John 10:32

It seems that some stones were cast at Christ, and therefore he saith, ye stone me. But in the heat of this fury, he findes matter of encouragement to himselfe, in what he had done to them. And therefore that he may bridle their rage, he doth clear his own innocency, and upbraid them for this their proceeding, wherein they dealt so injustly, as to reward him evil for good, and most ingrately, both against him who sought their good in what he wrought, and against the Father, by whose authority, and in whose name he had wrought. Whence learn, 1. Times of trial and persecution will put men to make enquity, and to search what may be in them, drawing on such a lot; for, so much doth Christs practice teach, who by his commending all that he had done to them, doth insinuate a looking back to what it was he had done. 2. Let men never so oft pick a quarrel against Christ, yet as in the dayes of his flesh, he suffered nothing for any fault he had done; so men shall never be able to instruct any evil he hath done, wherefore he should be hated or persecuted; Therefore, saith he, for which works, shewed from my Father, do ye stone me? Importing they could have no quarrel against him, unlesse they would quarrel a good turn. 3. It is Christ; way with his people and visible Church, to work gloriously for them; to multiply these his glorious works; and, by his working, to set out his own and his Fathers glory, and give evidence of their good will toward lost sinners: And all this he doth, to gain upon their affections: for, so much is imported in what he saith of himselfe, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father, (manifesting his glorious power, and rich good will, by working these in his name) because of which he reckons they should rather embrace, then stone him. 4. Whatever be Christs and his peoples carriage, in, or toward the world; Yet they may expect an ill meeting, and to be dealt with not only injustly, in being made to suffer for righteousnesse and well doing, but ingrately, in being rewarded evil for good; for, thus he hath paved the way, who though he had done thus to them, yet saith he, ye stone me. 5. Albeit persecutors be injust and furious, and may slander and cast iniquity upon sufferers, Psal 55.3. Yet such as have a good conscience, will have confidence toward God, and courage against enemies, in the heat of trial; for, Christ knowing his own innocency, it doth now bear him out, and leads him to gall them. 6 As sufferers ought to examine well what they suffer for, so persecutors would consider seriously of the cause of persecution, and wherefore they molest Christ and his followers; Therefore doth he put them to consider, for what do ye stone me? 7. Such as will persecute Christ and his followers, will never be able to acquit themselves of injustice and ingratitude, and of their contempt of God, and of his authority, whereby his Sonne and servants do act: for, this question is a sharp challenge of their consciences, how they durst deal so toward him, and his Father, in whose name he wrought.