John 4:16–18

At this fourth speech we may begin the second part of the conference, wherein Christ having prevailed, so little by his offer and commendation of free grace, doth now discover her miserie unto her, whereby she is at length, and by degrees brought to know him. Therefore he bids her go call her husband, and bring him with her, and she denying she had any, he commends her ingenuity, and lets her see that he knew her lewdnesse. Whence learn, 1. As grace is little known or esteemed of, so long as we know not our misery, so where the offer of mercy doth not perswade, Christ will discover their miserie to his own, to make them either come quickly to him, or else resolve on hell; for, therefore after the former offers had no successe, doth he rip up her bosome. 2. Christ is very meek and tender, even in discovering of misery to men, so long as they are not incorrigible, and is willing that they should judge and accuse themselves, that he may deal tenderly with them; therefore doth he so mildly bid her, Go call thy husband, that he might draw a confession out of her own mouth, 3. It is not every sin whereof natural men are guiltie, for which they can at first be capable of conviction; for, every sin will not be odious to every one in every condition, but there are some sinnes which only grace, and much grace, and grace in exercise will see to be sinful: therefore, though she was guilty of many other sins, yet Christ pitcheth only on this sin of grosse filthinesse, as that which would be seen best by her. 4. It is not every sight of sin that will convince the sinner, but Christ must put it home upon the conscience, and discover sin to be marked by his all-searching eye, before it work upon him; for, she knew her own condition, (and therefore saith, I have no husband, as shifting the matter whereof she supposed him to be ignorant,) but without any sense, till he rip up her bosome, and let her see he knew her. 5. Christ will commend a small good under much drosse; and particularly, he accounts of a true acknowledgement, even of an hainous crime, as a commendable duty. Therefore doth he make so much of her confession, Thou hast well said, thou saidest truly. 6 Christ hath particular knowledge of what sinnes men are lying in, how hid soever; and particularly, he hath an eye upon secret uncleannesse; and how loath soever sinners be to be discovered by Christ, yet where he pleaseth, and hath a purpose of mercy, no shiftings will hide them; so much doth this large discovery after her shifting confession, teach, Thou hast had five husbands, and he whom thou hast, is not thy husband, 7. Such is the pollution of our nature, that lust will be insatiable, unlesse grace curb it; so much appeareth in this woman, who after so many marriages doth live in uncleannesse.