saith the Apostle, 1. Thes. 5. 21. And when, or vponupon what occasion saith he so? Surely, immediately vponupon the Charge he had giuen in the former Verse, against despising of prophecying. And therein he teacheth vsus plainely, 1. That we must proue and examine whatsoeuer we heare in Prophecyings and Sermons, whosoeuer the Preacher be. 2. That this is no despising of prophecying, nor contempt done to the Ministers of the Word, to examine the doctrine that they teach by the Word of God.
2. A man may be more desirous to heare some truths and doctrines taught and deliuered, then some others, because some are of more vse to him then others are: As the Minister may and ought to teach some truths, and to insist vponupon them, with more diligence and zeale then others. This is a faithfull saying (saith the Apostle, Tit. 3. 8.) and these things I will that thou affirme constantly. So may eueryevery Christian heare some truths with more desire and affection then others, Tit. 3. 8.
3 Some truths may be (in Christian wisdome) for a time concealed, because the audience is not fit to heare them: We hauehave our Sauiours owne example for this point of wisdome, Mar. 4. 33. He spake the Word vntounto them as they were able to heare it. Yet he that hath a good heart, will be willing to heare and receiue one truth as well as another, and when he seeth it to be Gods truth, will (without reasoning) receiue it, and yeeld vntounto it; and not prescribe, what shall be spoken to him in the Lords name, as they did, Esa. 30. 10. But comes to the hearing of the Word with Cornelius resolution, Acts 10. 33. We are prepared before the Lord to heare all, things whatsoeuer that are commanded thee of God. His soule saith to God as Samuel was taught to say, 1 Sam. 3. 9. Speake Lord, for thy seruant heareth. He is willing to be acquainted with eueryevery part of Gods will; though it make neuer so much against him. A notable example we hauehave of this in old Ely; for though he had iust cause to iudge, that that which Samuel had to say to him from the Lord, would be little to his comfort; Both because of a heauy message he had receiued from the Lord a little before, 1 Sam. 2. 27. to 36. And because he saw Samuel was very vnwilling to let him know what the Lord had said vntounto him, 1 Sam. 3. 15. Yet see how earnest he is with Samuel to know all, God do so to thee and more also (saith he, 1 Sam. 3. 17.) if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that the Lord said vntounto thee. And surely this should be the desire of all Gods people to their Ministers, that they would deale faithfully with them, and acquaint them with the whole counsell of God.
For, 1. All the holy Scripture is of equall authority, and therefore if we receiue any one part for his sake that is the Author of it, we will receiue all, 2 Tim. 3. 16. All Scripture is giuen by inspiration of God. And Iam. 2. 11. He that said, do not commit adulterie, said also, do not kill.
2 The Minister of God is bound to deliuer the whole will of God to his people, There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Ioshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, Iosh. 8. 35. And Ioshua in that case was no further bound then, than eueryevery Minister of the Gospell is now. Go stand and speake in the Temple to the people (saith the Angell of the Lord to Peter and Iohn, Act. 5. 20.) all the words of this life. And it was Pauls comfort, as he professeth, Act. 20. 27. That he had studied to declare (vntounto the Church of Ephesus) all the counsell of God.
3 God hath charged the people to heare all, Obserue and heare all these words that I command thee, saith the Lord, Deut. 12. 28. And, Him shall ye heare in all things whatsoeuer he shall say vntounto you, saith the Lord concerning Christ, Acts 3. 22.
4 EueryEvery truth of God reuealed in his Word, concerns eueryevery one of Gods people, and is profitable for them to know: Those things that are reuealed (saith Moses, Deut. 29. 29.) belong to vsus and to our children for euer, that we may do all the words of this Law. And the Apostle teacheth vsus, 2 Tim. …. 16. that All Scripture is profitable. And Rom. 15. 4. that Whatsoeuer things were written aforetime (euen in the Old Testament) were written for our learning. Insomuch as the Minister shall do them great wrong, and make himselfe guilty of their bloud, if he conceale any part of Gods truth from them, Act. 20. 26.
2 If thou respect not in thy profession any worldly profit, benefit, or contentment, but onelyonly the kingdome of heauen, and the saluation of thy soule. True godlinesse hath the promises euen of this life, 1 Tim. 4. 8. and we may be sure not to want any thing that shall be good for vsus, if we truly feare God, Psal 34. 10. But that is not the chiefe thing we should hauehave respect vntounto, nor the mark we must aime at, nor the profit and reward we must seek for, in seruing God: but the kingdome of heauen: Seeke ye first the kingdome of God, saith our Sauiour, Mat. 6. 33. Our conuersation is in heauen, it is heauen that we trade for, saith the Apostle, Phil. 3. 20. and 1 Cor. 9. 25. We run and striue (iaith he) to obtaine an incorruptible crowne. And he tels the Thessalonians' 2 Thes. 1. 5. that all the sufferings he did endure, were for the kingdome of God, that they might not misse of that.
3 When our care is to make vse of all that we heare and learne, for the edifying of our selues in faith, and a good conscience; not to feed any humour of our corrupt nature, or that we may be able to talke well: but that we may practise that we heare, Desire the sincere milke of the word (saith the Apostle, … Pet. 2. 2.) that ye may grow thereby. That is the onelyonly right vse that should be made of the Word, to be edified in our faith, as the Apostle teacheth vsus, 1 Tim. 1. 4. Thy word hauehave I hid in my heart (saith Dauid, Psal. 119. 11.) that I might not sinne against thee. In which respect also the whole truth of God reuealed in his Word is called 1 Tim. 6. 3. The doctrine which is according vntounto godlinesse, it tends wholly vntounto this, to make men godly. And they that vse it to any other end, peruert it dangerously vntounto their owne destruction.
4 When thou so receiuest the louelove of the truth, that thou canst resolue to suffer any thing, rather than thou wilt renounce or fall from any part of Gods truth, that thou knowest, and art perswaded of. True it is, 1. A man may hauehave a good heart, and yet use wisdome in shunning persecution and disgrace. 2. The Lord in his goodnesse tendereth the weaknesse of some of his seruants so farre, as that he neuer brings them to any trouble for his sake. But eueryevery one that hath a good heart, resolueth with himselfe, and is willing, to suffer any disgrace and losse for the truths sake, if God shall see good to call him to it. Yea, we must all be willing, to contend earnestly for the maintenance of the faith, Iude 4. And without this willingnesse to suffer none can be saued: If any man will come after me, and enioy heauen, where I am to be, (saith our Sauiour, Luke 9. 23.) Let him deny himselfe, and take vp his crosse daily, and follow me. And Luk. 14. 26, 27. Whosoeuer doth not beare his crosse, and come after me, cannot bee my Disciple.