262

SECT. xlviii.

V.31.

Christ had not only his own testimony,

SECT. XLVIII.

Christ having declared to the Jews (and, as it seems, to the Sanhedrim), the dignity of his person, office and character, goes on to represent the proofs of his mission; and concludes his discourse with proper admonitions and cautions. John V. 31. to the end. JOHN V. 31.

UR Lord proceeded in his discourse to the Jews, and said, I have certainly entered a John very high claim, and represented myself as a person of of great dignity and authority; nor do I see it without sufficient proof. Indeed If I bear this witness of myself alone, it must be acknowledged, that my testimony is not immediately [to be admitted as] true: you have a right to insist on other evidence; and a variety of it arises from the testimony of John, from the power of my miracles, from the testimony of the Father and from innumerable passages in your own sacred writings.

32

JOHN V.31.

IF

I hear witness of myself, my witness

is

not true.

32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that

true.

I would then first observe that, besides what I have told you of myself, there is another of undoubted reputation and veracity that beareth the witness which he witness of me; and I know that the witness witnesseth of me is which he beareth of me is true and credible; and well remember by the happiest tokens, the great fact on which it especially turned : nor can you reasonably take upon you to dispute it; for the person I refer to is John the Baptist, whom your whole nation agreed to reverence as a prophet: 33 And you know, that you yourselves sent messengers on purpose from your own court unto this John (John i. 19-27, sect. xx.), and he, in the most express terms, bore a faithful and honourable testimony to the truth of what I have now attested and referred to, assuring you that he saw 34 the Spirit in a visible form descend upon me. I 34 But I receive not do not indeed receive the chief testimony on which testimony from man;

a Is not [to be admitted as] true. That this is the sense of the word true here, is very evident; and appears in part from comparing John viii 13-17. sect. ciii.

The great fact on which it especially turned.] The propriety and spirit of our Lord's expression, I know that the witness which he beareth of me is true, is much illustrated, by supposing that here is an oblique reference to that great event, the descent of

I

33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witpess unto the truth.

but

But the testimony of John, to prove his mission.

263

but these things I say, I rest the credit of my mission, from man; never- SECT. that ye might be saved.

35 He was a burning and a shining light; a scason to rejoice in

and ye were willing for

his light.

fat of John; for the

that I do, bear witness

theless, I say these things to you, on your own xlviii.
principles, out of a tender and compassionate John
concern for your conviction, that you, who are V. 34.
now conspiring against my life, may be saved
from that destruction which he foretold as the
portion of those who should reject me, and which
the greatest of them shall not be able to escape,
(Mat. iii. 10-12, sect. xvi.) He was indeed 35
a burning and a shining light (Ecclus. xlviii. 1),
who, to his bright and distinct knowledge of the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, joined a
most fervent zeal in bearing his testimony to
them; and for a while you were disposed greatly
to rejoice in his light; but you did not express
that continued regard to his preaching which at
his first appearance you seemed to promise.

56 But I have a I will not therefore insist farther on this 36
car witness than topic, but proceed to other evidence. And I have
works which the Fa- indeed a testimony which is much greater still
ther hath given me to than [that] of John; for the works of wonder
fish, the same works and mercy which the Father has assigned and
me, that the Father given in commission to me, that according to his
wise and gracious purposes I might accomplish
them among you, even these miraculous works
which I daily perform, are also witnesses in my
behalf, and bear a most convincing testimony to
me, that the Father hath sent me as his Ambas-
sador to men, with the most ample commission
to reveal his will.

hath sent me.

67 And the Father himself which hath

And indeed I may say, with the greatest pro- 37 sent me, hath borne priety, that by these miracles, as well as by the Witness of me: ye public testimony that he gave me at my baphave neither heard his tism, the Father who has sent me has with the voice at any time, nor strongest evidence confirmed my mission and

seen his shape.

has himself borne witness to me: nor have you
any reason to dispute the testimony that he thus
hath given me though] you have never either
heard his voice, or seen his form, as being one
whom no man hath seen nor can see; for he
has testified the same concerning me in his
word, where he has spoken of me in the clearest
nanner. But, notwithstanding the submission.

For a while you were disposed greatly to fejoice in his light.] Our Lord might speak thus of John, though he was yet living, as his light was now in a great measure extinguished by his imprisonment; so that the argument from this text, for transposing this chapter, seems inconclusive. Had the san

you

hedrim, as some have supposed, imprisoned
John before he was seized by Herod (see
the preface to the Prussian Testament, p.
244), our Lord would hardly have failed to
reprove them for it on so natural an occa-
sion as this.

Hh 2

d You

264

John

He had the testimony of his miracles, and of his Father.

SECT. you profess to his authority, you will not be per- 38 And ye have not xlviii. suaded to receive the testimony he has given: his word abiding in you: for whom he and after all that he has said, it is still evident hath sent, him ye beV. 38. that you have not his word cordially abiding in lieve not. you, nor do you shew a due regard even to those former revelations which you acknowledge as Divine; for notwithstanding all the reasons that are there given to induce you to it, you do not believe him whom he had sent with a much fuller and clearer discovery of himself than any of his former messengers have brought.

39

40

39 Search the scrip tures; for in them ye think ye have eternal which testify of me.

life, and they are they

You make it your employment and your study to peruse and search the scriptures, and enter into deep enquiries concerning the contents of them; because you very rightly apprehend that you have the doctrine of eternal life in them, that they contain the promises, and instruct you in the way of obtaining it: and these now are the very writings] which in numberless passages bear a most important testimony to me. And yet the 40 And ye will not obstinacy of your hearts is such, that notwith- come to me, that ye standing you profess so great a regard for them, might have life. you will not come to me, that you may have that eternal life which they direct you to obtain in this method, but rather chuse to die under the force of your inveterate prejudices.

41 I receive not

41 I speak of your coming to me: but let me remind you that it is not out of an ambition of honour from men. drawing multitudes about me, to follow and applaud my teaching; for the whole of my conduct proves that I receive not glory from men f. 42 But I say it out of a tender regard for your instruction and reformation; for notwithstanding love of God in you. your distinguished profession of piety, and the

d You have not his word abiding in you.] Some would render it, You have not his LOGOS, that is, me residing among you for any continuance of time (see Mr. Locke's Reasonableness of Christianity, p. 65,) and refer it to Christ's making so short an abode at Jerusalem: but I prefer the more obvious sense. Compare John xv. 7.

e You search the scriptures.] There is a known ambiguity in the word geval, which may justify either this translation or the common one; nor is it very material which is preferred, I thought the following words, which express their high opinion of the scriptures, rather suited the former; and it is exceeding probable that, at a time when the Pharisees were so impatient of the Roman yoke, they would with great diligence search the sacred oracles for predictions

eminent

42 But I know you, that ye have not the

relating to the Messiah; though it is too plain they had an unhappy bias on their minds, which prevented the good effects which might have been expected from that inquiry, had it been impartial.—It is also well known, that refined criticisms on their sacred writings made the most fashionable branch of learning among the Jews; in comparison of which, profane literature was held in great contempt, and indeed by many of their zealots in great abhorrence: see Joseph. Antiq. Jud. lib. xx. cap. ult. § ult. and Mr. Biscoe's Sermons at Boyle's Lecture, p. 89, 90.

The

f I receive not glory from men.] whole series of this discourse excellently shews how far our Lord was from soothing the vanity of great and learned men, in order to obtain their favour.

will receive.

And the scriptures also testified of him.

265

xlviii.

eminent station in which you are placed, I know SECT. you, and have observed it for some time concerning you, that you have not the love of God in John you, that great and only principle of a true reli- V. 42. 43 I am come in gion and happiness. For I am come to you in 43 my Father's 's name, and my Father's name, and with evident credentials ye receive me not: f another shall come in from him; yet you receive me not; which, if you his own name, him ye had really loved him, you would undoubtedly have done whereas if another should come in his own names, without such credentials, and set up a scheme of temporal grandeur and dominion, him you would readily receive, in pursuit of those worldly. principles which, though directly contrary to the love of God, yet bear the rule in 4 How can ye beBut how indeed can you lieve, which receive your corrupt hearts. honour one of another, believe in me, and fall in with such an humbling and seek not the ho- and self-denying scheme as that of my gospel, nour that, cometh from while, with an ambitious emulation, you are receiving honour of each other, and seek not that true honour which [comes] from the approbation of God alone, and from the testimony of your consciences in his sight.

God only ?

45 Do not think that

one that accuseth you,

44

Nevertheless, remember this, that you will 45 I will accuse you to another day appear self-condemned for this your the Father; there is infidelity and do not think that, to convict you even Moses, in whom in his presence, I will accuse you to the Father; it will not be necessary that I should do it; for even now, that Moses, in whom you trust as your great law-giver and patron, is (as it were) your accuser before God, and charges you with being regardless of him as well as of me.

ye trust:

46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would

have believed me; he wrote of me.

for

For 46

if you had believed Moses, and really had that
regard to him which you profess to have, you
likewise surely would have believed me; for he
wrote concerning me in many most memorable
But I will now conclude my dis- 47

47 But if ye believe passages *.

not

If another should come in his own name.] Some think here is a reference to Barchochebas, a noted impostor in the following age, for adhering to whom the Jews were severely chastised by Adrian. (Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. iv. cap. 6.) But it is certain there were many other pretended Messiahs. who wrought no miracles, and yet met with a much better reception from the Pharisees than Christ did; and I doubt not but Christ meant to include, at least, all those who appeared while the sanhedrim existed.

h You are receiving honour of each other.] This has much more spirit, if we consider it as applied to the members of the sanhe drim, who had such distinguished titles of honour, than if we only take it as spoken

course ;

to a mixed multitude, who might happen to
surround Christ in the temple: the taste of
the Populace seldom lies that way.

i That Moses, in tehom you trust, is your
accuser.] This is one of the most expressive
passages that can be imagined, in which
Moses, their great law-giver, is represented
as looking down with indignation upon these
elders who gloried in being the most dis-
tinguished of his disciples; and seeing how
injuriously they treated Jesus the great
Prophet, turning himself to God with a se-
vere accusation against them, and urging his
own predictions as an aggravation of their
inexcusabic infidelity.

He wrote concerning me in many most memorable passages.] Christ might perhaps

266

xlviii.

Reflections on the evidences of Christ's mission.

words?

SECT course; for if you do not believe his writings, not his writings, hew which are daily in your hands, and the Divine shall ye believe my John authority which you so strenuously assert, how V. 47 shall I expect that, under the power of such prejudices, you shall believe my words?

When our Lord had thus spoken he withdrew; and they were so overawed with the majesty of his presence and the unanswerable force of his discourse, that they did not attempt to seize or detain him.

IMPROVEMENT.

How various is the evidence of our Redeemer's mission, and with what pleasure should we trace it in the testimony which John bore, Verse the miracles which himself wrought, the testimony of the Father to 32--37 him and the predictions which the prophets uttered and recorded! 39 To confirm our faith in all, let us be daily searching the scriptures, as the oracles of God and the great fountains of life and salvation. We profess a regard to them: may that regard never be our condemnation or the blessed penmen witness against us, as Moses 45 against those who gloried in his writings, and yet wanted a true faith in them!

In proportion to the degree in which we are convinced of the truth of Christ's religion, let us set ourselves to cultivate the temper 41 which he exercised. He sought not glory from men, but made his Father's will the rule of his actions, and his Father's honour the end of them. Let us not greedily catch at human applause, but 41 aim at an infinitely nobler object, even the honour that cometh from God alone, the only true judge of actions and characters, because the only discerner of hearts.

May we have not only his word in our hands, but his love re42 maining in us; that thereby our natural aversion to the methods of his saving grace in the gospel may be subdued, that notwithstanding the obstinacy of our degenerate wills we may come unto 40 Christ that we may have life! May we receive him with the greatest readiness, as coming to us in his Father's name: and not only for a season rejoice in his light, but stedfastly continue in his word, as made known to all nations for the obedience of faith; that the advantages which we enjoy may not be found to aggravate our guilt and to condemn us with the unbelieving Jews!

43

intend to refer to what Moses had written,
of the seed of the twoman, (Gen. iii. 15,
of the seed of Abraham, in which all the
nations of the earth should be blessed, (Gen.
xxii. 18. of the Slitoh, toho should come to
gather the people, (Gen. xlix. 10.) and of

Christ

the Prophet whom God should raise up unto them from among their brethren, (Deut. xvill 18,), as well as to the many ceremonial institutions which had their final accomplishment in him.

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