The Kings Bath, Section 4
Then he suffered him.
Sect. 4.
IOhn hearing Christ giuegive such a sound reason for his fact,Iohns permission of Christ. he disputeth no longer, nor resisteth, but cheerfully admits him to his baptisme: for 1. Now he knoweth that whom he beleeued firmely to be the Sonne of God and Sauiour of the world, all his commaundements and preceptsmust needs be iust, wise, and onelyonly good. 2. His spirit could not but reioyce, that he would vouchsafe him to bee the minister in his fulfilling this part of righteousnesse. 3. He is now in expectation of that promise to be accomplished, Ioh. 1. 33. and to see the Spirit visibly descend vponupon him, which was as glorious a sight, as any mortall eye could euer behold, & therefore vndoubtedly he now most willingly permitted him.
Whence note the singular modesty of this holy man,Obser. A godly heart easily yeldeth vp an error. hee yeeldeth vp his error at the first; so soon as Christ letteth him see it, and teacheth vsus, that it is a point of Christian modesty to be willing both to see our error, and to forsake it vponupon the sight of it. Iob was so desirous to see his error, that he would learne it of his seruant and maid, Cha. 31. 13. And seeing his error, chap. 39. 38. He professed thus of himselfe: Once hauehave I spoken, but I will answere no more, yea twice, but I will proceed no further. The like we see in Dauid, when Abigail met him and perswaded him from his purpose, 1. Sam. 25. 32. Blessed be the Lord that sent thee, and blessed bee thy counsell, and blessed bee thou that hast kept mee from bloud. Thus did the Israelites at at the counsell of Obed the Prophet, concerning the spoiles and captiues, 2. Chron. 28. 13, 14.
1.Reason 1 This is a signe of humility, to be ready to acknowledge humanity and weakenesse: pride will not giuegive ouer a conceit.
2. It is a note of the louelove of truth, which a man magnifieth in his iudgement and practice with denying himselfe.
3. Continuance in a knowne error, addeth wilfulnes to ignorance, and when men see and wil not see, God giues them vp to hardnes of heart, Isa. 6. 9, 10. and to strong delusion, 2. Thess. 2.
4. The Lord noteth it for the way of the foole,Pro. 26. 16. to bee wise in his owne eyes, and that there is more hope of a foole then of him that will leane to his owne counsell.
First then,Vse 1. in hearing the Word, bring teachable hearts, which is the way to profit in Gods wisedome: for, hee teacheth the humble in his way, Psal. 25. 9. and the wise in heart will receiue commandements, Prou. 10. 8. and he that heareth counsell, is wise. Consider how dangerously Moses replied vponupon God againe and againe, till the Lord was very angry: and so did Peter once and againe, Ioh. 13. 6, 8. till Christ told him in earnest, that if he washed him not, he should hauehave no part in him. Therefore let all flesh stoope to the wisedome of GOD in his Word.
Secondly,Vse 2. this conuinceth the obstinacie of men, who hold it a poynt of wit and learning, to defend eueryevery nouell opinion they take vp, and not yeeld an inch to any man what euer bee brought to the contrary. And indeed if a man bee resolued to hold and maintaine an error, hee will be hardly ouercome: for the diuell and his own wicked heart will suggest words and colour; as for substance and soundnesse they care not, the contention is for victory, not for truth: but all this is the way of one wise in his owne eyes: a proud folly, an ignorant learning, leading into strength of delusion. This folly is now set on horsebacke, as the numbers of strange questions (not in ceremony or circumstance) but in the substance of religion, daily forged out of conceited braines, doe witnesse: and it is the vnhappinesse of many a man; that he cannot rise into request, but by the fall or foyling of some truth or other.
Thirdly,Vse 3. priuate persons especially must take heed of stifnesse in opinion; a spice of pride, and the mother of schisme: not to be reeds shaken with the winde in fundamentall and more necessarie poynts grounded in Scripture, but in things controuerted and of lesse consequence to beware of vngrounded conceits, to suspect their iudgemēts and be of the yeelding hand to better reason: and for this let Iohn be an example. But alasse! many are so stiffe and wedded t… …nions, as neither priuate … …ublike persons can stirre … out of them.