John 3:7–8

Christ seeing Nicodemus at a stand, and marvelling at that which he was saying of this new birth, as at a thing impossible, he forbids him to marvel; and by a similitude taken from the winde, he cleareth the matter yet more, and sheweth that it is nothing the lesse true that he could not comprehend the way of it; for, as the winde bloweth freely, and at the command of no creature, and as the sound and effects thereof prove that it is, and yet mens reason cannot reach to know from whence it ariseth, and whether it goeth, or from how far it cometh, and how far it goeth, seeing at the same time there are contrary winds in several places of the earth; so in this spiritual birth and change, wherein the Spirit worketh freely and efficaciously, it may be sensibly found by effects, although the manner and way how it is wrought, be incomprehensible. Doctrine 1. Albeit Gods works, and particularly in regeneration, be glorious and excellent, at which faith may far more wonder then at a mans conception in the womb, Psal 139.14. Yet Christ condemneth that wondring as sinfull, which sloweth from unbelief, and from mens counting that impossible which they cannot comprehend; Therefore Christ forbids such wondring, marvel not that I said unto thee, &c. when yet he holds out the thing as incomprehensible. So excellent is the nature of faith, that it maketh that to be a commendable duty, which were sinful, if coming from unbelief. 2. Albeit all men, even the greatest Doctors, lie under a necessity of being regenerate if they would be saved; Yet Christ is excluded from that number, being sanctified in his conception by the holy Ghost, and borne without sin; Therefore he secludeth himself here, and includeth Nicodemus and all others, when he saith, ye must be borne again. 3. By the fall of Adam, mans understanding falleth short even in comprehending natural things, and there are depths in nature, and even in things most obvious to sense, wherein natural light doth faile; so it is said here of the winde, thou canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth. And by many questions about such things is Job put to a non-plus, Job 38. and 39. 4. Good use may be made of common and obvious things, to further spiritual mindednesse, and to help to satisfie us and quiet our reasonings in spiritual things; for, Christ by this similitude casteth a copie to all, to be led by thoughts of the winde, to think on regeneration, and silenceth his wondring, by making his common sense and reason about the winde, subservient to quiet his faith about this mystery; and by the condsietation of such things as these, God bringeth Job to dust and ashes before him. 5. The Spirits working is compared to winde, not onely here, and in that extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit, Acts 2.1, 2. but Cant. 4 16. Not onely because the Spirit and winde have one name, in the originall languages of the Scriptures: But because of many things wherein the one resembleth the other; And in the text (to go no further) we have these. 1. As the winde bloweth through the world freely, not staying for the command, nor caring for the prohibition of any creature; so the Spirit in his working is a free agent, working where, on whom, when, and in what measure he pleaseth, and will be hindered by none, the winde bloweth where it listeth. 2. As there is somewhat in the winde which is sensible, and felt or heard, proving that it is, thou hearest the sound thereof; so is the working of the Spirit discernable in the effects, by them that have it, Onely as the winde is not alwayes alike loud, nor sensible, so the working of the Spirit is not alwayes, nor in all alike discernable; and as they who hear the winde, must have the sense of hearing clear; so men who desire to feele the effects of the Spirit, would not over-cloud their own discerning with jealousies and misrepresentations; and withall, it would be considered, that the Spirit is one gift, and discerning of him and his working is another gift, (1 Cor. 2.12.) to be sought of him, or else we may mistake; Likewise, this discerning faculty may sometime be keept up where the true work it, either for trial, that we may not build our selves on what is within us, but on Christ; or for chastisement, because we have grieved the Spirit. There may also be some babes in Christ, who cannot for a time discern their own members, though they really have them. 3. As there is some what in the winde incomprehensible to natural reason, thou canst not tell, whence it cometh, &c. So in the Spirits working, there is somewhat not onely beyond the reach of natural reason, 1 Corinth. 2.14 but even above sanctified reason, as to know how he insinuates himself with the Word upon us, and frameth that hidden man of grace; There are mysteries here to be adored, and calling for praise, that he should work so admirably in us, rather then to be pried into: In all these respects, is this comparison of the winde applied, So is every one that is borne of the Spirit.