John 18:37

In the third discourse, Pilate, gathering from what Christ had said of his Kingdome, that he held himselfe to be a King, desires a clear confession thereof; and Christ giveth him that good confession mentioned, 1 Tim 6.13. Adding, 1. That he came into the world to bear witnesse unto the truth, where, without distinguishing curiously betwixt his being born, as being spoken in relation to his person, or humane nature subsisting in it, and his coming into the world, in relation to his office; (seeing both may be looked on, as one and the same) we may look upon this, either generally, that his office at this time was, in part, to preach truth and avow it, and to prove himselfe a King, by making it successeful, and to confirme it by his suffering; Or, more particularly, that he came into the world, to beat witnesse to this truth, that he was a King, and so to publish that decree, Psal. 2.6, 7. and avow it to the death. 2. He addeth, that every one that is of the truth heareth his voyce; whereby he prevents an objection that might be moved against the truth of his doctrine and witnesse, as being so ill entertained; and cleareth, that, however few do receive it, either his doctrine in general, or this in particular, that he is a King: Yet, this doth not make void the truth thereof, seeing all who are of the truth, or borne of God, and begotten by the Word of truth, and who love the truth, and do not delight in lyes, will hear him, and embrace his doctrine and testimony. Doct. 1. Sufferers may expect they will have to do with politick and quick sighted men, who will sift all their discourses, and draw out their minde concerning these things wherein they think they may have most advantage of them; for, so doth Pilate, upon Christs former discourse, urge him to speak it out, Art thou a King then? Yet not so much (as appears from the sequel, in that he troubled him not for it) because of any fear he had of his Kingdome, as to try if he would adhere to such a ridiculous-like profession, which in his judgement might expose him to mockery and contempt. 2. Truth ought to be stoutly maintained and avowed, when we are called to it, how absurd so ever it seem to be in it selfe, and how unpleasant so ever it seem to be unto men; for, so doth Christ here answer, Thou sayest that I am a King, or, it is so, as thou sayest, and thou tightly gatherest it from my words. A stout confession, as to the matter of it, and yet modest, as to the manner, in that he doth it not vauntingly, but simply, thou sayest it, and after cleareth that he did it out of conscience and duty; to shew that courage and modesty must go together in owning of truth. 3. Christ is indeed King of his Church; And where he gathereth his Church, there he sets up his Kingdome, wherein his laws are to be obeyed and acknowledged by his subjects, and which he will protect and defend, in despite of all his enemies; for, this truth is clearly held out here, for the Churches comfort, thou sayest that I am a King. 4. By persecution the Lord giveth occasion to his servants to publish truth, and make it known to the greatest of men, who possibly otherwise would never hear so much of it, as is then spoken in their own audience; for, by Christs suffering, Pilate cometh to hear his doctrine, and that concerning his Kingdome. And beside this also, their very sufferings invite men to enquire after their doctrine for which they suffer; which probably otherwise they had not taken notice of, Phil. 1.12, 13. 5. Every man is sent into the world, and employed by God, for some end and service, which they should much minde, and labour to be faithful in their employment and trust, upon all hazards; Therefore doth Christ, as man and Mediatour, look to the end for which he was born, and the cause for which he came into the world; which being to bear witnesse unto the truth, therefore he will here avow it on all hazards, even before Pilate. 6. As it is the eminent imployment put upon all professours of Religion, that they bear witnesse to the truth, or give a testimony to the worth thereof; Partly, by their open avowing of it and suffering for it, when they are called to it in times of hazard; and partly, in their ordinary carriage, by publishing truth in their stations, by subjecting their walking, thoughts, and reasonings to it, and by magnifying the truth thereof, in opposition to their tentations and discouragements, which when men neglect, they will never prove stout in suffering for it; And particularly, they are bound to bear witnesse unto the Kingdome of Christ: So Christ himselfe is the great Captain of these witnesses; He is the great preacher of truth, whose powerful Scepter, as a King, is the Word of truth; who stands for the maintenance of truth, and particularly this truth, that he is a King over his own Church, to order the affairs thereof; and, who did seal this, and the whole truths of God, by his blood: for, he declareth this to be one of his great ends and works in the world, to bear witnesse unto the truth, as a pattern to all others in their stations, and an encouragement to all who follow his pattern, that they have such a Champion of truth, who yet doth maintain it, though he come no more into the world in person, nor suffer any more. 7. Albeit the most part of the world do little regard Christs doctrine, yet it is the very truth, and all the lovers and friends of truth will own it, and who so do otherwise, they bewray their own estrangement from truth, and are indeed delighters in lyes; for, every one that is of the truth, heareth my voyce.