Exposition of John, Chapter 7 · Verse 9
Verſe 17. If any man will do his will, he ſhall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I ſpeak of my ſelfe.
18. He that ſpeaketh of himſelfe, ſeeketh his own glory: but he that ſeeketh his glory that ſent him, the ſame is true, and no unrighteouſneſſe is in him.
Next, becauſe they would not readily credite him, in aſſerting his doctrine to be of God; Therefore he ſubjoines two Rules and helps whereby they might be enabled to try doctrine and Teachers. The firſt whereof is required in the perſon who would trie doctrine, ver. 17. To wit, that he be a pious man, and one who according to light received, walks in Gods wayes. Such a one hath the promiſe that he ſhall be made able to diſcerne whether his doctrine be divine, or deviſed by himſelfe. The ſecond Rule and help in trial, ver. 18. relates to the perſon and doctrine to be tried; wherein he aſſerts, that a man who runs unſent, and preacheth his own inventions, doth in his carriage, and by his doctrine, but ſeek to exalt himſelfe; whereas he, who being ſent of God, makes it his ſcope in his carriage to exalt God only, and the nature of his doctrine tends to that, doth prove that he is a preacher of truth, and that there is no unrighteouſneſſe nor fraud in his doctrine. For unde…ſtanding of this, we are to conſider, That Chriſt in giving theſe rules of trial, doth not ſeclude other rules and proofes of the truth of his doctrine already given, Chap. 5. and particularly, that of Scripture; For Chriſt in Scripture makes it elſewhere clear, that good men, in ſome caſes, may be miſled with errour, and unrenewed men may know and embrace truth, though not ſavingly; And on the other hand, erroneous Teachers and doctrines may pretend to be much for God, and may cry out on truth, as denying to God his glory; But Chriſts meaning is, to ſhew, That his doctrine being undeniably true, and according to Scripture, it was odious in them to contradict it by wicked rebellion, and to evidence by their oppoſition, that they were not tender walkers. And that this is ſo much the more hainous, that they ſaw his whole carriage, and the nature and ſcope of his doctrine, tend on…y to glorifie his Father, and not to advance his own private glory. Doctrine, 1. It is the duty of the Lords people, not to receive Doctrine or Teachers upon truſt, but to try and diſcerne, who are ſent of God, and who not, and who ſpeaks true or falſe doctrine; for, it is here imported, that they ſhould know who are ſent, and whether their doctrine be of God, or of themſelves. 2. Every man is not a fit diſcerner of Chriſts doctrine, but many through their own default, are left deſtitute of ſuch a mercy; for, ſo doth the requiring of qualifications, in theſe who trie, impo…t. 3. Such as truely fear God, and make conſcience of known truth in their converſation, have his promiſe for ability and diſcerning, to try doctrine; for, ſo doth the promiſe expreſſely hold out, if any man will do his will, he ſhall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, &c. Which we may branch out in theſe. 1. Such have indeed the promiſe of diſcerning, whereas ungodlineſſe and looſe practices provokes God to withold diſcerning light. 2. Albeit the Godly may, and many times do erre, and are miſled; yet ordinarily, that is but the fruit of ſome former defection in practice. 3. M…ns fleſhly humours and paſſions, in debating and ſ…eking out of truth, while yet their practice is not ſubjected to the rule, is not the right way to come ſpeed. 4. Such as have no uſe for truth nor end in ſearching it out, but only to informe their judgement, or ſatisfie their curioſity, may readily get leave to go wrong. 5. Such as make conſcience of known light in their practice are in Gods way for attaining further light in dubious contraverſies. 6. Such as come to hear, with a purpoſe to examine doctrine by carnal reaſon, and to like or diſlike of it, according as it ſhall reliſh or be diſpleaſing to their luſts, will readily reject ſound doctrine; But he that cometh with a ſubjected minde, and fixed reſolution to receive and obey, what ſhall be found to be the will of God, ſhall get a diſcerning Spirit, unleſſe God have him to humble for ſome former guilt, of which he hath not yet repented. Doctrine, 4. The great ſcope of Preachers, and of their doctrine, ſhould be, to deny and abaſe themſelves, and to exalt and ſeek Gods honour; for, ſo doth Chriſt teach, ver. 18. that a teacher ſhould ſeek his glory that ſent him: and ſo himſelfe did in carriage and doctrine. 5. Such as do run unſent, and do broach their own inventions and errours, they certainly affect the praiſe of men, and hunt after vain-glory, let them pretend to what modeſty and humilitie they will; for, he that ſpeaketh of himſelfe, ſeeketh his own glory, the ſcope of his carriage tendeth to that. And albeit ſelfe-ſeekers may be for the truth, and may make uſe of it, for their own ends; yet they are fitted to go wrong, if they have a tentation, and they will go wrong, before they be not reſpected; Yea, and God is provoked to give them up to go wrong. 6. As true doctrine doth tend to ſet forth Gods glory, and to exalt him; So corrupt doctrine, deviſed by men, doth not aime at Gods glory indeed, whatever it ſeem to do: for, in this reſpect alſo, he that ſpaketh of himſelfe, ſeeketh his own glory; the nature of his doctrine riſeth no higher then his own or another creatures glory; whereas he that is true, or ſound in doctrine, ſeeketh his glory that ſent him. That this may appeare, conſider. 1. Many corrupt and erroneous doctrines do eminently exalt the creature, in its merit, free-will, liberty to diſpoſe of its actions, &c. to the manifeſt depriving of God of the glory of grace, dominion, and ſoveraignty, to the abaſing of Chriſt, and his ſufferings, the denial of providence, &c. 2. Many opinions and practices in Religion, though they pretend to, and ſeem to ſpeak much ſelfe denial, in theſe who profeſſe and practice them; yet they never aſcend to give glory to God, but to exalt another creature in his roome; Such as that voluntary humility, in worſhipping of Angels, Col. 2.18. 3. Though ſome erroneous opinions get place in the world, and are cried up as exalting God and Chriſt; Yet he will have no ſuch honour, and it is but a real diſhonouring of him, to think that he needs a lie to ſet out his glory, and to maintain errour under a pretext that otherwiſe he will want his glory; See Joh. 13.7, 8, 9. 4. As no erroneous opinion doth tend to Gods glory, ſo no erroneous perſon doth really minde it in maintaining that errour, but would exalt himſelfe under a pretext of humility, and ſeeks to be accounted and reputed of as ſomewhat, becauſe of his new opinions. Doctrine, 7. To preach ſound doctrine, is great faithfulneſſe to God, and to the ſouls of people, who are taught; whereas the unſound Teacher commits the greateſt, and moſt cruel, of frauds, as being falſe to God, and to the ſouls of people, Therefore it is ſaid of the Teacher of ſound doctrine, the ſame is true, and no unrighteouſneſſe is in him; Not that they are perfect, (though Chriſt was ſo, being truth and righteouſneſſe it ſelfe) but that being true, he deales righteouſly, in not having any fraud in his doctrine.