George Hutcheson
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy sonne liveth.
52 Then enquired he of them the houre when he began to amend: and they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh houre the fever left him.
53 So the father knew that it was at the same houre, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy sonne liveth, and himself beleeved, and his whole house.
Followeth the manifestation of this miracle, which is declared to be wrought in the former verse, and the effects of it. The servants meeting this Nobleman with the good newes of his sons recovery, he findes, after a diligent enquiry, that the time of it trysted with the time that Christ spake to him, whereby he is confirmed in faith, and his family drawn in to God with him. Whence learn, 1. It is the duty of servants, not only to be faithful in their Masters affaires, but to be affected with them, and to sympathize with their condition, whether it be sad or joyful; so much appeareth in the practice of these servants, who met their Master with the good newes. 2. Good newes will, sooner or later, meet the man who beleeveth and resteth on Gods Word; for, so much doth this Nobleman finde in experience. 3. As a beleever is bound to observe all the circumstances of Christs working, that may confirm faith, so experience and observation will prove the truth of what he believeth, and will speak in the same termes with the promise: for, this findes not only that true which Christ had said, but trying it to the uttermost, he findes the miracle to have been wrought that same time that Christ spake. 4. Much advantage may be reaped by mens communicating their knowledge, experience and observations one with another, wherby they may help each other to a more full acknowledgement of Christ; for, the servants they knew the childes recovery, and the time of it, the Master knew the word Christ had spoken, and the time of it, and these being put together, they mutually draw other to know Christ, and his power and good-will. 5. Temporal favours are then indeed blessed, when the experience of Gods goodnesse in them advanceth our soules good, and is a mean, either to beget, or advance our faith in Christ; for, so is it here, he beleeved, or was confirmed in what was begun before. 6. As Christ brings salvation to the house he cometh unto, and may do good to the soules of many by one work: so where a Master of a family is brought to Christ, it giveth good ground of hope, that others of the family will do well: and however, what experience any one of a family, getteth of Christ, all the family are bound to make use of it; all this may be gathered from this, that himself beleeved and all his house.
