Lectures Upon John 4, Part 7 · Lecture 30
Lecture the thirtieth, October 24. 1609.
IT remaineth now that we come to the question it selfe, which this woman propoundeth to our Sauiour, wherein (that we may the better receiue our instruction from it) these three things are to bee obserued.
1. That (perceiuing him to be a Prophet, and one that could tell secrets) she sought not to know her fortune (as we say) how long shee should liue, how many more husbands she should hauehave; or how many children, what manner of ones they would prooue, or such like matters; which (if shee would hauehave yeelded to that curiosity, that is in vsus all by nature) she would hauehave questioned with him about; but (being effectually touched in conscience by the Spirit of God with remorse for her sin, and desire of saluation) she seekes onelyonly to be instructed by him in a chiefe ground of Religion, and case of conscience.
2. Though she were but a woman, and a Samaritan, and an harlot, yet did she take notice of a maine controuersie, that was betweene the Iewes, and Samaritans about the right way to saluation, and true manner of seruing God, yea she was acquainted also with the chiefe reason, that the Samaritans alledged for themselues.
3. She satisfieth not her conscience in the long custome of all her neighbours and antiquity of their Religion: neither feares the imputation of lightnesse and inconstancie amongst her neighbours; but calls in question the Religion which her selfe and all her ancestors had profe…ed, and earnestly desires to be resolued by Christ, whether it were the true Religion or no. And from this example thus considered, we hauehave this Doctrine to learne for our instruction: that
EueryEvery Christian, euen women are bound to seeke to be resolued, and setled in the knowledge of the true Religion of God. Before I come to the Doct. 5.proofe of this, two things are to be premised for the right vnderstanding of the Doctrine.
1. I doe not say that eueryevery one is bound to studie the controuersies, so as to be able to answer an aduersary. For this is a speciall gift required of the Minister to be able to conuince the Aduersary, Tit. 1. 9. And to stop his mouth, verse 11. Yea it may doe hurt to a weake Christian, to busie himselfe much with controuersies, to reade the books of aduersaries to the truth, or conferre with them, Rom. 14. 1. Him that is weake in the faith, receiue, but not for controuersies in disputation.
2. I say not that there is the like measure of knowledge required of eueryevery Christian. For 1. Of vsus that liue in these dayes (in which the light is so cleerely reuealed, in which, besides the Ministry of the Word, there are bookes of all sorts written) more knowledge is required, th…n was of our forefathers. 2. Of such as liue vnderunder better meanes of instruction, more is required, then of such as liue vnderunder a dumb and ignorant Ministry. The Apostle sharpely reprooues the Hebrewes, Chap. 5 12. for that (whereas considering the time they liued in, and meanes they had inioyed, they ought to hauehave beene teachers, yet had need to be taught their first principles: and tells them, Heb. 6. 1. 3. That vnlesse they were carefull to grow forward to perfection, they were in great danger to fall into the vnpardonable sinne. 3. Of such as hauehave more leisure, and fewer distractions through worldly businesse, God requires a greater measure of knowledge then of others. That which the Apostle speakes of vnmarried persons, holds good proportion with Gentlemen and others, that (by reason of their estates) are freed from that toyle in worldly businesse that others hauehave, 1. Cor. 7. 32. The vnmarryed careth for the things of the Lord, how hee may please the Lord, verse 33. He that is marryed careth for the things of the world. 4. Of such as God hath giuen best naturall parts, best wits, and best memories vntounto, he requireth more knowledge then of others. For that speech of Christ is generall; To whomsoeuer much is giuen, of him shall bee much required, Luk. 12. 48.
Yet remaines the Doctrine true, that eueryevery Christian (of what sexe and condition soeuer) is bound to seeke to be resolued and setled in the knowledge of the true Religion of God. Obserue the confirmation of this Doctrine in three seuerall points.
1. EueryEvery one is bound to seeke the knowledge of the truth: 1. Tim. 2. 4. God would hauehave all men (all sorts) to bee saued; but how? and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Though the Lord be infinite in mercy, yet they can hauehave no comfort in his mercy, that hauehave no knowledge: Esay 27. 11. It is a people of no vnderstanding, therefore he that hath made them, shall hauehave no compassion of them, and he that formed them, shall hauehave no mercy on them: Say a man lead an honest and vertuous life, that will not serue his turne, without knowledge: 2. Pet. 1. 5. Ioyne to your vertue knowledge: Say a man hath a good meaning, and be deuout and carefull to please God; this will doe him no good without knowledge: Rom. 10. 2. The Iewes had the zeale of God, but it was not according to knowledge; and therefore for all their zeale the wrath of God came on them to the vtmost: 1. Thess. 2. 16.
2. No man is to content himselfe with some smattring, or small measure of knowledge, but eueryevery one is bound to seeke for certainety, and to hauehave a sound iudgement, and setled resolution in the matters of his Religion. Rom. 14. 5. Let eueryevery man be fully perswaded in his mind, that he may be able to say, as, Rom. 14. 14. I know and am perswaded through the Lord Iesus. And Paul's prayer to God for the Colossians was (and if he desired it for them, they were bound to desire it for themselues) that they might know the mysteries of Religion in all riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding, Coloss. 2. 2. and verse 7. requireth, that they would seeke to be rooted, and established in the faith. And Peter reports of all the faithfull he wrote to, that they had knowledge and were stablished in the present truth. 2. Pet. 1. 12. And 2. Pet. 3. 17. Beware least yee fall from your owne stedfastnesse; verse 18. but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord. And Paul tells the Colossians: Chap. 1. 22, 23. That Christ will present them holy and vnblameable vntounto God, if they continue in the faith, grounded and setled and bee not mooued away from the hope of the Gospell. Though it be not required of eueryevery Christian to be able to answer eueryevery thing that is obiected, yet should hee be, propositi tenax, so sure of that truth, which he hath learned out of Gods Word, that nothing that is obiected by any aduersary, may draw him from it: 1. Cor. 2. 15. Hee that is spirituall discerneth all things, and he is iudged of no man: Insomuch, as though the learnedst man in the world, yea an Angell from heauen should obiect against it, yet he would not yeeld to him, Gal. 1. 8. 9. In this respect the faithfull man is compared to a tree that growes by the riuers of water, and is well rooted. But the hypocrite to the chaffe, Psal. 1. 3, 4.
3. EueryEvery one that hath meanes is bound so farre forth to take notice of the controuersies of Religion, as may serue for the setling of his owne heart in the truth. 1. Cor. 14. 20. Brethren, bee not children in vnderstanding, but of a ripe age: Phil. 1. 9, 10. And this, I pray, that your louelove may abound yet more and more in knowledge, and in all iudgement, and verse 11. that you may allow those things that are best that you may bee pure and without offence vntill the day of Christ. It is the commandement of God to his people, Ier. 6. 16. that they would stand in the waies, and behold, and aske for the old way, which is the good way. When a man seeth, there are diuerse waies, and broad ones too, 'tis not good to goe on carelessely, but he should stand still, and consider, and behold, which is the likelier way, and aske of such as can direct him. It would be a good confirmation to a Christian (that hath meanes to direct him) to compare the Doctrine of Papists with ours, and the weake grounds they hauehave to build vponupon.
1. Our Religion is our chiefe inheritance, Psal. 119. 111. and our glory: Reason.Psal. 4. 2. EueryEvery one seekes certaintie in his inheritance, if he see any hole in his lease, or euidence, he will giuegive no rest to himselfe, nor spare cost, till he hauehave made it sure.
2. It is necessary to the saluation of eueryevery man, that he professe the true Religion, and be a member of the true Church. For out of the true Church and Religion, no man can finde assurance of saluation and comfort. See the necessity of this profession: Rom. 10. 10. With the mouth man confesseth to saluation, Isay 44. 5. One shall say, I am the Lords, another shall bee called by the name of Iacob: another shall subscribe with his hand to the Lord, and sirname himselfe by the name of Israel. Marke how the profession of the true Religion, yea, the very hope of saluation, and ioyning to the true Church, goe together. So Noah desiring the saluation of Iaphets posteritie, prayes that God would perswade Iaphet to dwell in the tents of Sem: Gen. 9. 27. And 2. Chron. 11. 16. All such as set their hearts to seeke God, came to Ierusalem. So it is said, God added to the Church such as should be saued: Acts 2. 47. And it was Dauids comfort and glory, that he was the sonne of Gods handmaid, Psal. 116. 16. As if he should not else hauehave beene Gods seruant. Therefore the true Religion and Church is called oft the Kingdome of heauen: Matth. 13. 44. 47. And that promise that is made: Esay 33. 24. (the people that dwell there shall hauehave their sinnes forgiuen) though it be to be vnderstood of the Church Catholique, as it is in our Creed, and not of any particular visible Church, Yet may it thus farre forth be applied to the Church visible, as that a man may say boldly, none can ordinarily attaine to saluation, that is not a member of the true visible Church. Now there is but one true Church and Religion: there may be in matters of lesse moment, sundry differences in the true Church (as betweene vsus and the Lutherans, and Brownists, and among our selues) but these make vsus not seuerall Churches: because in the fundamentall points of Religion, (the knowledge whereof is absolutely necessary to saluation, and the profession whereof maketh a true Christian) we all agree. It is a damnable conceit of some, that a man may be saued in any Religion. There is but one faith: Ephes. 4. 5. one way to life, and one gate. Matth. 7. 13. Gods promise is to all his Elect, that he will giuegive them one heart, and one way: Ier. 32. 39. It stands men therefore vponupon to enquire diligently which is the onelyonly true Church, which is the onelyonly true Religion.
3. Such as are not well grounded in Religion, and carefull to attaine to certainty and resolution in it, are in continuall danger to be seduced, and to fall from their profession, either on the right hand or on the left. The Apostle giues the reason why hee desired the Colossians might attaine to all riches of the full assurance of vnderstanding least any should beguile them, Col. 2. 24. That that is halting, is easily turned out of the way, and therefore it is necessary to goe steddily and strongly in the right way: Heb. 12. 13. They that are children in vnderstanding and wauering, will bee easily carried away with eueryevery wind of vaine doctrine, Ephes. 4. 14. Whom did the seducers in old time preuaile with? 2. Tim. 3. 6, 7. With simple women that were euer learning, and neuer able to come to the knowledge of the truth: And 2. Pet. 2. 14. With vnstable soules. And no maruell: For (though we are wont to wonder at the absurdities of eueryevery contrary Religion; and thinke a simple man may easily be able to answer, whatsoeuer they can say. And the confidence we hauehave in our selues this way, is a chiefe cause why we doe not more carefully seeke to ground our selues in the knowledge of the truth; yet) it is certaine, that the grossest aduersaries of the truth are able to vse such reasons and perswasions as hauehave in them great probability and shew of truth. The Apostle saith of the Seducers of his time, that they had. Coloss. 2. 4. foreign, and Ephes. 4. 14. foreign, and foreign, a notable veine in perswading; a great deale of cunning, euen such as cheaters and coggers at dice doe vse, much craft to beguile and circumuent them that they deale with.
4. No man can be saued, vnlesse hee bee willing to suffer for his Religion, yea, euen to die for it, If any man will come after mee saith our Sauiour, Luke 9. 23. let him deny himselfe and take vp his Crosse daily and follow mee. And Luke 14. 26. If any man come to mee and hate not his owne life, that is, bee not willing to part with it for my sake, hee cannot bee my Disciple. And Reuel. 3. 10. Be thou faithfull vntounto death and I will giuegive thee the crowne of life. And who can doe that but he that is well grounded and certaine of the truth of his Religion. No man can hauehave peace in his conscience, nor comfort in the euill day, in the houre of death or time of great affliction, that is vncertaine in his Religion.
5. A good conscience that giues a man assurance that he is in the state of grace, in the right way to life, will yeeld a man vnspeakeable comfort at all times, when a man is sure that God accepteth his worke, then may he well say to himselfe, Goe eate thy bread with ioy, and drinke thy wine with a cheerefull heart, Eccl. 9. 7. Yea in the time of greatest affliction, such a one may hauehave much comfort. On the other side how can he hauehave comfort in that day that is vnresolued? when he shall consider that he must either goe to heauen or hell, and that there is but one way to heauen, and that he is vncertaine whether he be in that one way or no; how can he chuse but be in extreame perplexity. As the man that trauells in a tempestuous weather, ready to be benighted, and knowes not the way, and is sure that if he misse the right way, he shall fall into the hands of theeues, or other certaine perill of his life, must needs be in extreame feare and anguish of heart: so it is in this case. Say such an one doe vse to pray, and doe good workes, all this can yeeld him no comfort. He that doubteth (saith the Apostle, Rom. 14. 23.) is condemned if he eate, because he doth it not of faith: and whatsoeuer is not of faith, is sinne. Euen the doubts that the faithfull feele in themselues (though they be not quite void of faith and certainty) cause much discomfort to them as it appeares by the teares that that poore man shed … …is vnbeliefe, Mar. 9. 24. and by that sadnesse and sorrow of heart, which …e two Disciples of Emaus felt in themselues when they doubted whether Christ were the true Messiah, Luke 24. 17. How much more such as hauehave no faith, no certainty at all mixed with them? Therefore the Lord bids them that would find rest to their soules, vse all meanes to finde out the good way and walke in it, Ier. 6 16. And the Apostle giues this for one reason, why he did so much desire, that the Colossians might attaine to all riches of the assurance of vnderstanding, that their hearts might bee comforted, Col. 2. 2.
2. The example of the Papists. Though this hauehave beene a maine principall in their Religion, that ignorance is the mother of deuotion; yet now euen women among them grow perfect and ready in the grounds of their Religion, and are able to giuegive a reason of that they hold, and to teach their children also. And what shame is that for vsus?
1. For exhortation to diligence in the vse of all meanes whereby we may Use 1.grow to certaintie in our Religion. 1. We must liue vnderunder and frequent an ordinary Ministry. For that is ordained for this end, that we may be no longer as children tossed to and fro with eueryevery wind of doctrine, Ephes. 4. 14. And ye heare of few seduced either by Papists or Brownists, that did enioy an ordinary and setled Ministry. 2. We must giuegive our selues to reading of good bookes, specially of the Scriptures; for they are able to make vsus wise to saluation, 2. Timothy 3. 15. 3. We must vse in our doubts to conferre and mooue questions to such as are able to resolue vsus, the Priests lippes should keepe knowledge, so the people should seeke the law at his mouth, Malachy 2. 7. And Cornelius was directed to send for Peter and to seeke resolution in all his doubts from him, Acts 10. 5. 32. 4. Because the Lord onelyonly is the teacher that can resolue and perswade our hearts, wee must giuegive our selues much to humble and faithfull prayer, so did Dauid, Psalme 119. 18. open thou mine eyes, &c. so did the Spouse of Christ, when she found her selfe in danger to be seduced, Cant. 1. 7. and Cornelius being in doubt and perplexity this day, sought by fasting and prayer to receiue direction and resolution from God, Acts 10. 30.
2. For reproofe, 1. Of them that willingly remaine vnsetled in Religion vponupon this pretence, that by reason of the many differences in Religion, 2.they find in the world, and the great shew of reason each side hath, and the fowle faults that they discerne in men of all Religions, they see great cause to doubt them all, and small hope to attaine to any certainety, and therefore they will serue God, and not trouble themselues to enquire whether side hath the truth. For the Elect, and such as hauehave grace, and good hearts, shall be able to attaine to certaintie, though there were neuer so great differences and occasions of doubting. Of the Elect it is said, Matth. 24. 24. That it is not possible for them to be deceiued, and Iohn 10. 4, 5. That Christs sheepe know his voice and will follow him; and a stranger they will not follow, because they know not his voice: and of the godly and such as vse the meanes of grace and knowledge with a good heart, it is said, that the Light shall shine vponupon their wayes, Iob 22. 28. That God will instruct and teach them in the way that they should goe and guide them with his eye, Psalme 32. 8. That the secret of the Lord is reuealed to them that feare him: and his couenant to giuegive them vnderstanding, Psalme 25. 14. That their eares shall heare a word behind them, saying, this is the way walke ye in it, Esay 30. 21. That they shall know of that doctrine which is taught them, whether it bee of God, or whether their teacher speake of himselfe, Iohn 7. 17. That they hauehave an vnction from the holy one, and know all things: Iohn 2. 20. Such shall vnderstand the Scripture and grow vntounto certaintie. For the testimonie of the Lord is sure, and maketh wise the simple, Psal. 19. 7. It is able to giuegive subtiltie to the simple, and to the child knowledge and discretion, Pro. 1. 4. So that all such as resolue that they will remaine neuters, and seeke for no certaintie, giuegive euidence against themselues, that they belong not to Gods election, nor hauehave any grace in them.
2. Them that are ignorant and vtterly vnacquainted with matters of Religion, that thinke and speake of these things carelesly, or as of things that nothing concerne them. Such are the most, euen of those that hauehave best leisure, and best wits and memories; to them that may be applyed, which is in Hosea 8. 12. I hauehave written to them the great things of my Law: but they are counted as a strange thing. But how well soeuer these persons iudge of themselues, the Holy Ghost pronounceth them to be plaine Atheists and contemners of God, as you shall see, Iob 21. 14, 15. they (do in deed and heart) say vntounto God depart from vsus, that say we desire not the knowledge of thy waies, yea such doe say in their hearts, what is the Almighty that wee should serue him, and what profit should we hauehave if we pray vntounto him.
3. Such as (though they approoue of the truth) wish well to them that professe it, (and professe it themselues) yet doe they it vponupon no other grounds then this, that the state, and place we liue in, doe professe it, or vponupon this, that such and such good men teach and hold it. Whereas we should not receiue our Religion vponupon any mans credit, but labour to see the grounds of it with our owne eyes. The people of God are not drawne to a resolution in Religion by company or compulsion, but vponupon their free choice. They examine it, Matth. 13. 44. Acts 17. 11. And see good reason and ground for it; and thereupon aduisedly and voluntarily choose it, Psalme. 119. 30. I hauehave chosen the way of truth: and thy iudgements hauehave I laid before me. So as they are able to say, Wee beleeue and know. Iohn 6. 69. We should be able to giuegive a reason of that we hold in Religion, 1. Pet. 3. 15. And it is noted for the propertie of the vnsound hearted hearer, Mar. 4. 6. That h…e receiueth with gladnesse immediately what he heares, without euer examining it before. The faith and Religion most men hauehave, is rather suckt in with their mothers milke, then receiued by the instruction of their teachers. They hold it, because it is commonly beleeued; not because it is certainely true. It is not chosen by them vponupon their owne iudgement, but taken in, vponupon common credit.