78 John They excommunicate him. SECT. and are too firmly attached to that great and exxxi. holy prophet to regard such a deceiver as this. We well know that God spake to Moses, and IX. 29. gave the most ample evidence of sending him with a Divine commission; but as for this man, we know not from whence he is, nor can we perceive any satisfactory credentials of his bringing any message from God to us. 30 29 We know that God spake unto Moses as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man an whence he is, and yet But, not discouraged by their unjust reflec- swered and said unto tions, the man replied with a becoming freedom them, Why, herein is of spirit, and said unto them, Why, in this respect, a marvellous thing, it is strange that you know not from whence he is, that ye know not from and yet it is plain that he has opened mine eyes. he hath opened mine 31 Now we all know in general that God heareth eyes. not sinners, and that persons of infamous characters and immoral lives cannot expect the Di- that God heareth not sinners: but if any vine acceptance in any common petition which man be a worshipper they offer, much less for the performance of a of God, and doeth his miracle; but if any man be truly devout, and will, him he heareth. faithfully do his will, him indeed he heareth with a favourable regard: when therefore God is found to hear a man in such an extraordinary instance as this, there seems the greatest reason to believe he is a person whose temper and cha32 racter are approved by him. 31 Now we know the eyes of one that And this is 32 Since the world plainly an extraordinary instance; for from the began was it not heard beginning of the world it was never heard that that any man opened any man opened the eyes of one who, like me, was born blind. was born blind. It is surprising, therefore, that you, who allow that Moses was a prophet, on the authority of his miracles, should in this case judge so hardly of my deliverer, whoever he be. 33 But every unprejudiced person may easily see 34 33 If this man were that if this man were not sent of God, he could do not of God, he could nothing of this kind. do nothing. 34 They answered born in sins, and dost And, not being able to endure so plain and forcible a reproof, which even stung them to and said unto him, the heart, they answered and said to him, with Thou wast altogether great hatred and scorn, Thou vile presumptuous wretch, thou wast entirely born in sins, and didst bring into the world with thee most evident tokens of Divine wrath and vengeance; and dost thou insolently take upon thee to teach us, the d We know that God spake to Moses.] Their partiality here was inexcusable; for if they believed the mission of Moses, on the evidence of miracles, credibly attested indeed, but performed two thousand years before they were born; it was much more reasonable, on their own principles, to believe the mission of Jesus, on at least equal guides thou teach us? And they cast him out. Reflections on the force and prevalence of truth. 35 Jesus heard that and when he had 79 guides of the national faith, and members of the SECT. Now Jesus quickly heard of their arbitrary 35 they had cast him out; proceedings, that they had thus passed sentence found him, he said on the poor man, and had cast him out for his unto him, Dost thou sake; and, finding him soon after, he said to him believe on the Son of privately, Dost thou believe on the Son of God, the great expected Messiah? God? 36 He answered and that I might believe en him? He answered and said, Sir, who is he that I 36 said, Who is he, Lord, may believe on him? I know that such a glorious Person is expected; and if he be already come, tell me but who he is, and where I may meet with him, and I am ready to express a due regard to him who shall be pointed out to me under that honourable and important character. 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast it is be that talketh both scen him, and with thee. 58 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. Then Jesus, to encourage him under what he 37 was now suffering on his account, said to him, with a degree of freedom which was very unusual, Thou hast no need of going far to seek him; for thou hast both already seen him, and had experience of his power and goodness: it was he that miraculously opened thine eyes, and indeed it is even he that is now talking with thee who is that very Person. And, immediately yielding to that convincing 38 argument which arose from what he had himself experienced of his almighty power, he said, Lord, I most readily believe that thou art he, and humbly prostrate myself before thee, to render thee due homage as such. And, falling down at his feet, he worshipped him. IMPROVEMENT. So little does truth fear repeated examinations; and thus does Ver. it, after every trial, come forth like pure gold out of the furnace, 24--27 So did this miracle of Christ appear to these subtile adversaries; so will e With a degree of freedom very un- great inconveniences attending a sentence of excommunication out of zeal for the ho- f More 80 Jesus reproves the blindness of the Pharisees. SECT. Will the Christian cause appear to all who will diligently search into its evidence. CXXXI. 28, 29 30 Who can forbear wondering at the obstinacy of these Pharisees; and, on the same principles, at that of the present Jews, who, while they acknowledge that God spake by Moses, because he wrought miracles, will not, on the evidence of yet more various and glorious miracles, and those attested beyond all contradiction, acknowledge the authority of the Son of God himself? But we see this poor illiterate creature (for such he undoubt edly was,) with the advantage of truth on this side, baffles all the sophistry of his most learned antagonists. Great is the truth, and it will prevail. Great is this truth, so fundamental to the gospel, that Jesus is the Son of God: and this also, which is so important to natural religion and revealed, that God heareth not sinners; but 31 if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he hears, and most favourably regards. May we be truly devout, and add to our devotion an obedient regard to the Divine will, and the eyes of the Lord will be upon us, and his ears be open to our cry! 34 (Psal. XXXIV. 15.) Then, being favourably owned of God, we shall have no reason to fear the censures of men. If they cast us 35--37 out Christ will receive us, and perhaps reveal himself to us with more freedom, in proportion to the injuries we sustain from them. SECT. cxxxii. SECT. CXXXII. Christ admonishes the Pharisees of their danger; and represents himself as the door of the sheepfold through which men must necessarily enter, if they desire their own salvation, or that of others committed to their care. John IX. 39, to the end; X. 1-10. JOHN IX. 39. JOHN IX. 39. am that they which see, WHI HILE Jesus stood talking with the blind AND Jesus said, For judgment I man who had received his sight, several come into this world: John people, who were then entering into the tem- that they which see 1X. 39. ple, knowing them both, and desirous to hear not, might see; and what passed, gathered together about them: and might be made blind. Jesus said, so that they all might hear him, You may see in this man, and in what has happened in relation to him, an illustration of the effects which my appearance is to produce: for I am come into this world for judgment as well as Limb. Collat. cum Judro, Scrip. iii. Qurst. He declares himself to be the true Shepherd. 40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him, heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin but now ye say, We see; there fore your sin remaineth. JOHN X. 1. Verily, He that entereth not way, the same is a thief and a robber. SECT. cxxxii. mercy; that, on the one hand, they who see not, And [some] of the Pharisees who were then 40 present with him, heard these things, and apprehending that he glanced at them, said to him, Are we also blind? and dost thou mean to insi- Jesus said to them, If you were indeed blind, 41 and laboured under unavoidable ignorance, you would not then have any sin in comparison of what you now have, but now you say, Surely, we see much more clearly than the rest of mankind, therefore your sin abides upon you with greater aggravation; and this conceit which you have of your own knowledge hinders conviction, and prevents the first entrance of instruction into your minds. Nevertheless, whether you will hear, or whe- John verily, I say unto you, ther you will forbear, I will for a while longer X. 1. by the door into the continue my admonitions; and therefore, verisheepfold, but climb- ly, verily, I say unto you who call yourselves the eth up some other shepherds of the people, That he who enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other private way, whatever be the character he may assume, the same is to be looked upon as no 2 But he that enter- better than a thief and a robber. But he that 2 eth in by the door is comes in at the door of the sheepfold is the true the shepherd of the sheep. shepherd of the sheep; and such a one will always choose to enter in by that which is the regular appointed a If you were indeed blind, you would not have any sin, &c.] Eisner (Observ. Vol. I. p. 526.) understands this of corporeal blindness; as if our Lord had said, "It is a great aggravation of your perverseness, that you know by experience the difference between blindness and sight, which might convince you of the impor- The 110 Reflections on the hopeful youth forsaking Christ. SECT. have the hopes of ministers, and parents, and other religious exxxvii. friends, been disappointed, with respect to many young persons, Mark adorned with a variety of amiable qualifications, yet lacking one X. 21. thing, and parting with Christ when put to the trial, after all the regard they have shewn to his name, and all the pleasing expectations they have given of a willingness to serve him. O my young Reader, whoever thou art, I earnestly pray, that thou mayest not be added to that number! 19, 20 This unhappy youth imagined himself in the certain way of salvation, because he was free from the stains of fraud and injustice, of adultery and theft, of perjury and murder, or any other gross and infamous sin. But behold, how awful a method Christ takes, to open to him that insincerity of heart, which he seems himself not to have known. Observe, how strange a command he 21 gives him, to sell all, and distribute to the poor. We cannot say, that the very same is directly required of us; yet by this order that was given to him, we are obliged to part with our all, when it cannot be preserved with a good conscience; and by the general rules of Christianity, and its fundamental precepts, we are in duty bound, conscientiously to use, not only a little part of our substance, but even the whole of it for God, as stewards who are another day to give up a strict account for all. And if we like not Christ and glory on these terms, our end will be no better than his. Of him we read, that after all his morality, and all his zeal, he went away from Christ, (though sorrowful,) because he had great 22 possessions. Oh dear-bought wealth, which was the price of his soul! Let us look upon him, and receive instruction; let us learn to be upon our guard against this vain world, that specious harlot, who hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her; (Prov. vii. 26.) How universally are riches desired, how eagerly are they pursued, by persons in all stations and of all professions of life! Yet what do they generally prove but shining mischief and gilded ruin! If we believe the incarnate 23--25 wisdom of God, they make our salvation exceeding hazardous. Yet who does not wish for them? Who does not think that he has wisdom and grace enough to stand the danger? But God knows otherwise, and therefore he keeps, or makes, so many of his children poor.-Let them be contented with their safer state; and let those who are rich be importunate with God for those influences 27 of his grace which can effect those things that are impossible with men. On the whole, let us not think much of any thing which Christ demands, knowing that whatever we may lose, or whatever we 29 may resign, we shall gain far more by his favour. The testimony of |