Exposition of John, Chapter 6 · Verse 29
Verſe 45. It is written in the Prophets, And they ſhall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Chriſt doth confirme his aſſertion, concerning the Fathers drawing, from the prophecies of the Old Teſtament which ſpeak of the dayes of the Goſpel; Wherein it is foretold, that all the Elect, and confederates in the Spirit, ſhall be taught of God to embrace Chriſt offered in the Goſpel, Iſa. 54.13. Jer. 31.33, 34. Whence he inferreth, that every one who is thus taught, doth come and embrace him. This teaching is not to be underſtood as ſecluding a teaching Miniſtry under the Goſpel; for, the very text includes hearing and learning; and this interpretation ſhould not only rub an imputation upon Chriſt and his Apoſtles practice, who in theſe very times of the Goſpel, did preach, and appoint a Miniſtry, and ordained Miniſters; and who did continue teaching and exhorting, when yet they acknowledge this promiſe to be accompliſhed, 1 Joh. 2.20, 21, 27, 28. 1 Theſ. 4.9, 10. but it ſhould ſtrike alſo againſt all private mutual edification, as well as publick teaching: which yet the decriers of a Miniſtry will not allow; Yea, they intrude themſelves as Preachers, that they may cry down Preaching and a Miniſtry. But the meaning is, that God, in, and by the mean…, ſhould teach them, that however means be neceſſary, yet it is not they, but the Spirits teaching, that prevailes with them; and, that under the Goſpel, this teaching ſhould be more general and conſpicuous. Doctrine 1. It is by the Scriptures, that all controverſies and debates, in matters of Religion, muſt be decided; Therefore, doth he remit the proofe of his aſſertion to what, is written in the Prophets. 2. Not only Chriſts outward condition and practice, but his doctrine, are in all things aggreeable to the doctrine and predictions of the Old Teſtament, concerning the Meſſiah, and what ſhould be fulfilled in his wayes; Therefore doth he cite the Prophets, as foretelling the ſame things of the dayes of the Meſſiah, which he now aſſerts. And he who was truth it ſelfe, doth condeſcend to confirme his doctrine thus. 3. Gods way of drawing in ſinners to Chriſt, as it conſiſts not in bare moral ſwaſion, ſo neither is it a working upon men as inſenſible ſtocks or irrational creatures, but he deales with them in a rational way, and by his efficacious teaching, doth cure the blindneſſe of their minde, and open and encline their hearts; for, his drawing, ver. 44. is by this teaching, they ſhall be taught of God, to wit; in the uſe of means, yet ſo, as they finde God in them, as is before explained. 4. It is the priviledge of all the Elect, that, in their own meaſure, they are taught by God; and how ſmall ſoever their knowledge be, yet they are taught what is neceſſary for bringing them to Chriſt, and made wiſe unto ſalvation, for, the promiſe is univerſal, as to them, they ſhall be all taught of God. See 1 Joh. 2.13. And Chriſt doth cite it with the copulative, and, whereby it is joined in the Prophets with the other promiſed mercies, to lead us to the ſtudy of the rich and many mercies that do accompany it, and are given with it. 5. Such as are taught by God in the uſe of means, will not only get an ear to hear, but will not reſt on that, till they get an heart to underſtand and learn by their hearing; for, they who are taught of God, are every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father. 6. Gods teaching of his people doth not only illuminate the minde, or give the power of beleeving, but doth alſo give the act and exerciſe of faith, and certainly bring them to Chriſt; for, every man that hath heard and learned, cometh unto me. 7. No light, nor illumination of the minde, nor any other change, will prove a man taught of God, unleſſe he be convinced of his own miſery, and of Chriſts mercy, and brought to cloſe with him, and daily to come unto him, and practice this leſſon of coming; for, this is the evidence of a man that hath heard and learned, he cometh unto me.