Lectures Upon John 4, Part 5 · Lecture 13
THE THIRTEENTH. LECTVRE ON MAY II. MDCIX.
IOHN IIII. XVI, XVII, XVIII.
Iesus saith vntounto her, Goe, call thy husband, and come hither.
The Woman answered, and said, I hauehave no husband, Iesus said vntounto her, thou hast well said, I hauehave no husband.
For, thou hast had fiue husbands, and he whom thou now hast, is not thy husband: in that saidest thou truly.
WE heard the last day (out of the former Verse) that this Woman though now she began to conceiue better, both of the person and speech of Christ than she had done before, and did not only giuegive credit to that which Christ had said touching the water of life, but was also so affected with his speech, as she did desire him to giuegive her of that water, yet did she not vnderstand his meaning, but thought still that Water of life he spake of, had been no other than a materiall water, and therefore desired it onelyonly in a carnall respect she had to her ease and profit. Two causes there were of this her blockishnesse. First, That she knew Christ no better; but tooke him to be an ordinary man. The other, that she knew her selfe and her owne estate no better; but liued securely in knowne and hainous sinne. Our Sauiour for all this giues her not quite ouer, because of her blockishnesse and vncapablenesse, but now (leauing the speech of the water of life) he begins to make himselfe, and her owne estate better knowne vntounto her. To this purpose he discouers to her the most secret things that euer she did; especially such as might stirre vp in her a thirst after the water of life. For, it appeares by her owne words to her neighbours, Verse 29, 39. That he had told her many other things, that were vnknowne to all men. But the Euangelist mentions this onelyonly, of all the secrets that he told her, because in this the infinite mercy of Christ did most shine, that had such respect vntounto, and was so carefull of the saluation of so vile a woman. Now he doth not charge her with her sin in plaine termes, nor deale roughly with her, he cals her not Whore, nor tels her at the fi…st, that she liued in filthy adultery (for he knew in his diuine wisdome, that this sharpnesse would not be needfull, but hurtfull rather) but first bids her go and call her husband, and come againe. And though he knew it well she had no husband, yet did he thinke it fit, to draw out so much from her owne mouth, which when she had confessed, then did he plainely discouer how priuy he was to the whole course of her life, and tels her (for the further aggrauating of her sinne) that though she had had fiue Husbands, yet she kept one now that was not her Husband.
So that, these words affoord foure principall things to our consideration.
1. That our Sauiour thirsting after the Saluation of this poore Woman, discouereth to her her sinne, and that nothing he had said before, could work vponupon her conscience, till he tooke this course with her.
2. That the sinne he did discouer vntounto her, was a secret sinne vnknowne to all men.
3. That of all the sinnes she was guilty of, when he would touch and awaken her conscience, he makes choice of this sinne of Fornication, and chargeth her with that.
4. That notwithstanding she liued in so hainous a sinne, yet he reiects her not, nor deales roughly with her, but he deales most tenderly with her, and shewes much care and desire of her saluation.
First then, in that our Sauiour seeking the saluation of this Woman, that he might make her more capable of that he had said concerning the water of life, and worke in her a true desire of it, tels her of the hainous sinne she liued in. We learne,
That they that would win soules to God, must plainely and particularly Doct. 1.discouer to men their sinnes.
Before I confirme this doctrine, two cautions and rules are to be obserued from this example, for the better vnderstanding of it. 1. A Minister is not alwayes bound in plaine termes, imperiously, sharpely, and bitterly to reproue the sinnes he knoweth by his hearers; but he is bound to take that course which he seeth to be most likely to preuaile and do them good. For our Sauiour here cals not this woman whore, nor at the first directly tels her of her sinne (that might haply hauehave driuen her from him) but goeth about her, and vseth a holy cra…t and cunning with her. So speakes the Apostle of himselfe, 2. Cor. 12. 16. For as much as I was crafty, I tooke you with guile. Thus dealt Nathan with Dauid, 2. Sam. 12. 1. 4. He vseth a Parable and long circumlocution to make way into his heart for his reproofe. He that winneth soules is wise (saith Salomon) Prouerbes 11. 30. And Prouerbes 15. 2. The tongue of the wise vseth knowledge aright. To the application of the Word, a speciall Wisdome is required, 1. Corinth. 12. 8. The Pastours gift (whose worke stands principally in application) is called there, the word or vtterance of wisdome.
2. Sinne must so be reproued, as that the credit and estimation of the person that sinneth may be preserued as much as may be. Priuate sinnes must not be made publike. Our Sauiour therefore here when he discouers to this Woman her secret sinne, doth it in secret, betweene them two, hee would not hauehave so much as any of his Disciples by. This our Sauiour giues for a rule to be obserued by all that desire to win their brother, Mat. 18. 15. Goe and tell him his fault betweene him and thoe alone. Yet neuerthelesse, this must be done by all that would win soules to God, they must plainely and particularly discouer to them their sinnes. Let them do it with as much wisdome as they can, and with as much louelove as they can, so they do it. This must needs be done.
This is made a chiefe part of the office and dutie of a Minister, when the Apostle had deeply charged Timothy, 2, Tim. 4. 12. to preach the word, and to be instant in season and out of season, he tells him how he should performe that duty to doe it well, reproue (saith he, yea) rebuke, exhort, &c. and the contrary noted as the most proper mark of a false Prophet, Lam. 2. 14. Thy Prophets hauehave looked out vaine and foolish things for thee, they hauehave not discouered thine iniquity. Yea, this must be done, 1. Particularly and plainly, that the party may feele himselfe and his owne sin touched: as plainly appeareth by the Prophet Nathans dealing with Dauid, 2. Sam. 12. 12. Thou art the man; yea, 2. If they be publike and scandalous sins, they must be reproued publikely, 1. Tim. 5. 20. 3. It must be done effectually and zealously. Cry aloud (saith the Lord, Esa 58. 1, 2.) lift vp thy voice like a trumpet. Yea, 4. In some cases with sharpnesse and bitternesse also, Tit. 1. 13. Rebuke them sharply. This sharpnesse Christ himselfe vsed sometimes, Mat. 23. 33. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
The Reason of this is, the benefit that comes to Gods people, by hauing their sinnes thus plainely and effectually discouered vntounto them.Reason.
1. Till men hauehave the true sense and knowledge of sinne, they can neuer vnderstand rightly, or clearely belieue any thing in Religion with any certainty or assurance. This we hauehave an experiment of in this poore woman, how blockish was she, till Christ reuealed vntounto her her sin: and one chiefe reason why she was so vnable to vnderstand the Word of Christ, was, because she liued securely in a grieuous sin. As the earth cannot receiue the seed till it be plowed vp, so the heart of man cannot receiue the Word, till the Lords plow hauehave been in it. This comparison the Holy Ghost vseth, Ier. 44.
A kind of knowledge in Religion, I grant is in many that liue securely in grieuous sinnes, and neuer had their consciences touched with an effectuall knowledge and sense of sinne; but you neuer knew any such that did attaine to a cleare and certaine knowledge. The Lord will teach sinners (saith Dauid, Psal. 25. 8. that is, such as know and feele themselues to be most miserable and grieuous sinners) in the way, and vers. 9. The meeke (such he means as are made meeke this way, such as through pouerty of spirit and mourning for that, are made meeke and humble, according to that gradation our Sauiour vseth, Mat. 5. 3, 4, 5.) will he guide in iudgement, and the meeke will he teach his way. And of the rest the Apostle Paul saith, that such as hauehave pleasure in vnholinesse and vnrighteousnesse, cannot receiue the louelove of the truth, no nor belieue the truth, but shall be apt to belieue lies, and to be seduced, 2. Thess. 2. 10, 12.
2. Till men hauehave the true knowledge and sense of sinne, they can neuer know Christ to the comfort and saluation of their owne soules. Of this also we hauehave an experiment in this poore Woman of Samaria. She neuer knew the gift of God, nor who it was that spake vntounto her, she knew not Christ aright, nor esteemed of him, till he had discouered to her her sinne. Such onelyonly are fit to come to Christ, Matth. 11. 28. Such and such onelyonly shall be refreshed by him as are weary and heauy laden this way. And indeed that no man can come to true comfort, till he hauehave the true knowledge and sense of his sinne, is euident by this, that no man can find mercy with God for the pardon of his sinne, till he can with a penitent and humbled heart confesse his sinne vntounto God, Prouerb. 28. 13. He that couereth his sinnes shall not prosper, but he that confesseth and forsaketh them, shall find mercy. And therefore Dauid vseth this as a reason to moue God to mercy, Psalme 51. 3. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sinne is euer before me.
Many thinke that the Ministry that plainely and powerfully rebuketh sinne, serues to no other vse, then to bring men to despaire, and to fill them with melancholy; but this is a fond conceit. The true knowledge and sense of sinne, is the onelyonly way to comfort, Iohn 16. 7, 8. Christ saith, the Spirit the Comforter which he would send, should reproue and conuince the world. The Spirit of God neuer comforted any till he had first reproued and conuinced them. Therefore Paul reioyced greatly to heare of the Corinthians sorrow, 2. Cor. 7. 7. and tels them, ver. 8. That he repented him not that he had made them sorrowfull, and saith ver. 9. That he had done them no hurt at all in reprouing them so sharply, and bringing them to such heauinesse, and giues this for the reason of it, ver. 10. Godly sorrow causeth repentance neuer to be repented of, but worldly sorrow causeth death. And the Apostle Iames when he had exhorted them to humiliation for sin, and said Iam. 4. 9. Be afflicted, and mourne, and weepe; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your ioy into heauinesse. He preuents this obiection, and tels them, ver. 10. if you be once thus humbled, then he will lift you vp: as if he should say, that is the way to sound comfort; according to that promise he had spoken of, ver. 6. God resisteth the proud, and giueth grace to the humble.
3. Till men hauehave the true knowledge and sense of sin, their hearts can neuer be subdued to the obedience of God, nor come to a true reuerence and feare of God. This also may be seene in this poore woman; till Christ told her of her sin, she answered him scornfully, and reiected him, and obiected, and reasoned against him. What was it in the Ministery of Peter that wrought that wonderfull conuersion, when about three thousand soules receiued the word gladly, and were baptized, and added to the Church, Act. 2. 41. euen such as had before mocked and scorned the Apostles, ver. 13. Surely it was this plaine and effectuall discouery of their sin, God hath made (saith he to them, ver. 36.) that same Iesus, whom ye hauehave crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this (saith the holy story, ver. 37.) they were pricked in their heart. What was that in the Ministry of the Prophets that wrought such a change in the man that was before ignorant and an Infidell, of whom we read, 1. Corinth. 14. 23. Surely it was this plaine and effectuall discouery of his sinne vntounto him, he was conuinced of all (saith the Apostle, ver. 24 25.) he was iudged of all. All the Preachers that he heard (as if they had conspired together) did discouer to him his sinne and damnable estate, and euen conuinced his conscience of it. And then were the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so falling downe on his face, he worshipped God, and reported that God was in them of a truth. The man that knoweth sin aright, and the burthen and danger of it; will be desirous to know what he may do to please God; he will be obedient and tractable, ready to do any thing that God shall require of him: and till then men will heare what they list, and do what they list. See this in the fruit of Iohn Baptists Ministry, when he (in the spirit and power of Eliah) had sharply reproued his hearers, and denounced Gods vengeance against them, and so humbled them deeply with sense of sinne, and feare of Gods wrath, then euen the Publicans and soldiers also (as we read Luke 3. 12, 14.) came to him and said, Master, what shall we doe? And in Saul, Act. 9, 6. When he trembled and was astonished by this means, then he was ready to say, Lord, What wilt thou hauehave me to doe?
If any man shall obiect and say, what need Preachers trouble themselues with this; seeing there is no man so simple, but he knowes himself to be a sinner; Obiect.yea his owne conscience will tell him that, it will tell him that these and these things that himselfe hath done are sinnes, as well as the Preacher can tell him?
I answer, yes, sometimes it will doe so indeed. But yet this is the ordinary meanes to bring a man to an effectuall knowledge of his sinne. Answ.This Woman was not so simple, but she knew that she liued in adultery, and that that was a sinne; but she came not to remorse and repentance till Christ had told her. So also was Dauid brought to a sauing knowledge of his sinne, euen by Nathans plaine and effectuall reprouing of him, 2. Sam. 12. 12, 13. True it is, the conscience of eueryevery man will (when God shall awaken it) tell a man of his sinnes plainely and roundly, seuerely and sharpely, as we may see, Rom. 2. 15, 16. But it lyeth a sleepe for a time, and will either say nothing, or flatter a man, and is therefore compared to a Band-dogge that lyeth at the doore, Gen. 4. 7. The Ministry of the Word is the effectuall and mighty or dinance of God, to awaken the conscience, Rom. 3. 20. By the Law comes the knowledge of sinne. The vse of this Doctrine is first for the Minister.Use. 1.
1. To exhort him not to neglect this part of his Ministry, by the consideration: 1. Of the great charge that is laid vponupon him, and the danger he is in, if he neglect it: Thinke seriously of these two places, If thou do st not speake to warne the wicked from his way (saith the Lord, Ezek. 33. 8.) that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his bloud will I require at thine hand. And Ier. 1. 17. Speake vntounto them all that I command thee, be not dismaid at their faces, least I confound thee before them. 2. Of the small cause he hath to despaire of good successe in it, if he performe it with a good heart. How forcible are right words, Iob 6. 25. See an example of this in 2. King. 5. 13, 14. what successe the admonition and reproofe euen of a seruant, had (through the blessing of God) with a great Lord that was but a heathen man. 3. Of the recompence and supply God will make of any friends he shall lose thereby, There is no man that hath left (willingly lost) house, or brethren, or sisters, or father (saith our Sauiour, Mar. 10. 29, 30.) or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake and the Gospels; but he shall receiue a hundred fold now in this time: houses and brethren, &c. and in the world to come eternall life. 4. Of the reuerence and estimation that is gained by it vsually, euen in the hearts of such, as at first most distasted it, Pro. 28. 23. He that rebuketh a man, afterwards shall find more fauour, then he that flattereth with the tongue.
2. To exhort him, that sith he must be a reproouer of sin in his people, he 2.vse all means, and carry himselfe towards them, so as his reproofes may preuaile with them. And those are chiefly two. 1. He must so carry himselfe towards them in his whole course, that it may appeare he loueth them vnfainedly. See the force of this in the Apostles speech, Rom. 15. 14. I am perswaded of you my brethren, that ye also are full of goodnesse (that is, of kindnesse and readinesse to do good to them you liue with) filled with all knowledge, able to admonish one another. Teaching vsus that no man is so fit to admonish another, as he that is both full of knowledge, and able thereby to conuince him; and also full of goodnesse, and one of whom the party may be perswaded that he beares a kind and louing affection toward him. 2. He must so liue, as by his vnblameable and holy conuersation, he may gaine authority in their hearts. See how this will preuaile, It is said of Herod, Mar. 6. 20. that he feared Iohn the Baptist, and obserued him, and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And the reason that moued him so to do, is said to be this, because he knew him to be a iust and an holy man. And for this cause the Apostle giues that charge vntounto Timothy, 1. Tim. 4. 12. Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the belieuers in word, in conuersation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity: as if he should say, if thou be such a one, they will neuer despise thee, no not when thou shalt command and teach, when thou shalt teach and reproue them with boldnesse and authority, though thou be so young a man.
The second vse of the Doctrine is for all Gods people. 1. To admit and accept of this part of Gods ordinance, euen of the word of reproofe, as well as of instruction or comfort, receiue with meeknes the ingrafted word which is able to saue your soules, (Iam. 1. 21.) that is, eueryevery part of Gods Word, which will quite change your nature and disposition, when you hauehave once rightly receiued it. Count it not pride in the Minister to reproue the sin of any that liues vnderunder his charge. For, 1. He hath authority to do it, he is set ouer them in the Lord, 1. Thes. 5. 12. and therefore hath authority to admonish them. He speaks to them in Gods name, and by commission from him. And who may think himself too good to receiue a reproof from the Lord? Heare ye and giuegive eare (saith the Prophet, Ier. 13. 15.) Be not proud, for the Lord hath spoken. The faithfull Minister vntounto his hearers in Christs stead, 2. Cor. 5. 20. 2. The faithfull Minister takes no pride in it, but performs it vnwillingly: see how Gods holy Prophets hauehave bewailed their own condition, by reason of this task that God hath laid vponupon them. Wo is me my mother (saith Ieremy, Ier. 15. 10.) that thou hast borne me a man of strife, and a man of contention to the whole earth. 2. Desire to be acquainted with thy sins, and pray as Dauid, Psal. 141. 5. Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindnesse, let him reproue me, it shall be an excellent oyle that shall not break my head. And as Iob, Iob 13. 23. Make me to know my transgressions and sinnes.