John 1:31

Lest any should question how John knew this person to be the Messiah whom he had preached; He declareth how he came to know him, and got ground for this testimony. And first, he declareth that when he entred upon his calling, he knew not Christ by face; or at least, that he had not any converse with him to know him to be the Messiah: Onely he knew by revelation, his offices, and that he was in the world, shortly to be manifested: And therefore he was sent by the immediate call of God to preach his approach and being at hand, and by his Doctrine and Baptisme to hold out the benefits to be had by him, having assurance also, that in the time of his Ministry, he should have occasion to point out his person to Israel, as being his forerunner. Doctrine 1. It is an unjust calumnie and prejudice against the Ministers of the Gospel, that what they say of Christ, is done but for by-respects; And particularly, there was no cause to suspect these extraordinary messengers sent to point out Christ, now come into the world, of any collusion with him, or double-dealing; Therefore, God so ordered it, that, to prevent this, John, though a kinsman of Christs according to the flesh, should not know him, either not seeing him by face, or having no converse with him. 2. A bodily sight of Christ, or acquaintance with him outwardly, is not simply needful for enabling a Minister to point him out savingly to the world: Albeit all the Apostles behoved to have been such as had seen, and had conversed with him in the flesh, Acts 1.21, 22. And therefore Paul was ravished to the third heaven to supply the want of seeing him in the flesh, 2 Cor. 12.2. 1 Cor. 15.8. Yet even in the dayes of his flesh, called men were able to preach him upon spiritual acquaintance by faith, though they had not seene nor known him in the flesh; for, John was sent to manifest him to Israel, when yet he knew him not. 3. Men called of God to the work of the Ministry, must not stand back because of the conscience of much inability, but ought to hazard on the call, expecting that their furniture shall grow upon their hands as they need it; for John is sent not onely to preach Christ, but to point him out, when yet he knew him not, but had a promise that he should know him, as afterward he did. 4. The chief end of the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments, is, to point out, and to make an unknown Christ, known to the world and the Church; for, that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore, am I come baptizing with water. John had indeed a peculiar end in his Ministry, to preach that the Kingdome of God was at hand, that Christ was come in the flesh, and to point him out in person: But the general end of the Ministry, in which he also joyned, is to point him out to faith, in his merit, vertue and efficacie. 5. Baptisme with water is an Ordinance of God, wherein Chrst is also held forth, as the pardoner and purger of his people, the washer and renewer of their person and nature; and this was the end of Johns Baptisme also; for, saith he, I am come to baptize with water, that he should be made manifest. 6. The Lord who is Sovereign Lord of the world, and may reveale Christ to whom he will, was pleased to make Israel his peculiar people, and to give unto them the first offer of Christ, and of all the priviledges of the Gospel, that he might keep his promise made to their fathers, Rom. 15.8. and that he might leave a pledge of his fidelity, that no affection to the rest of his sheep, could make him break what he had said; for, John was sent, that he might be made manifest to Israel.