John 13:17

In the last place, Christ not being content with a bare speculation in this matter, and having sufficiently informed them of their duty in it; He comes very earnestly to presse the practice thereof, and to encourage them thereunto, by an annexed promise of blessednesse. Whence learn, 1. Christ doth not approve of blinde ignorance in his people, whatever their practice or conversation be; But requires that their practice be founded on sound and solid knowledge of his will; for, he requires that they know these things, and then do them. 2. When much pains is taken to inculcate duties, yet men may remain very ignorant, partly, through their natural impotency, and chiefly, through their inadvertensie, & being transported with lusts and carnal imaginations; for, If ye know these things, is not only a supposition that knowledge must go before practice; but may import a doubt also, if yet they were made capable of this doctrine. For they were so transported with a carnal dream of the Messiah’s Kingdome, that they could not understand his clear predictions of his sufferings, Luk. 18.31, 32, 33, 34. And what wonder if their carnal emulation did hide this doctrine from them also? 3. The doctrine of humility and mutual condescendence is very comprehensive, and contains many duties in the bosome of it, which are called for in variety of cases and exigents; Therefore doth he speak of what is understood by washing one anothers feet, ver. 14. in the plural number, know these things, and do them. 4. The Lord approves not, in the matters of Religion, that men content themselves with knowledge and speculations; But it is his will, that men, having known their duty, do put it in practice, and do prove the sincerity and soundnesse of their knowledge, by their practice; for, so doth this connexion import, If ye know these things, do them, and so prove that ye know indeed. See Jam. 1.22, 23, 24, 25. 5. In particular, the Lord requireth the practice of humility, and it is the touchstone of mens sincerity, not what knowledge they have of it, the contemplation and notion whereof may be sweet: But what they do in practice on particular exigents, which will be more bitter and trying then contemplation was; for, this, in particular, is the duty wherein he requires that practice follow knowledge. 6. Albeit our obedience and practice deserve nothing; Yet it hath such a blessing in the bosome of it, and is the way to such rich blessednesse, as doth compense all losse and disadvantage; for, this is the encouragement, happy are ye, if ye do them. 7. Albeit the condescending and humble man seem to lose much thereby in the world; yet blessedness is allowed to make it up: And to attain the practice of humility, is a blessedness in it selfe, in so far as it hides a man from many stormes and discontentments, wherewith others are blown over; for, of this in particular, it is said, happy are ye if ye do them. 8. Ambitious proud men are so far from blessedness, that they lye under a curse; especially if they know their duty and will not do it; for, it followeth on the contrary, If ye know these things, cursed are ye if ye do them not. See Jam. 4.17. Psal. 119.21.