George Hutcheson
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a Prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say, that in Ierusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
The effect of this discovery is, that the woman is brought to acknowledge him for a Prophet, and therupon propounds to him the great question concerning the place of publike worship, betwixt the Samaritanes and the Jewes; the one pretending that Mount Gerizim was the place, where Sanballat, by permission of Alexander the great, had built a Temple for Manasseh his son-in-law, who for that marriage with his daughter, was put from the Priesthood at Jerusalem; and the other pleading for Jerusalem as the place. As all Israel were enjoyned to worship in the place which God should choose for them, Deut. 12.5, 6. So the Jewes had particular and clear warrant, that after the rejection of Shiloh, Jerusalem was the place, 1 King. 8.29. and 14.21. 2 Kings 21.4. Psal. 78.67, 68, 69. and 132.13, 14. But the Samaritanes, who rejected all Scripture, but Moses writings, regarded not this, and alledged, that the place they worshipped on, was the mountain of blessing, Deut. 11.29. and that their Progenitors had worshipped there of old, Gen. 33.18, 20. for it was near to Shechem. Doct. 1. Christs discovering of sin, and making the sinner to be touched with it, breeds more respect and estimation of him; for, now she thinks more of him then formerly. 2. The work of illumination in the elect, may have weak beginnings at the first, and very apparent high thoughts of Christ, may come far short of his worth: for, in her to perceive him a Prophet, was very much, yet far beneath what he was, and what she knew him after to be; for, however Christ was indeed a Prophet in a superexcellent manner, yet she as yet saw nothing in him above ordinary Prophets. 3. The Lord may see it fit to awaken and convert a great sinner very gently at first; that so he may shew his abundant tender mercy, that they may not be deterred from closing with him; and particularly, that such as live at a great distance from ordinances, and the society of Gods people, may not be overcharged with difficulties which they cannot there alone get through; so much appeareth in his dealing with this woman of Samaria, a stranger. 4 The Lord in his holy Providence hath so ordered, as there will be controversies about the way of truth and his worship, that the godly may be stirred up to studie and embrace the truth more affectionately, and that he may have a ready plague of strong delusions and lies, for them who receive not the truth in love; so much may we gather from this controversie betwixt the Jewes and the Samaritanes. 5. It is a necessary and commendable duty in such as professe the true God, not to be ignorant of the matters of Religion, nor of the controversies that fall out about it; for, even this prophane Samaritane had knowledge of this controversie, and of the grounds they had for it, yea, she knew the Messiah was to come, v. 25. 6. A wakened conscience will be careful to lay the groundwork of Religion sure, and men being serious about getting of heaven, they will be diligent to know the right way, and for this end will omit no occasion of getting light; so much may be gathered from the practice, that taking him for a Prophet, she propounds that grand question unto him, to get resolution, rather then to think she started that national difference, to shift any discourse about her own vilenesse. 7. A wakened conscience is alwayes so jealous of it self, and its way in matters of controversie, as to omit no mean of information; and such as embrace superstition and a false way of Religion can never be established, nor have sound peace, as they will finde when the conscience is put to it; therefore the first scruple that presents it self, is this question concerning their way of worship. 8. It is no new thing to see Antiquity opposed to Christs own expresse Ordinances: And Antiquity, and the practice of some, is a crooked rule to follow, when it contradicts the current of the Scriptures; yea, and of the practice of such as are commended therein; such was the Samaritanes pretences; Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, &c. when yet God had appointed another place, and the godly in their times frequented it.
