George Hutcheson
31 If bear witnesse of my self, my witnesse is not true.
Followeth to the end of the chapter the second part of Christs Apology; wherein, having by many instances proven his unity and equality with the Father, he proceedeth to produce witnesses testifying concerning him, which were so clear, as gave him just cause to season them with chalenges for their wilfull unbelief and rejecting of him, and to threaten them with being judged and condemned before God. And, 1. Waving an ordinary exception which might be moved against his testimony of himself, verse 31. be cleareth that the Father had by many witnesses testified concerning him, verse 32. Namely: By the testimony of John the Baptist, verse 33. (a witnesse, whom though he produced, not because he needed it, but for their good, verse 34. yet one who was truely eminent, and whose eminencie might condemne their inconstancie, verse 35.) By the works he did, verse 36. By his immediate testimony from heaven, of whom they were ignorant, and looked nothing like his manifestations to them, verse 37, 38. By the testimony of the Scriptures, verse 39. 2. Unto these he subjoynes chalenges for several faults; Namely, for their wilful unbelief in not coming to him, verse 40, (though he sought them not for any need he had of them, verse 41.) for want of the love of God, verse 42. for not embracing him, whereas they would receive a seducer, verse 43. and, for their pride and vain-glory, which causes their unbelief, verse 44. 3. Because of these evils; he warneth them of being accused and judged before the tribunal of God; assuring them that even Moses would be against them, verse 45. Seeing they could not beleeve Moses who wrote of him, since they beleeved not him, verse 46. and it was no wonder they sleighted him, since they beleeved not Moses, verse 47.
In this verse we have a transition, wherein Christ obviates an ordinary objection against the former part of this Apology; to wit, that his testimony of himself could not be authentick, of which also, John 8.13. Christ, by this sentence, doth not grant this as true, for the contrary is asserted, John 8.14. but onely by way of preterition, passeth it, to make way for the following testimonies confirming his testimony of himself, that hee might let them see he had witnesses beside to convince them, though he were silent. Whence learn, 1. In reading of holy Scripture great care is to be had for finding out the true sense thereof, and that we be not drawn away by what it seemes to say at first view, to take up a sense contrary to truth, and other clear Scriptures: And particularly, words spoken by way of objection, or, preterition and giving and not granting, are to be distinguished from affirmations; for, so is this to be understood, if I beare witnesse of my self, my witnesse is not true; to expound it otherwise, were to contradict truth. 2. Albeit that men may lawfully speak that which is true of themselves, when they have Gods call unto it; Yet ordinarily such is the frailty of any who is a meere man, that he is but a bad witnesse in his own cause, being but a liar, and so subject to erre, being readily poisoned with self-love, in what concerneth himself; and, being ready, in what is true, to seek himself; for, upon this truth is this objection grounded, which had some colour if Christ had been only a man. 3. Albeit Christ be of himself the Amen, the faithful and true witnesse, Rev. 3.14. to all that know him; yet for further confirmation of his people, and for conviction of wilful opposers, he is content to deny himself, and produce witnesses to testifie for him; So much doth this preterition, and proceeding to the testimonies, teach us.
