Six Evangelical Histories of Water Turned into Wine, Chapter 4 · Account 2
The Rulers Sonnes healing.
IN this History obserue:
1. The Reason of Christs going into Galile, V. 44.
2. His Entertainment there, Ver. 45.
3. His Miracle there wrought, V. 48. to the end.
VERSE 43 So two dayes after Iesus departed from thence, and went into Galile.
VERSE 44 For Iesus himselfe had testified, that a Prophet hath none honour in his owne countrey.
Here is the Reason of his going into Galile. Vnderstand it of Cana, & some other places of Galile, opposed to Nazaret, the Citie of his education, which hee left, though in his way, and chose rather to goe to other places, because a Prophet hath no honour, &c. This is to be vnderstood, as other Prouerbes, for the most part, and ordinarily.
Doct. 1. Why a Prophet is vvithout honour among his ovvne.The corruption of our nature, to loath the most excellent gifts of God, such as are our Prophets, Eph. 4.11. They are reckoned among the gifts that Christ bestowed vponupon his Church, at the day of his Coronation, and solemne Inauguration into his Throne, at the time of his Ascention.
Reasons hereof.
1. Enuy at the preferment and rise of such as hauehave liued as our equals and inferiours. What? I knew him a boy, and shall hee teach mee?
2. Ministers where they daily liue, cannot but discouer some infirmities.
3. Daily presence euen of the best things quickly gluts. The Sunne and Moone are not so much admired as some other meaner, but lesse ordinary workes: and so strange Ministers preferred before our owne, though inferiour vntounto them. There be three good mothers that hauehave ill daughters; Truth hatred, Peace securitie, Familiarity contempt. We contemne not fire and water, though of daily vse, because we know how necessary they be: no more should wee Ministers if wee knew the right vse of them.
Honour is due to Gods Ministers;Honour due to Gods Ministers. yea, double Doct. 2 honour, 1 Tim. 5.17. Honour thy Father, euen thy spirituall Father: for in their honour and dishonour God is inclosed, they being his Embassadors. Ministers therefore may iustly looke for it: without it no good can be done. If the vessell be loathed, then will the liquor be loathed to: If the Minister, the earthen vessell, be despised, will the golden treasure inclosed be respected? Therefore Christ forsooke his owne citie, because his person being there despised, hee could not looke to hauehave his doctrine honoured. Miserable are these times wherein men, otherwise free enough from contempt, are yet contemned because Ministers. The very weed of a Minister is enough to procure contempt. This dishonour of the Ministry threatens the departure. If dishonor keepe Christ from comming to Nazaret, much more will it driue him thence when hee is come.
VERSE 45 Then when hee was come into Galile, the Galileans receiued him, which had seene all the things that hee did at Ierusalem, at the feast: for they went also vntounto the feast.
Here is the second Point, the Entertainment Christ found among the Galilaeans; They receiued him, namely, honourably, and with respect; with the ground of it, Being at the feast at Ierusalem, they saw his miracles?
Doct. 1 God will comfort his dishonoured seruants, and so vexes their aduersaries, who would hauehave all despice them as themselues. They of Nazaret despised Christ, but the Galilaeans magnified him. So while the Iewes contradict and raile vponupon Paul and Barnabas, the Gentiles receiue them with ioy, and glorifie the word of God, Acts 13.48.
Doct. 2 The mischiefe of Enuy and Prejudice: For the men of Nazaret were at the feast, and saw Christs Miracles, as well as the Galilaeans: but Enuy and Malice blinded them, and so still it doth the wicked, that they cannot reuerence the godly, though neuer so excellent graces shine in them.
Doct. 3 Distance of place must not keepe vsus from Gods worship, They also were at the feast; They also, though in the remote parts of the Land: There is an Emphasis in the word also.
VERSE 46 And Iesus came againe into Cana, a towne of Galile, where he had made of water wine: And there was a certaine Ruler, whose son was sicke at Capernaum.
Here followes the third Point. The Miracle.
In which consider:
1. The Place.
2. The Occasion.
3. The Manner and Meanes.
4. The Consequents.
5. The Order of it.
1. The Place where Christ wrought it, at Cana, described by Christs miracle formerly wrought there, Iohn 2.1.
Where Christ hath begunne he goes forward,Doct. and after planting he waters. He deales with places as with persons, Phil. 1.6. So should Ministers doe also. So did Paul, Act. 15.36. Let vsus returne, and visit our brethren in eueryevery Citie, where we hauehave preached the word of the Lord, and see how they doe. People also must be content to be plied and followed, and to hauehave one Sermon pegged in with another.
2. The Occasion. The sicknesse of a young man, described by his father, a Courtier, one pertaining to the King, to wit, to Herod: and his sicknesse is set forth afterward by the grieuousnesse of it, insomuch that he was euen ready to dye, Vers. 47.
When mans help failes, then Gods begins:Extremitie is Gods time of helpe. when Doct. 1 the knife was at Isaacks throat, then God interposed himselfe: When this mans sonne was deadly sicke, and no hope in Physicke, then Christ is at hand to heale him, Ier. 20.13. He deliuers the soule of the poore from the hand of the wicked. But what poore? euen such as were almost ouer-whelmed in despaire, and thorow extremity of affliction began to say, Verse 14. Cursed be the day wherein I was borne. See Is. 33.9.10. Mans extremity is Gods opportunitie. This is great comfort when things are most desperate: then most of all looke for Gods helpe; Then is his time, Psal. 119.126. It is time for thee Lord to worke, for they hauehave destroyed thy Law.
Sore crosses driue to Christ, especially in our children. This was the crosse that subdued Aegypt: And to great men,Doct. 2. Crosses driue to Christ. such as this ruler was, who hauehave much to leaue to their children, this crosse is the greater: Therefore euen this Courtier, though otherwise blinded with worldly glory, is made to come vntounto Christ, now his sonne is a dying. Ionas sleeping in the ship, prayes in the whales belly. Hos. 5.15. in their affliction they will seeke mee. OnelyOnly it is suspicious when we s…ke vntounto God onelyonly in affliction: And such seekers are reiected with scorne. Ier. 2.27.28.
3. Point. The Manner and Meanes.
The Manner two-folde.
1. He heales not the sonne without his fathers request.
2. But yet not at the first request.
Doct. 1 Christ helps vsus not without our prayers and desires. It is true also in things spirituall. Look not for Christ whilest thou liest still, & stirrest not thy selfe.
In his request there are two errours, first he prescribes Christ the meanes; Goe downe and heale. Ver. 47.2. He prescribes the time before he dye. Verse. 49. as though Christ could not hauehave raised him from the dead.
Doct. We must not limit God.Our corruption is such, that we limit God in like manner: We beleeue, but we must be holpen by meanes, and those of our owne and in our owne time, Psal. 78.41. 2 King. 5.11. Matth. 8.25. Ioh. 11.32. Learne we to close vp our eyes, and leaue all to God, & know that Gods help neuer comes too late.
2. Christ heales not at first request, but giues him a shrewd checke.
VERSE 48 Except yee see signes and wonders, ye will not beleeue.
Obiect. He did not demaund this miracle that he might beleeue, but because he did beleeue: What meanes then this checke?
Ans. Maldonate will not hauehave it a checke at all, but as if Christ should hauehave said. I will heale thy sonne, not for thy request, but because without such miracles men will not beleeue in me. But if Christ had graunted his suite in this speach, he needed not hauehave renewed it the second time. His reiterating of it argues a deniall, and that to this purpose; ye shall hauehave no more miracles: Ye saw water turned into wine before, and that is not enough to make you beleeue in me as you should, but you must limit me to your owne time, and meanes, and you must see the signes wrought in your presence.
Christ shewes himselfe oftentimes as an enemy Doct. 1 to his, when he meanes to deale friendly.Christ often appeares as an enemy, vvhen he entends greatest friendship. Hee frownes, and speaks harshly, when he meanes in the end to graunt our prayer. As Matth. 8.26. he did with his disciples, and Math. 15. with the woman of Canaan, and with his mother before, Ioh. 2. Hee hides himselfe when he meanes to be found, hee kills, when he will make aliue, he throwes downe, when he meanes to lift vp, when he will ease vsus of our burthens, he will seeme to lay on heauier.
Vse. Trust in God killing, and louelove God chiding. It is a good signe, his anger alwaies ends in louelove, and by it he prepares vsus for the enioyment of his louelove. See Ioh. 11.5.6. He loues Lazarus, and yet hearing of his sicknesse comes not at him: poore louelove one would thinke.
The beginning of helpe and health in the body Doct. 2 Doct. 2 is in the soule.Spiritual health, is the beginning of bodily. Christ being to heale the body of this mans sonne, first shewes him the sicknesse of his owne soule. So dealt he with the sicke of the palsey, Matth. 9.2 It is good for such as would be deliuered from bodily euils, to be touched with the sence of spirituall ones. And happy are we when our temporall blessings are mixed with some speciall testification of Gods louelove in spirituall. As here Christ in curing this mans sonne, shewes great louelove to his soule in this seuere reprehension.
This checke is set forth, by the effect it wrought in this man; namely, a reinforcing of his suite the second time.
VERSE 49 The ruler said vntounto him, Sir, goe downe, before my Sonne dye.
Doct. 1 Impudency of faith.Faith is impudently importunate in prayer; it will take no nay: It will cleaue to Christ frowning, and follow him running away. As children will runne into their mothers laps, though threatning them. So was it with blinde Bartimaeus, Luk. 18.39. Is. 45.15. Verily thou O God, hidest thy selfe; and yet marke what followes: O God the Sauiour of Israel. For al he hides himselfe, the Church acknowledges him her Sauiour.
Doct. 2 Affliction makes men patient in bearing reproofes.Affliction taming and meekening our spirits, makes vsus silent at Gods rebukes; as here in this Courtier, patiently taking Christs rebuke. Iob 39.37.38. The wilde Asse that snuffes vp the winde, and cannot be turned backe, yet she shall be found, and taken in her monethmonth. Ier. 2.24. In what snuffe doe many in their prosperity, take a reproofe? but when God tames them by affliction, then in their monethmonth a Minister may speake, and then he shall happily be heard.
A minde distracted with griefe and feare, heedes Doct. 3 not the instructions of the word:Distraction of minde, an hindrance to the efficacy of the vvord. As here this man minded not Christs vpbraiding of him with vnbeliefe, in regard of his present sorrow. So was it with the Israelites, Exod. 6.9. It is a good thing, so to moderate our affections, as that we wilfully barre not out that which may comfort vsus. Mat. 2. Rahel weeping, and would not be comforted. This is a shrewd thing, when men suffer their griefes, feares, sorrowes, &c. so to possesse them, as that they will not be eased, when the want of ease, lyes not in the insufficiency of the remedies, but in the wilfulnesse of our owne distempered soules.
The meanes whereby the sicke party was healed by Christ, were two:
1. His word.
2. His fathers faith in that word.
Both laid downe.
VERSE 50 Iesus said vntounto him, Goe thy way: thy Sonne liueth: and the man beleeued the word that Iesus had spoken vntounto him, and went his way.
1. His word. Goe thy way, Thy sonne liueth, an whole, and a sound man.
See the victory that faith holding out in wrestling Doct. 1 with God, doth in the end get of him.The victory of Faith. Though God hide himselfe, yet Faith will bring him out. Mar. 7.24. He could not be hid; for there was a certaine woman, &c. As Dauid, Ps. 139. saies to God; so may God say to the faithfull Christian; Whither shall I goe from thy sight? still thou followest me, and findest me out.
VsUs. 1. Comfort, when God dissembleth his affections, as Ioseph to his brethren; in the end, he must needes discouer himselfe, as Ioseph did: He departs for a season, that he may returne for euer, as Paul speakes of Onesimus his departure. See Is. 54.7.8.
2. Neuer feare Sathan, nor all the power of hell: for if Faith be strong enough for God, it cannot be too weake for the diuell: If it get the blessing from God wrestling, much more will it keepe the blessing thus gotten from Sathan wrestling with it.
Doct. 2 Weake Faith is yet accepted and honoured by God.God honours vveake Faith. Weake was this mans Faith, euen in his second request, stinting Christ to his owne time, Before he dye; yet Christ is ouercome by it. So a father delights more in the stammering of his little childe, then in the eloquence of the best Oratour.
Doct. 3 God in denying our prayers,God grants our prayers in denying them. often grants them, hearing vsus according to our profit, and not according to our will. His request was, that he would goe downe and heale him: So all that while, his sonne must hauehave beene in paine, and perhaps hauehave suffered the pangs of death before Christs comming: Christ vses a shorter cut, and heales him presently. In Prayer there are two things. First, a desire of good, alwaies in our iudgement. Secondly, an errour oftentimes in iudging this or that to be good. Now God heare; vsus according to the integrity of our affections, and not according to the errour and ignorance of our iudgement.
2. Meanes. His fathers Faith. And the man beleeued the word that Iesus spake to him.
Though Gods word be mighty, yet he will hauehave Doct. 1 it mingled with our faith, that the power thereof may be beneficiall to vsus. Heb. 4.2. As wine a strong remedy against hemlocke, yet mingled with it, doubles the force of the poyson: So it is with the word, when it is mingled with our vnbeliefe.
The nature of Faith, to beleeue God, vponupon his Doct. 2 bare word, and that against sense,Faith beleeues God vponupon his bare vvord. in things inuisible; and against reason, in things incredible, Heb. 11.1. This man saw nothing, he onelyonly heard the bare word of Christ; and though he had left his Son in deadly danger, yet he rests fully satisfied in the word of Christ. So Dauid, Ps. 56.10. though sorely afflicted, yet reioices in God, because of his naked promise. So Abraham beleeued against hope, Rom. 4.18. So Ioseph in the dungeon stuck close to the dreame of the sheaues, and the Sunne, and Moone. So must we, when we feele nothing, but our sins sticke to the promise of mercy, and to the promise of glory, when we feele nothing but misery and mortality.
Vse. Against those of Thomas his Faith, that will not beleeue vnlesse they may see. Gods naked word cannot preuaile: It must be cloathed with some likelyhoods of performance. Hee that made the World with a word, cannot winne credit with a word in the World: So it costs God more to be beleeued in the World, then to make the World; August. It is hard, when we will not giuegive so much to God, as to an honest man; namely, to beleeue him on his word, much more, when not so much as to the diuell, who in Paradise was, nay, and still is beleeued on his bare word.
Doct. 3 The fruit of seuerer reprehension here appeares. Christ had checkt him,Fruit of reprehension. because he would not beleeue, vnlesse he saw signes. Now without any seeing, onelyonly hearing Christ speake the word, he beleeues. We must be glad then, to be reprehended by the Ministers. The Bees passe by Roses, and Violets, and sit vponupon Time. So should wee rather heede sound rebukes, though hot and byting, then quirkes, flowers, similitudes.
4. Point. The consequents of the miracle; they are foure.
1. He goes his way homeward, leasurely enough. For though it were but fiue Germane miles from Cana to Capernaum, and it was now but one of the clocke, when he left Iesus; and no doubt, but a man of his place, in such a businesse as this, rode, yet it was the next day, ere hee got home, as appeares, Ver. 52. whereas he might easily hauehave beene at home that night.
Doctr. Fai…h quiets the minde.Faith stils and quiets our distempered affections. Is. 28.16. He that beleeueth, will not make hast. This mans minde is as well contented, as if he had beene at home, and seene his sonne reuiued. Impatience, hastinesse, tumult of affection argues little, or no Faith.
2. Consequent. In the way, he is confirmed in his Faith, by two meanes.
1. By relation of his seruants, that came forth to meete him.
VERSE 51 And as hee was going downe, his seruants met him, saying, Thy sonne liueth.
Those that simply beleeue God vponupon his bare word, shall hauehave further meanes of confirmation,Doct. Faith resting vponupon Gods bare vvord, shal hauehave further confirmation. Ps. 119.66. Teach me good iudgement and knowledge, for I hauehave beleeued thy Commandements. So the wise-men, Mat. 2. comming to Ierusalem vponupon the sight of the Star, to enquire for Christ, their faith is confirmed by the Scripture from the Priests; after that departing from Ierusalem to Bethlehem, they are againe confirmed by the fight of the Starre againe, giuen them for their conduct and conuoy to the very house where Christ was.
2. Meanes whereby his faith was confirmed, was by his questioning with his seruants.
VERSE 52 Then he enquired of them the houre when he beganne to amend: And they said vntounto him, Yesterday the seuenth houre the Feuer left him.
Hee enquires not by way of doubt, but to confirme himselfe the more.
True Faith seekes its owne confirmation.Doctr. Faith seekes its ovvne confirmation. So did the wise-men come to Ierusalem to enquire of Christ, for a further confirmation of their Faith. EueryEvery thing in nature seekes it owne preseruation: It is no otherwise in grace. True Faith loues to be often in praier, in hearing, and receiuing the Sacrament, that it may be further strengthened in the vse of these holy means: it argues a want of faith, where no care of enquiring after Christ in the meanes.
3. Consequent. He seeing the truth of the Miracle so cleare, hee beleeues, namely, with a iustifying Faith, resting vponupon Christ as his Sauiour.
VERSE 53 Then the father knew, that it was the same houre, in which Iesus had said vntounto him, Thy sonne liueth. And he beleeued, and all his houshold.
Doct. 1 The happy end our afflictions are turned to at last,The happy issue of affl…ctions. namely, to the working of grace in our soules. Oh happy burning ague in the sonnes body, which wrought a feruent faith, and a burning zeale in the fathers soule. If a man in prison should hauehave his head broken with a bag of gold flung at him, hee would not much grieue, when by paying his debts therewith hee might be released. What matter though our heads & harts be broken by afflictions, so they may be means of our spiritual inlargement?
Doct. 2 Perhaps this man had some seeds of Faith before, but this miracle brings them forth. The more wee taste of Gods mercy and power, the heartier and liuelier is our Faith. As the Hound when once hee smels the Hare runnes with greater cheare.
Doct. 3 The vse of speciall deliuerances is in speciall manner to giuegive vp our selues to God by faith: As here this man did. Remember we our many experiences of Gods goodnesse, and conclude, as Ps. 48.14. For this God is our God for euer and euer, hee shall be our guide vntounto the death. What a shame that in the strength of Gods mercies, wee should dishonour him? As the cloud lifted vp and aduanced by the Sunne, obscures the Sun: and as if a man should lay out money giuen him by his Prince, to buy poyson to murther him?
4. Consequent. He is so affected with the miracle, that beleeuing himselfe, he works vponupon his family, who also, God seconding his endeuors, do beleeue.
The nature of true grace is to draw others to God, to propagate and spread it selfe.Doct. True Grace seekes to bring others to God. So before in the Samaritan woman, Verse 29. Fire being hot it selfe, heats that which is next vntounto it first, and that after which is further off: so Gods grace sanctifying our hearts, will hauehave it operation first vponupon those nearest vsus, our owne children and seruants, and then also vponupon others. It is no good signe then when Protestant and religious Masters can comport with Popish and prophane seruants, and neuer worke vponupon them.
4. Point. The Order of the Miracle.
VERSE 54 This second miracle did Iesus againe, after he was come out of Iudea into Galile.
The first miracle done in Cana was mentioned before, Chapter 2. now this healing of the Rulers sonne was the second.
God keepes account of all the gracious meanes he affords vsus for our good, Luke 13.34.Doct. How often would I hauehave gathered thy children together? As hee keepes reckoning of the afflictions whereby he labours to bring vsus to him, Amos 4.6.11. so he keepes as strict a reckoning of the meanes, and time of the meanes, in the ministery of the word. See the beginnings of Isaies and Ieremies Prophecies, where the time is set downe when they prophesied, and vnderunder how many seueral Kings they preached, not so much happily to set out the time when, as how long the Iewes had the benefit of their prophecying. 2 Cor. 13.1. This is the third time I come vntounto you. 2 Pet. 3.1. This second Epistle I now write vntounto you, wherewith I stirre vp and warne your pure mindes. So will the Lord say one day: So many seuerall Ministers liued amongst you and warned you, so many hundred sermons you heard, to stirre you vp. Since therefore God keepes such a precise account of the meanes hee vouchsafes, let it stirre vsus vp to make better account and vse of them; for otherwise God keepes the account of them to no other end, but to make our account and reckoning the heauier. As happily here to this end, this might be specified, to aggrauate the infidelitie of the Iewes, that though Christ had now done another and a second miracle, yet but the Ruler and his houshold beleeued. Two miracles wrought, and but one houshold conuerted. God keeps an account, as of how many men are wonne by a Sermon, Acts 2.41. so of how many Sermons are lost by men. Where much is giuen, much is required: If Christs double paines in Cana, be not answered with their double care and obedience, his double paines in working, will but increase their double paines in suffering.
Gratias Domine Iesu.
FINIS.
End of the text · Daniel Dyke, Six Evangelical Histories of Water Turned into Wine (1617)