Exposition of John, Chapter 7 · Verse 25
Verſe 45. Then came the officers to the chiefe Prieſts and Phariſees, and they ſaid unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
46. The officers anſwered, Never man ſpake like this man.
Followeth the confuſions that aroſe in the Council of the Rulers about Chriſt, occaſioned, partly, by the returne of the officers without him, to ver. 50. and partly, by ſome diviſions among themſelves, verſe 50, 51, 52, 53. Albeit this was a ſolemne day, yet it ſeems they ſtay not at the publike ſervice, but are conveened in Council againſt him, being earneſt to have him taken before the feaſt were ended, that ſo they might prevent his withdrawing of himſelfe among the multitude. And albeit they had ſent out the officers before, ver. 32. (and belike they did ſo from day to day) that they might watch all occaſions for apprehending of him; Yet it ſeemeth they had received ſtrict enjunctions to bring him this day, leſt the occaſion ſhould be loſt. And in theſe verſes, we have their returne without their errand, and when they are poſed why they did ſo, they give a better account of the preaching then of their commiſſion, declaring that he preached ſo ſingularly, that they could not meddle with him. Whence learn. 1. Albeit it be both lawful and neceſſary, that ſeducers be reſtrained by civil power; Yet it is a mark of a decayed and perſecuting Church, when Eccleſiaſtick Rulers lay aſide all uſe of their ſpiritual weapons, and do only arme themſelves with force and power; for, ſo was it here, their inſtruments to do their affairs for them, were officers, and therefore no wonder they employ them againſt Chriſt, to bring him before them by force. 2. The Lords providence is alſufficient, when he pleaſeth, to diſappoint his fierceſt enemies, and to make them maſſe their errands and purpoſes; for, the Meſſengers return without ſucceſſe. 3. As it is a great evidence of mens pride, when they think nothing ſhould ſtand in their way, and they do rage, when they are diſappointed. So the Lord ſeeth it meet to vexe perſecutors, and to make their own confident creatures grieve them; for, by reaſon of their diſappointment, they are in a rage, and do power it out upon their own ſervants, who did not ſerve their ends well enough, Why have ye not brought him? 4. It is righteous with God, that they whoſe great work is to oppoſe Chriſts doctrine, and who ſhut all doores, that themſelves be not troubled with it, ſhould be forced to hear their own creatures preach his praiſe, little to their contentment; for, the…e Rulers would not hear Chriſt, and their case was to hinder any from hearing him, and now they are made to hear their own officers preach of him in their own defence. 5. As Chriſts doctrine is ſingular, far above the law; So alſo was he ſingular in his way of it, for authority, humility, grace, power, and evidence; for, ſo do the officers confeſſe of him, Never man ſpake like this man, they never heard a Scribe preach in that manner, See Pſal. 45.2. Luke 4.22. Matth. 7.28, 29. 6. Such is the power of Chriſts doctrine, that even ſuch as come unto it with a prejudice, and with a purpoſe to perſecute the Meſſengers thereof, may be taken by it themſelves, and if not converted, yet bridled and reſtrained; for, this is the reaſon why they brought him not, Never man ſpake like this man, and therefore they were bound up and had no power to meddle with him. And albeit there be no great evidence of their converſion, (for many may like preaching, and it have ſtrange effects on them, who yet are for from God; and belike, if they had been indeed converted, they would hardly have returne with any account;) Yet Chriſt can, and hath converted, even ſuch: And it doth ſpeak his praiſe, that by the means of ſpiritual preaching, he can reſtrain mens fury, when yet they are not really converted, nor their heart changed.