Lectures Upon John 4, Part 8 · Lecture 35
Lecture the fiue and thirtieth, December 12. 1609.
IN this Verse as we hauehave heard, three things offer themselues to our ….
1. The fault he findeth with the Samaritans worship, Yee worship that wh…h y…e know not.
2. The commendation he giues to the Iewes worship, wee worship that wee know.
3. The reason whereby he iustifieth this commendation, hee giues to the Iewes. For saluation is of the Iewes, It followeth now that we proceed to the two last points contained in these words, Wee worship that we know▪ for saluation is of the Iewes. In which words for the helpe of our memory and vnderstanding, three things are to be obserued. 1. That Christ prof sieth of himselfe that he worshipped God. 2. That he worshipped God as the Iewes did. 3. That he affirmeth saluation is of the Iewes. Then the first Doctrine that we hauehave here to learne, is this;
That our Sauiour himselfe, though he were the Sonne of God, did vse when he was here on earth to serue and worship God. 1. He was wont Doct. 4.diligently to frequent the place of publike prayer, Luke 4. 16. Hee went into th… Synagogue on the Sabbath day as his custome was. 2. Hee was wont to vse prayer in his owne family, Luke 9. 18. As hee was alone praying, his Disciples were with him. 3. He was wont alwayes at his meales to giuegive thankes, and pray to God for his blessing vponupon the creatures, and that (not onelyonly when he was to worke a miracle, Matth 14. 19. Hee … vp to heauen and blessed the food that was prepared, that is, gaue thankes and prayed) but ordinarily, Luke 24. 30. As hee sate at table, hee tooke the bread and gaue thankes. 4. Besides all these kinds of prayer, he was wont to pray in secret, and by himselfe, Luke 5. …6. He kept himselfe apart in the wildernesse and prayed; he vsed this kind of praying in the morning, Ma…e 1. 35. In the morning very early before day he arose, and went out into a solitary place and there prayed. He vsed it also in the euening, Matth. 14▪ …3. Hee went vp into a mountaine alone (hauing no house of his own…, he was wont to goe abroad into the most solitary place) to pray, and when the Euening was come, hee was there alone. Yea this was his custome, Luke 22. 39. Hee went as he was wont to the Mount of Oliues. 5. He was wont to performe this worship of God with gestures and signes of as much reuerence, humility and submission, as we shall read any of Gods seruants hauehave beene wont to doe, Luke 2…. 41. He knecled downe and prayed, Matth 26. 39. He fell on his face and prayed.
The Reason why he was thus diligent in worshipping God, wa… not so much for his owne sake, as for vsus. For he had no need to pray, for hee had Reason.all creatures in heauen and earth at command; and by his word was able to doe what pleased him, Matth. 8. 8, 9. Speake the word onelyonly, and … … shall be healed. For I am a man also in authority, &c. Why then did he thus vse to worship God? surely for our sake onelyonly, and not for himselfe, but in respect of vsus. Three Reasons there were for it.
1. That he might purchase to vsus eternall life, it was necessary he should perfectly keepe the law: for thus runs the Couenant, Matth. 19. 17. If thou 1.wilt enter into life, keepe th… commandements, yea perfectly Gal …. 1…. This we were not able to doe, therefore he, Gal. 4 4, 5. Was made vnderunder the Law that he might redeeme them that are vnderunder the Law, that we might receiue th… adoption of sonnes. Therefore it became him to fulfill all righteousnesse Matth. 7 5. And this is a chiefe part of that righteousnesse God requireth of vsus in his law that we worship him, Mat. 22. 38. This is the first and the great comm…ndement.
2. That he might giuegive vsus an example: for that which he speaketh of one of his actions, may be said of all that he did in obedience to the morall Law, Iohn 13. 15. I hauehave giuen you an example that you should doe as I hauehave done.
3. That he might obtaine for vsus the Spirit of God, whereby we may be made able to doe the like, For as the disobedience of Adam, deserued that all his posterity should loose the Image of God, and become like vntounto him, Rom. 5. 22. By one man sinne entered into the world; so the actiue obedience of Christ hath deserued that God should renew his Image in all the faithfull, and giuegive them his quickning spirit, Rom. 8. 2. the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Iesus hath made me free from the law of sinne and of death.
The Vse of this Doctrine, is to stirre eueryevery one of vsus vp to a greater conscience and diligence in all the duties of Gods worship, specially in prayer. Vse.For if the Sonne of God (that had not such need to doe it in respect of himselfe) yet vsed it so constantly, and vsed it onelyonly because the Law requires it of vsus, and that he might make himselfe an example to vsus; and that he might obtaine grace for vsus to doe it; what excuse can we (that are bound vntounto it by Gods Law, and stand in such need of it) hauehave for our ordinary neglect of publike prayer, of prayer with our family, of secret and priuate prayer.
2 The second thing we are to obserue here, is this, that our Sauiour in commending the worship and Religion of the Iewes, makes himselfe one of their number, acknowledgeth himselfe a member of their Church, professeth that himselfe did worship God as they did; from whence this Doctrine ariseth for our instruction;
That those assemblies that enioy the Word and Doctrine of saluation, though they hauehave many corruptions remaining in them are to be acknowledged Doct. 1.the true Churches of God, and such as none of the faithfull may make separation from. We shall need no further proofe of this Doctrine then the example of our Sauiour himselfe. If we consider on the one side how corrupt the State of the Iewes Church was in his time, and on the other side how farre forth our Sauiour did communicate with them in the seruice of God.
1. For the first, what the state of that Church was in his time, we may know if we consider, 1. What the Priests and teachers were themselues that had the ordering of Gods worship. 2. What the people were, with whom he was to ioyne in Gods worship. 3. What the worship it selfe was, wherein he was to communicate.
1. The Priests and teachers, 1. Were ignorant and vnlearned, Matth. 23. 16. 2. They were wicked and vngodly, Matth. 23. 3. 3. They had a corrupt and vnlawfull enterance into their calling, yea euen the high Priest himselfe. For whereas by Gods ordinance he was to hold that office during his life; this office was bought and sold, and made annuall, Iohn 11. 49. Caiphas was high Priest for that yeare.
2. And what were the people? Surely the most of them in all places where he conuersed, were notoriously and obstinately wicked. In Nazaret where he had liued most, see what they were, Luke 4. 28, 29. All that were in the Synagogue when they heard this Doctrine, were filled with wrath, and rose vp and thrust him out of the Citie, and lead him to the edge of an hill to cast him downe headlong. But were they better in other places? No, he vpbraided all the Cities, where most of his great workes were done, Woe bee to thee Corazin, woe be to thee Bethsaida, Matth. 11. 20, 21. And were the people of Ierusalem any better? you shall perceiue that by that affection they shewed at the Passion of our Sauiour. When Pilate a Gentile had made such an offer to them, Luke 23. 18. All the multitude cryed at once, not him but Barrabas, and Matth. 27. 25. When Pilate had washed his hands and protested for Christ innocency, then answered all the people and said desperately, his blood b… on vsus and our children.
3. The worship it selfe that was vsed in that Church had many corruptions in it. 1. They vsed many superstitious ceremonies, the obseruation whereof they vrged more strictly then the commandements and ordinances of God, Mar. 7. 9. 2. The Temple was prophaned and made a den of theeues, Matth. 2…. 12, 13. 3. The discipline and censures of the Church were shamefully abused, Iohn …. 22. The Iewes had decreed that if any did confesse that Iesus was the Christ, he should bee excommunicated, ipsofacto. 4. The Doctrine was corrupt in many points, as you shall finde, Matth. 5. 2…. 48. 5. Some corruption also was crept into the administration of the Sacraments. For they kept it a day after our Sauiour, (who obserued the iust time appointed by God) Iohn 19. 14. the day of his Passion was but the day of the preparation to the Passeouer. Thus we hauehave seene how corrupt the state of the Church was. And yet marke how our Sauiour made no separation from it, but communicated with it in the worship of God. 1. When he was an infant he was circumcised, and by that Sacrament incorporated into that Church, Luke 2. 21. 2. When his mother was purified, he was brought to the Temple and presented to the Lord, and an oblation was giuen for him, as for other children, Luke 2. 22. 3. He was content to be an hearer of such teachers as taught in that Church, Luke 2. 46. 4. He was eueryevery Sabbath wont to ioyne in publike prayer with the Congregation that was at Nazaret, Luke 4. 16. 5. He receiued the Sacrament of Baptisme in a Congregation of that people, Luke 3. 21. When all the people was baptized, he was baptized also. 6. He communicated in the Passeouer with the people, and the Priests, Iohn 2. 13. 7. He allowed his Disciples to heare those teachers, Matth. 23. 12. Yea he commanded the Leper whom he cleansed, to goe and shew himselfe to the Priest, and offer his gift in the Temple, Matth. 8. 4.
The Reasons why all men are bound to count such assemblies the true Churches as enioy the Word and Doctrine of saluation, and may not separate Reason.from them for their corruptions, are these.
1. So long as God continueth his Word and the Doctrine of saluation to a people, so long it is euident God dwells among them, and hath not forsaken 1.them, I will set my Tabernacle among you (by which he meaneth his solemne worship, whereof this is a principall part, Leuit. 26. 11, 12.) and my soule shall not abhorre you. And I will walke among you, and I will bee your God, and yee shall bee my people. In Iuda God is knowne, his name is great in Israel. Psal. 76. 12. In Salem also is his Tabernacle and his dwelling place in Sion. And till God hath forsaken a Church, no man may forsake it. For shall we be holier and hate corruption more then the Lord? It is no sufficient warrant for any to separate from a Church, because it is guilty of such sinnes and corruptions as deserue God should forsake it; and for which God in his Word hath threatned that he will forsake it: till it may appeare vntounto vsus God hath indeed forsaken it, and put in execution that which he hath iustly threatned against it, no man may forsake it. Though adultery (either in the man or the wife) giuegive iust cause of separation, and that the bond of wedlocke should be broken, so as the innocent party may iustly forsake the offender, yet till a bill of diuorcement hauehave passed betweene them, they remaine still man and wife, notwithstanding that sinne, the woman whom her husband had wronged in this kind, is called his wife, Mal. 2. 15. Esau had iustly deserued to loose the prerogatiue of his birthright and superiority he had ouer his brother when he had despised it and fold it, Gen. 25. 34. and Saul to be depriued of his Kingdome; yea God by his decree and oracle had said of Esau and Iacob, The elder shall serue the younger, Gen. 25. 23. And of Saul and Dauid, that he had reiected the one, and appointed the other to raigne in his stead, 1. Sam. 13. 14. and 15. 23. 26. 28, And yet till the Lord saw it good to put this his decree and oracle in execution, and actually to depose the one from his birthright, and the other from his Kingdome, Iacob acknowledgeth Esau his Lord and superior, Gen. 32. 4, 5. and so did Dauid, Saul, 1. Sam. 24. 7. 9. So though a Church for the many corruptions that are in it, be vnworthy the name of Christs Church, and be also such as the Lord hath threatned to make no Church, yet till the Lord hath put this his threat in execution, and taken away his tabernacle and worship from it; it is still to be acknowledged and reuerenced as the Church of Christ.Vse.
2. Because no separation may bee made from those assemblies, where men may be assured to finde and attaine to saluation, Lord to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternall life, saith Peter vntounto our Sauiour, accounting this a sufficient reason why they might not leaue him, Iohn 6. 68. But men may be sure to finde and attaine to saluation in such assemblies where the Ministry of the Word, and the Doctrine of saluation is continued. For the Word and Gospell of Christ is called saluation here, and Heb. 2. 3. Because it is the ordinary meanes ordained of God to bring men to saluation, Rom. 1. 16. 1. Cor. 1. 21. Yea it is at one time or other effectuall in all Gods Elect that doe enioy it, Iam. 1. 21. calls it the engrafted Word which is able to saue your soules.
To teach vsus what to iudge of our Church, and of the Brownists, that separate themselues from it. 1. We may not deny, but that there is iust cause Use 1.of feare, that God may take away his Tabernacle from amongst vsus, and remoue our Candlesticke: Euen the generall decay of our first louelove may cause vsus to to feare it: Apoc. 2. 5. And the great neglect of the Church censures vponupon scandalous offenders, in respect of that the Apostle saith, know yee not that a little leauen leaueneth the whole lump, 1. Cor. 5. 6. But specially the generall increase of all filthy and abhominable sins in the land, Thy Campe shall be holy, that he see no vncleane thing in thee, and turne away from thee, Deut. 32. 14. seest thou not (saith the Lord, Ezek. 8. 6.) the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should goe farre off from my Sanctuary? 2. Though we acknowledge our Church to be a true Church, yet may wee not communicate with it in any corruptions, that shall be detected or approued to be in it. Herein we hauehave our Sauiours example to guide vsus. Though he esteemed the Church of the Iewes to be a true Church, and ioyned with it in Gods worship, yet would he not communicate with it in the least corruption. He would not vse so much as their superstitious purifications; Marke 7. 6, 7. When they put off the Passeouer a day longer then God had appointed, he would not ioyne with them in that; Matth. 26. 17. 3. We should mourne for, and shew our dislike to those things that are euill in our Church, so did the faithfull before the captiuity, Ezek. 9. 4. So did Christ, Luk. 19. 41. But we may not separate our selues, nor deny it to be a true Church for the reasons aboue alleadged.
2. To conuince the Papists of errour, in their doctrine touching the notes of the true Church. None of their notes are proper and infallible; for the profession 2.and preaching of the true Doctrine in all fundamentall points is the onelyonly proper and certaine note of the true Church: as we see here in the argument Christ vseth to prooue the Church and worship of the Iewes, to be the true worship and Church of God. For saluation is of the Iewes. This was the chiefe priuiledge, the chiefe badge and cognisance of the old Church, that the Oracles of God were committed to them, they enioyed the true Doctrine of saluation, Psal. 147. 19, 20. Rom. 3. 2. And thus doth the Apostle describe the true Church vnderunder the Gospell; he calls it the houshold of God built vponupon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Iesus Christ himselfe, being the chiefe Corner-stone, Ephes. 2. 19, 20. He calls it also the pillar and ground of truth, 1. Tim. 3. 25.