Exposition of John, Chapter 5 · Verse 24
Verſe 35. He was a burning and a ſhining light, and ye were willing for a ſeaſon to rejoyce in his light.
The ſecond thing ſubjoined to this Teſtimony, is a qualification added to his depreſſing of Johns Teſtimony. Leſt any ſhould think, that by what he had ſaid, he had vilified John, and his Teſtimony; therefore he guardes it with a commendation of him, as being an eminent man, for clearneſſe of Doctrine, and vigor of zeale, and effectual in his doctrine, even among theſe corrupt Jews, both Phariſees and others, who went out to him, Matth. 3.5, 7. Wherein alſo he checks them for their inconſtancy, who ſo ſoone wearied of what they ſeemed to be ſo much affected with. Doctrine 1. Albeit Miniſters be nothing in compariſon of Chriſt, nor are they to think that they can adde any thing to him; Yet they will not want their own due commendation; for, ſo doth Chriſts commending of John, after what he had ſaid, ver. 34. teach us. 2. Without the knowledge of God, and a lively Miniſtry holding out the ſame from the Word, the world lyeth in the darkneſſe of ignorance and errour, wandering in the unfruitful workes of darkneſſe; and under the diſconſolate eſtate of miſery, without any comfortable ſight of Gods favour; for, Miniſters being a light, (which ſerveth to enlighten what is dark) importeth ſo much. 3. Faithful Miniſters are appointed of Chriſt, for remedying this darkneſſe; And it is their duty, and commendation, not only to ſhine in their converſation (as all Chriſtians are bound to do, Phil. 2.15, 16.) but by purity and clearneſſe of doctrine, to point out the way of ſalvation, and remedy of all grievances, to ſinners; for, he was a ſhining light; The Word is, a lamp, or, lanthorne, not only pointing at this, that ſuch a light ſhould not be put under a buſhel, Matth. 5.15. but that his light was not native and from himſelfe, but lighted from that bright Sun; and that the light of the Miniſtry ſerves for our uſe in this dark night of time (and therefore they are alſo called Stars) but will ceaſe in the other life; as John his ſhining candle was put out, when Chriſt the Sonne of righteouſneſſe was manifeſted. 4. It is alſo the duty of a faithful Miniſter, not only by clearneſſe of doctrine to ſhine round about him, but alſo to have his light ſeaſoned with much zeale and love; that ſo it may affect his own heart, and burne up his own corruptions; may warme and ſtir up others; may make him move upward (as fire doth) in his motions; and may make him active and vigorous in his calling, though with the waſting of himſelfe; for, he was a burning and ſhining light. 5. Qualifications and gifts are not beſtowed upon all Miniſters in a like meaſure and degree; but Chriſt diſpenſeth them variouſly; that he may ſhew forth his abſolute freedome in beſtowing; and that the glory of ſucceſſe may not be aſcribed to mens gifts, when he ſhall effectuate great things by weakeſt inſtruments; And he doth beſtow gifts on men according to their employments, in ſeverall times or places; for, this commendation of John imports, that he was gifted above others, even honeſt inſtruments, being more then a Prophet, Matth. 11.9, 10, 11. See 1 Cor. 12.15, 16, 17. 6. The brighteſt and moſt zealous lights of the Church, have but their time of it in the world, and men will have the offer and benefit of them but for a ſeaſon. They are ſubject, as well as others, to the common condition of mortality, and oft times they ſpend themſelves ſpeedily with burning and ſhining to others; yea, and are haſtened out of the world by perſecution: Beſide, the Lord by removing of them, doth put an end to their toile, and call them to enjoy the fruit of their labours; doth chaſtiſe the ingratitude of the world, and exerciſe his own in it; and, doth make way for ſetting forth the riches of his glory, in raiſing up, and creating new ſtars in their place; for, here it is ſaid of John, he was a burning and ſhining light, but now is put out, and gone. 7. When Chriſts faithful ſervants are dead and gone, yet their commendation liveth in his eſtimation; Therefore doth he commend John, when now he is gone by death, or at leaſt, is in priſon. 8. A ſound and powerful, a cleare and lively Miniſtry, may have ſtrange effects, even among unrenewed people; The excellency of their doctrine, when it ſhines among a people who have long lien under the darkneſſe of ignorance, and ſuperſtitious traditions; the countenance of Miniſters from great men, (as John had from Herod;) the excellency of their gifts, together with a common work of the ſpirit upon hearers, may produce ſtrange effects in them who have no true grace nor faith, for, ſaith he, ye were willing to rejoyce in his light; there was none but John in their account, and they were much taken up with him. 9. Mens affections may be much aloft, and they may have great fits of joy and delight, through the novelty and excellency of doctrine, and through ſome apprehenſion of that at a diſtance, which the Word ſpeaks of, who yet have no ſound grace, as never having been humbled for ſinne, nor laid hold on Chriſt, on whom alone, ſound joy is founded, Phil. 3.3. for, theſe temporaries were willing to rejoyce, or, delighted to rejoyce. See Matth. 13.20, 21. Mark. 6.20. Heb 6.4, 5. 10. It is alſo an evidence of mens unſoundneſſe, when they are more taken with men, and with their gifts, as their own, then they are affected with God as the Authour of theſe gifts, or do finde his power accompanying the exerciſe of them, in effects upon their hearts; for, they rejoyced in his light, or, in that light as his, not ſeeing, nor feeling God in it. 11. Temporary motions, wrought in men by a lively Miniſtry, are not to be leaned to by themſelves, nor are Miniſters to look much to the reſpect that comes from ſuch, for it will be but momentany. Their unſoundneſſe will not beare out, and when Miniſters meet with diſcountenance from great men, and with the croſſe, and do touch their darling ſinnes, they will give over; for, they were willing to rejoyce, but, for a ſeaſon, or, an hour, and particularly, they rejected him, when Herod turned his enemy, and when he did teſtifie concerning Chriſt, whom they liked not. 12. Mens temporary ſits will be a witneſſe againſt them, after they have made apoſtacy; and their reſpect to a Miniſter, will witneſſe againſt their not receiving his meſſage; for, their former carriage is now a check to them for their Apoſtacy; and they are declared to be perverſe, who, when they could upon no pretence reprove John, but muſt admire him, yet they would not credit his Teſtimony of Chriſt.