A Paraphrase on the New Testament, John · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
1. AFter theſe things Jeſus went over the Sea of Galilee which is the Sea of Tiberias, 2. And a great multitude followed him, becauſe they ſaw his miracles which he did on them that were diſeaſed.
1, 2. N. The firſt motives that draw men toward Chriſt are uſually ſuch as nature it ſelf is ſomewhat capable to eſteem and judge of, ſuch as Miracles are.
3. And Jeſus went up into a Mountain, and there he ſat with his Diſciples. 4. And the Paſſover, a Feaſt of the Jews was nigh. 5. When Jeſus then lift up his eyes and ſaw a great company come unto him, he ſaith to Philip, whence ſhall we buy bread that theſe may eat. 6. And this he ſaid to prove him, for he himſelf knew what he would do.
3. &c. N. Chriſts relief of Bodies was in love to Bo…ies and Souls. 2. Chriſts queſtions were to inſtruct the hearers and not himſelf.
7. Philip anſwered him, two hundred penny worth of bread is not ſufficient for them, that every one may take a little.
7. N. Philips ſenſe of the difficulty was a preparation to the value of the Miracle.
8. One of the Diſciples, Andrew, Simon Peters Brother, ſaith to him. 9. There is a Lad here which hath five Barley Loaves and two ſmall Fiſhes: but what are they among ſo many?
8, 9. N. It was not delicious fare, but Barley Bread and two Fiſhes that Chriſt uſed a Miracle about.
10. And Jeſus ſaid make the Men ſit down: Now there was much Graſs in the place, ſo the Men ſat down, in number about five thouſand. 11. And Jeſus took the Loaves, and when he had given thanks, he diſtributed to the Diſciples, and the Diſciples to them that were ſet down, and likewiſe of the Fiſhes as much as they would.
10, 11. N. If Chriſt would not diſtribute Barley Bread and that Miraculouſly till he had given thanks (not deterred by the ſuſpicio…s of a Riot or Conventicle) ſure we ſhould imitate him in our ordinary repaſt, and eat and drink to the glory of God, in a holy thankfulneſs for his liberallity.
When they were filled he ſaid to his Diſciples, gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be loſt. 13. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve Baſkets with the fragments of the five barly loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten.
12, 13. N. To looſe any of our uſeful food, is a ſin againſt God: Where there is the greateſt plenty no fragments ſhould be loſt, while the poor do need it. How much leſs ſhould we loſe Gods word or helps, or our time or any ſuch greater mercies.
14. Then thoſe men, when they had ſeen the Miracle, which Jeſus did, ſaid, This is of a Truth that Prophet which ſhould come into the World.
14 N. A Miracle done upon five thouſand at once, made a common Conviction of them that Chriſt was the Meſſiah, or a great Prophet.
15. When Jeſus therefore perceived, that they would come and take him by force, and make him a King, he departed again into a Mountain himſelf alone.
15. N. When they would have made a Captain and viſible Monarch of him, he ſhunned it and avoided them.
16. And when Even was now come, his Diſciples went down unto the Sea. 17. And entred into a Ship, and went over the Sea, towards Capernaum. And it was now dark▪ and Jeſus was not come to them. 18. And the Sea aroſe by reaſon of a great wind that blew: 19. So when they had rowed about twenty five or thirty furlongs, they ſee Jeſus walking on the Sea, and drawing nigh to the Ship, and they were afraid. 20. And he ſaith to them, It is I, be not afraid.
16, &c. N. This Miracle ſhewed Chriſt to be above nature.
21. Then they willingly received him into the Ship, and immediately the Ship was at the land whither they went.
21. N. They might well be glad to receive him that could rule Sea and Land.
22. The day following when the People, which ſtood on the other ſide of the Sea, ſaw that there was none other boat there ſave that one, whereinto his Diſciples were entred, and that Jeſus went not with his Diſciples into the boat, but that his Diſciples were gone away alone. 23. (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the Place, where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks,) 24. When the people therefore ſaw that Jeſus was not there, neither his Diſciples, they alſo took ſhipping, and came to Capernaum, ſeeking for Jeſus.
22, 23, 24. How earneſt did theſe perſons ſeem in following Chriſt?
25. And when they had found him on the other ſide of the Seas, they ſaid to him, Rabbi, when cameſt thou hither? 26. Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid to them, verily, verily, I ſay unto you, Ye ſeek me not becauſe ye ſaw the miracles, but becauſe ye did eat of the loaves and were filled.
25. N. It ſeems theſe were a very poor ſort of people, that would follow Chriſt for Barley Bread.
27. Labour not for the meat that periſheth but for that meat which endureth to everlaſting life, which the Son of Man ſhall give you; for him hath God the Father ſealed.
27. Labour firſt and chiefly for the food which endureth to everlaſting Life; even the Spirit of Holineſs renewing you by the Goſpel, and an union with me who am the Bread of Life; which I will give unto all true Believers; to which uſe God hath ſent and ſealed me by fulneſs of the Spirit and Power: But truſt God for bodily food while you labour for it, but in the ſecond place. N. The words have a comparative ſignification: Labour not, is Labour leſ…, or but ſubordinately.
28. Then ſaid they to him, what ſhall we do, that we may work the works of God?
28. What is that Labour for the everlaſting Life which God requireth of us? What muſt we do for it?
29. Jeſus anſwered, and ſaid unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him, which he hath ſent.
29. This is your firſt and great work which God requireth that you believe on me whom God hath ſent, and take me for your Teacher and Saviour, that I may guide and ſanctifie you, and teach you your further duty, in order to fit you for everlaſting Life.
30. They ſaid therefore to him, What ſign ſheweſt thou then, that we may ſee and believe in thee? what doſt thou work? 31. Our Fathers did eat Manna in the deſart, as it is written, He gave them Bread from heaven to eat.
30. If thou wouldſt have us believe in thee, convince us yet by further Miracles? Canſt thou procure us Bread from Heaven as Moſes did? N. 1. Strange! that they ſhould call for more Miracles when they newly came from ſeeing one? 2. It was a feeding Miracle that theſe expected; which might gratifie their fleſh as well as their faith.
32. Then Jeſus ſaid to them, verily, verily, I ſay to you, Moſes gave not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the World.
32. It was not Moſes that gave you the true Bread from Heaven: Manna and other Types did but foreſignifie me who am the true Bread which my father giveth you from Heaven whence I come; called Bread, becauſe I give life to the World.
34. Then ſaid they to him, Lord evermore give us this bread.
34. N. Their carnal minds, had carnal deſires, and underſtood Chriſt accordingly.
35. And Jeſus ſaid to them, I am the bread of Life; he that cometh to me ſhall never hunger, and he that believeth on me ſhall never thirſt.
35. As your bodies live by food, ſo he that cometh to me by true Faith and is united to me ſhall have by me true ſpiritual everlaſting Life, and ſhall have all his neceſſities of hunger and thirſt ſatisfied.
36. But I ſay to you, that ye alſo have ſeen me, and believe not.
36. But I know your hearts, that many of you that have ſeen my Miracles, and thus crowd after me▪ for the ſtrangeneſ… and novelty, yet are no true believers.
37. All that the Father g…veth me ſhall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wiſe caſt out.
37. All that the Father hath given to me as fully reſolved to ſave them ſhall believe and take me for their Saviour: I come not into the World upon an uncertainty of ſucceſs: I have undertaken the effectual ſaving of thoſe that are given me by the Father to be certainly ſaved: All thoſe will come to me, and I will refuſe none that by obedient truſt doth come to me.
38. For I come down from heaven, not to do my own Will, but the Will of him that ſent me.
38. For I come not at random, or on any ſelfiſh temporal deſign, but to fulfill my Fathers will, who will give the Kingdom to his ſelected Flocks
N. It is a troubling controverſie, how Chriſt is ſaid to come down from Heaven: His humane Nature was never there, and his Divine, removeth not thence, and is every where. To paſs by their opinion, who ſay it is a middle ſuper-angelical firſt created Nature, between the Divine and Humane that came down: I anſwer, that the Divine is ſaid to come down, not by a ſubſtantial removal or change of place, but by a tranſcendent influx and operation, on the Humane Nature of Chriſt: Men may talk in the dark how they pleaſe, but it's certain that that Divine Eſſence is every where, without inequality or exiſtence: and is no more in Chriſts Humane Nature as to eſſential preſence than he is every where: But as he is ſaid to be in Heaven, becauſe there he operateth by glorious refulgency and love to the glorified, ſo he is more eminently and peculiarly united to the Manhood of Chriſt, for and by a more eminent and peculiar operation on the Humane Nature: As the Sun is more in the Eye than in the Hand or Foot, more in the Plants that it quickneth than in the Stones, ſo is the Godhead in the Humane Nature of Chriſt. And ſo the Godhead came down from Heaven, as the Sun doth when it ſhineth in at our Windows, or on a burning glaſs, or rather as it animateth Plants.
39. And this is the Fathers will, who hath ſent me, that of all which he hath given me, I ſhould loſe nothing, but ſhould raiſe it up again at the laſt day.
39. And it is the ſpecial Commiſſion which I have from my Father, that I ſhould effectually ſave all theſe his choſen, and raiſe them up to life everlaſting.
40. And this is the will of him that ſent me, that every one who ſeeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlaſting life, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day.
40. And it is my Fathers will, that every one by notice of the evidence of my truth, truly believeth on me, ſhall have everlaſting Life, to which (firſt here begun) I will raiſe him at the laſt.
41. The Jews then murmured at him, becauſe he ſaid, I am the bread which came down from heaven, 42. And they ſaid, Is not this Jeſus, the Son of Joſeph, whoſe Father and Mother we know? How is it then that he ſaith, I come down from heaven.
41. N. This difficulty ſtalled their Faith, not knowing the myſtery of Chriſts Perſon and Incarnation.
43. Jeſus therefore anſwered and ſaid to them, murmur not among your ſelves, 44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath ſent me draw him, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day.
43. The objections which you murmur on, do indeed require Divine Grace to overcome them; and therefore none can ſincerely believe and come to me as a Chriſtian, except the Father who ſent me to ſave men, convince and draw them to me to be ſaved, and all thoſe I will raiſe to life everlaſting.
45. It is written in the Prophets: and they ſhall be all taught of God. Every man therefore, that hath heard and learned of the Father cometh unto me.
45. As the Prophets ſpeak of a Divine teaching, ſo it is thoſe that are thus taught of God that come to me.
46. Not that any Man hath ſeen the Father, ſave he which is of God: he hath ſeen the Father.
46. Not by a Teaching by ſeeing him: For it is I only that come from him that have ſeen him.
47. Verily, verily, I ſay to you, he that believeth in me hath everlaſting life. 48. I am the bread of life. 49. Your Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderneſs and are dead: 50. This is the bread that came down from Heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die. 51. I am the living bread which cometh down from Heaven: If any man eat of this bread he ſhall live for ever, and the bread that I ſhall give him is my fleſh, which I will give for the life of the World.
47. I tell you, he that believeth on me hath that everlaſting Life, which Manna gave not, for they are dead that did eat it: I am the Bread that come indeed from Heaven and give Life, not temporary but everlaſting, not to a few, but to the World, or univerſal Church: My ſacrificed fleſh ſhall purchaſe this.
52. The Jews therefore drove among themſelves, ſaying, how can this man give us his fleſh to eat. 53. Then Jeſus ſaid to them, verily, verily, I ſay to you, except ye eat the fleſh of the S…n of Man, and drink his blood ye have no life in you. 54. Whoſo eateth my fleſh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raiſe him up at the laſt day. 55. For my fleſh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
52. This ſeemed to them a ſaying not to be digeſted, and Chriſt at that time would no further explain it to them, than by ſaying, I tell you unleſs that you live by virtue of my Fleſh and Blood received by Faith as food is by your mouth, ye have no ſpiritual ſaving life: It is all they that thus by Faith partake of my Sacrificed Fleſh and Blood that have the Title and beginning of Eternal Life, and I will at laſt raiſe them up to the full fruition of it: For my ſacrificed Fleſh and Blood are truly enlivening and ſaving.
56. He that eateth my fleſh and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him.
56. He that by true Faith truſteth in my ſacrificed Fleſh and Blood, profeſſeth thereby to be united to me as digeſted food is to the body whereby I alſo dwell in him, and I will give him the Spirit of Life, and he ſhall live by influence from me.
57. As the living Father hath ſent me, and I live by the Father, ſo he that eateth me, he ſhall live by me.
57. As the Father is Eſſential Self-life, and I live by Communication from him; ſo he that is intimately united to me, and I to him as food is to the body by digeſtion, by a covenanting lively Faith, ſhall live by me a life of Grace and Glory.
58. This is the bread which came down from Heaven: Not as your Fathers did eat Manna and are dead; He that eateth of this bread ſhall live for ever.
58. I am the true Bread from Heaven, who give everlaſting Life, when your Fathers who did eat Manna died, and were not by that made immortal.
59. Theſe things ſaid he in the Synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.
59. N. Remember it was not thoſe only that had followed him that he ſpake this to, and the following ſharp paſſages; but to his auditors at Capernaum.
60. Many therefore of his Diſciples, when they had heard this, ſaid, this is an hard ſaying, who can hear it.
60. N. Chriſt would not forbear this myſterious doctrine, though the hearers could not digeſt it, but would make an ill uſe of it, to depart from him.
61. When Jeſus knew in himſelf that his Diſciples murmured at it, he ſaith to them, doth this offend you: 62. What if ye ſhall ſee the Son of Man aſcend up where he was before.
61. I will e're long aſcend up viſibly to Heaven: And will not that prove that I came from Heaven?
63. It is the Spirit that quickneth: The Fleſh profiteth nothing: The words that I ſpeak to you, they are Spirit and they are Life.
63. And as to your offence at my words of the eating of my Fleſh, you know that Fleſh of it ſelf would be a dead and ſenſleſs thing, were it not for the Soul that is it's life: And ſo it is not my meer dead fleſh that I ſay ſhall give you life; but my Fleſh as it is in dignity the Body of the Son of God, purchaſing life for the World, and as it is accompanied with the operation of the Holy Ghoſt, which animaterh them ſpiritually who by Faith are united to me: And thus not only my fleſh, but the words that I ſpeak to you, are by my Spirit made the means of communicating to you Spirit and Life.
64. But there are ſome of you that believe not: For Jeſus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who ſhould betray him.
64. But there are ſome of you that follow me, that are not true believers, and therefore have not this quickening Spirit. For he knew their hearts, and knew who would after betray him.
N. Though Chriſt knew Judas and other Hypocrites, he did not expel them, but ſent out Judas to Preach with the reſt, to tell us how the viſible Church will be conſtituted and muſt be ordered.
65. And he ſaid, therefore I ſay to you, that no man can come to me, except it were given to him of my Father.
65. N. That the word [Can] ſpeaketh not of Phyſical power, but partly moral indiſpoſition▪ and partly an hypothetical impoſſibility of event. 2. That though Gods grace be the cauſe of faith, no man is deprived of that Grace but by his own wilful ſin, which maketh him unexcuſable.
66. From that time many of his Diſciples went back and walked no more with him.
66. By forſaking him they ſhewed that they were never ſound believers.
67. Then ſaid Jeſus to the twelve, will ye alſo go away? 68. Then Simon Peter anſwered him, Lord to whom ſhall we go? Thou haſt the words of eternal life. 69. And we believe and are ſure that thou art the Chriſt the Son of the living God.
67. N. 1. Chriſt puts none away, till they put away themſelves. 2. He forceth none to ſtay. 3. It greatly fixeth a Chriſtians reſolution to ſtick to Chriſt, to know there is none elſe to go to: As it reſolveth us to look for happineſs to God and Heaven, becauſe we are ſure there is no other. 4. ſound Faith may attain aſſurance that Chriſt is the Son of the living God: It hath alwayes objective certainty, and a prevalent certainty, and a prevalent confidence, and may reach to a mental confirmed certainty.
name as willing followers to their own Salvation, and not drive men into the Church or Heaven againſt their wills.
4. And when he putteth forth his own ſheep, he goeth before them, and the ſheep follow him: for they know his voice.
4. And as the ſheep uſing to find that their Shepherd hurteth them not, but feedeth them and bringeth them to paſture, therefore follow him willingly as one that loveth them and is for their good; ſo do Chriſts ſheep believe that he loveth them and is their Saviour, and therefore follow him and know his voice.
5. And a ſtranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of ſtrangers.
5. And as Sheep (like our Dogs) have no ſuch confidence in a ſtranger, but fly from him in fear, ſo will true Chriſtians do from falſe Chriſts and from falſe Paſtors for their voice is ſtrange to them, and contrary to the new nature that is in them, and to their good.
6. This parable ſpake Jeſus unto them: but they underſtood not what things they were which he ſpake unto them. 7. Then ſaid Jeſus unto them again, Verily, verily I ſay unto you, I am the door of the ſheep. 8. All that ever came before me, are theives and robbers: but the ſheep did not hear them. 9. I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he ſhall be ſaved, and ſhall go in and out, and find paſture.
7. As my Fathers Miſſion and Witneſs is the door by which I enter, ſo I being hereby made the Shepherd of the Flock am the door by which all others, Paſtors and Flocks muſt enter. All that before me pretended to be Chriſts, were but Theives and Robbers, and the choſen flock of God did not believe in them nor follow them. I am the true Chriſt and Head of the Church: They that believe in me and follow me, ſhall as my ſheep be ſafe and plentifully fed.
10. The thief cometh not, but for to ſteal, and to kill, and to deſtroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
10. Falſe Chriſts and falſe Prophets have but ſought themſelves, and ſeduced the people to deſtruction of Soul and Body: I am come to give men ſpiritual and eternal Life, and to raiſe them higher in Light, Life and Love, than was vouchſafed to the Church before my Incarnation.
11. I am the good ſhepherd: the good ſhepherd giveth his life for the ſheep.
11. As he that keeps the ſheep not as an hireling, but as his own will venture himſelf to defend them from Theives and Wolves; ſo will I lay down my life for my ſheep.
12. But he that is an hireling, and not the ſhepherd, whoſe own the ſheep are not, ſeeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the ſheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and ſcattereth the ſheep. 13. The hireling fleeth, becauſe he is an hireling, and careth not for the ſheep.
12, 13. He that ſeeketh his own worldly intereſt by deceit, will ſhift for himſelf, and for that intereſt expoſe the people to deſtruction, as not ſeeking their ſalvation but his vain-glory.
14. I am the good ſhepherd, and know my ſheep, and am known of mine.
14. I known mine own, their perſons, their hearts and all their concerns; with the love and care of a good Shepherd: And my grace hath taught them to know me and my Word.
15. As the Father knoweth me, even ſo know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the ſheep.
15. As my Father knoweth me with Love and I know the Father, ſo with a ſpecial Love I lay down my Life for their Redemption and Salvation.
16. And other ſheep I have, which are not of this fold: them alſo I muſt bring, and they ſhall hear my voice; and there ſhall be one fold, and one ſhepherd.
16. And beſides the Jews I have a choſen people among the Gentiles: Them I muſt call and gather to me: and Jews and Gentiles ſhall be one Catholick Church under me their only univerſal Head and Shepherd.
17. Therefore doth my Father love me, becauſe I lay down my life, that I might take it again.
17. N. 1. It is not unfit to aſſign cauſes in man of Gods Love. 2. Yet nothing real in God is cauſed by any Creature. 3. But as Gods Love is taken for it's Effects, our qualifications are a receptive cauſe or diſpotion. 4. And ſo a cauſe extrinſical of the Relative denomination of God himſelf. So Chriſts conſent to do the full work of a Mediator, was the condition of his peculiar reward, which is call'd the Fathers loving him for it.
18. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of my ſelf: I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
18. N. 1. Chriſt foreknew his Death and Reſurrection: 2. It was the Law of Mediation proper to him, that he ſhould conſent ſo to die, and then Riſe and Reign as his reward.
19. There was a diviſion therefore again among the Jews for theſe ſayings. 20. And many of them ſaid, He hath a devil, and is mad, why hear ye him? 21. Others ſaid, Theſe are not the words of him that hath a devil: Can a devil open the eyes of the blind?
20. When they underſtood not Chriſt, they ſaid, the man is a diſtracted demoniack: Why ſtand you to hear him: But others were better convinced both by his Words and his Miracles.
22. And it was at Jeruſalem the feaſt of the dedication, and it was winter.
22. N. Chriſt refuſed not to be preſent at this ſolemn Feaſt, though appointed but by Maccabeus for a thankful commemoration of the repairing of the Temple.
23. And Jeſus walked in the temple in Solomons porch. 24. Then came the Jews round about him, and ſaid unto him, How long doſt thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Chriſt, tell us plainly.
24. Put us out of doubt.
25. Jeſus anſwered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Fathers name, they bear witneſs of me.
25. Why ask you me to tell you, who believe me not: My Miracles done in the Name and by the Power of God, are a more ſatisfying teſtimony than my words.
26. But ye believe not, becauſe ye are not of my ſheep, as I ſaid unto you. 27. My ſheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
26, 27, But no wonder that you believe not me; for you are not my choſen flock, nor qualified to believe: Were you my ſheep you would underſtand, believe, and obey my Word.
28. And I give unto them eternal life, and they ſhall never periſh, neither ſhall any pluck them out of my hand.
28. To my true flock, I will give eternal Life, and they ſhall never be condemned, loſt or forſaken: Nor ſhall any power prevail againſt me who will ſave them.
29. My Father which gave them me, is greater then all: and none is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand. 30. I and my Father are one.
29, 30. God my Father who gave them me to be ſaved is Almighty, and none can overcome him, and take them from his ſaving love. And He and I being one they are ſafe with me.
31. Then the Jews took up ſtones again to ſtone him. 32. Jeſus anſwered them, Many good works have I ſhewed you from my Father; for which of thoſe works do ye ſtone me? 33. The Jews anſwered him, ſaying, For a good work we ſtone thee not, but for blaſphemy, and becauſe that thou, being a man, makeſt thy ſelf God.
31. N. No good work could ſecure the Lord himſelf from the rage of ignorant men nor from their accuſation.
34. Jeſus anſwered them, Is it not written in your Law, I ſaid, Ye are gods? 35. If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the Scripture cannot be broken. 36. Say ye of him whom the Father hath ſanctified, and ſent into the world, Thou blaſphemeſt: becauſe I ſaid, I am the Son of God?
34, 35, 36. If they may be called Gods that are but Magiſtrates, and men in dignity and power, how can you ſay, It is blaſphemy for me to ſay, I am the Son of God, who am by the Father ſanctified to the office of Mediator and ſent into the World thereunto.
N. That Chriſt here by his pleading for his right to his Title only from his office, doth not deny his Title as from eternal generation, but only tell them what they were then fit to hear.
37. If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. 38. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in him.
37. If I do not ſuch works as certainly ſignifie Gods atteſtation, believe me not: But if I do, believe what thoſe works do ſurely evidence, and then you will confeſs that God is in me and worketh them by me, and that I am in him and approved and acted by him.
39. Therefore they ſought again to take him: but he eſcaped out of their hands. 40. And went away again beyond Jordan, into the place where John at firſt baptized: and there he abode. 41. And many reſorted unto him, and ſaid, John did no miracle: but all things that John ſpake of this man, were true. 42. And many believed on him there.
39. He avoided their perſecution by flight: And in the Wilderneſs where John firſt baptized many believed on him, ſeeing all fulfilled by him, which John had foretold of him.