John 4:21

Christ, in discussing of this question, answereth in two assertions; first, that both these wayes of worship were to give place to a better: For, the time was approaching, (at his death, and the honourable burial of the ceremonies,) that the publick and lawful worship of God should not be astricted to any certain place, and so the Samaritane worship, because unlawful, and the Jewish way because temporary, should be abolished, and that partition wall be broken down. Whence learn, 1. It is great wisdome in discovering of errours and false-wayes, so to point them out, as those who are misled, be brought from them, not to another way not much better, but to the right way indeed; Therefore, Christ takes paines, in the first place, not onely to draw her off Samaritanisme, but from the Jewish way also which was to be abolished, to Christianity. 2. There was a time wherein it was lawful and ordained that the publick worship of God should be at one certaine place, to wit, at Jerusalem, and that under shadowes they should finde out Christ; for, while he saith, the hour cometh, wherein it shall not be so, he implyeth that before it was so, and that lawfully. 3. God may lawfully change the way of his worship when he pleaseth, seeing any thing is therefore worship and lawful in it, onely because he appointeth it; Therfore doth Christ foretel the Lords changing of the Jewish way of worship. 4. After Christ coming and death, the publick worship of God is no more ascribed to any certain place, or Nation, nor to be performed in types and shadowes, so much doth this assertion teach us, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor at Jerusalem worship, compared with verse 23. See 1 Tim. 2.8. Otherwise it was lawful to have Gospel worship at Jerusalem, as the Apostles had, but not there more then in another place; And many Jewes were Christians, and worshippers of God, though not they and their Proselytes onely. This partition-wall began to be abolished by Christs doctrine in his Ministry, and was quite abolished of right, by his death, though the Jewes had an indulgence for their way, till the honourable burial of the ceremonies in the destruction of the Temple, which was the publick place where the most of these ceremonies, and the most solemne of them, were acted and gone about; and were thereunto astricted by divine institution. 5. True worship, as it must have Gods command, so it must be performed to him as a Father, apprehended to be so through Christ, and must flow from a silial affection; Therefore, it is called a worshipping the Father, importing that interest and affection which worshippers do (at least) pretend unto. 6. Such is the power of Christ accompanying Gospel dispensations, as will not onely discover the ill of contrary wayes, but actually make them give place thereunto; for, so much are we taught, in that Christ assures, not onely that we should not, but shall not, so worship, and thus have we seen it accomplished. 7. Men are ordinarily so rooted in their opinions and errours which they have drunk in, that it is very hard to drive them from them; Therefore, must Christ presse this, woman beleeve me. 8. As the way of salvation must be taken up by faith, and not by sense or reason; so Christ is worthy to be beleeved, and his word is a warrant sufficient for faith, how little soever he be credited; for, saith he, woman beleeve me. 9. Christ not onely revealeth ground sufficient for our faith, but such is his tendernesse and respect to our weall, that he will even entreat for credence at our hands, and be our supplicant that we would discharge our duty, for our own good; Therefore doth he entreat, woman beleeve me.