John 3:20–21

Christ proveth that it is mens ill deeds which causeth them to hate the light, from two general positions. The first whereof (being a proverbial sentence, and holding true both in natural and spiritual light,) sheweth, that evil doers hate the light, lest it should discover them; and the second, that the godly, on the contrary, delight to have their wayes tried and made manifest by this light. Whence learn, 1. Whoever is yet in nature, and on whom Christ hath not shined with the renewing light of the Gospel, is an evil doer, not only in a legal sense, (as all have sinned, and the godly do sin daily) but habitually, it is his course, study and endeavour to do that which displeaseth God, and this study of doing evil is the aire he breathes in; such is he who doth evil. 2. The Gospel hath not only a refreshing light to comfort sinners in the due order, but a reproving and discovering light, which (however men will stand as long as they are able, in the defence of their own righteousnesse, yet) will convince and discover them to themselves: for, this is the light here spoken of, which reproveth or discovereth, or, (as the word is) argueth and convinveth men to be what they are. And albeit nature will discover some grosse sins, yet mens self-righteousnesse, the emptinesse of moral civility, &c. must be of the words discovering; And albeit the Law which is spiritual, discover these also, yet it is ascribed to the Gospel in this challenge, because it aggravateth these sins so much the more, that the Gospel discovereth them with the offer of a remedy. 3. The great plea betwixt Christ and sinners in the Gospel, is about this reproving lights getting place, and about mens being discovered to themselves, as being the first lesson where the most part of men stick, and so get no more; for, they hate the light and come not to it. 4. As in the matter of natural light, evil doers wait for the dark, Job 24.15. so it is a mark of evil doers, that they hate the spiritual light, and shun all means of searching and knowing themselves, as wishing such things were not sin, not desiring to know them to be so, and wishing there were not a God to punish them; for, every one that doth evil, hateth the light. 5. All these who do not (out of jealousie over themselves) come to the Word, with a desire to be discovered to themselves, but desire to hear what may flatter them in sin, and to whom it is not only their tentation at some times, but their habitual frame to take ill with reproof; All these I say, do prove themselves evil doers, and haters of the light, whatever respect they pretend to have to it; therefore doth he explain who are haters, neither cometh to the light, left his deeds should be reproved. 6. A mark of a man who hath embraced Christ in the Gospel, is, (not sinlesnesse, but) a studie and endeavour to do what is commanded in the Word of truth, and to do it in truth and sincerity; for, he doth truth. 7. As the godly man must have been at the light before he can do the truth, so this light maketh him jealous and suspicious of himselfe, as knowing that Satan and a deceitful heart may out-wit him, and therefore he loveth self searching and examination well, whereby he may know himself; for, this is his character, He cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, not so much to others, as to himselfe. 8. The godly mans jealousie of himself, will not be satisfied in comparing himself with others, or the fashions of the world, or with the external duties required in the law, or in judging of himself, as self-love would prescribe; but it bringeth him to Gods ballance, and the light of the Word, as his Judge: for, he cometh to the light, &c. 9. The matter wherein a godly man puts himself to trial, are his particular actions, and that daily, and not now and then only; for, he cometh, that his deeds may be made manifest. 10. That which the sincere man trieth in his way, and which only quieteth his conscience about them, is, when he findeth them agreeable to Gods direction, (whatever others think of them) and tending to his glory; when he findeth they are done by him, whose person is in God by reconciliation, and who hath his strength in God, by dwelling in him by faith; for, he trieth his works, that they are wrought in God, that is, at the direction of God, and by a person dwelling in God by reconciliation, so empty in himself, that he not only now and then employeth God, but dwelleth in him for strength; To live and walk in the Spirit, is to be understood, Gal, 5.16, 18, 25.