John 5:8–9

Followeth the miracle it self, wrought by Christs power, and at his command, making the sick man arise, and carry his own bed, and walk. To this is added a more particular description of the time of this miracle, that it was on the Sabbath; which occasioned the following controversie and debate. Doctrine 1. Such is Christs goodnesse and pity towards his afflicted people, as to prevent their hopes and prayers, with doing great things for them in their need; for, Christ cureth the man who neither asked it from Christ, nor dreamed he would do it. See. Eph. 3.20. 2. All Christs dealing with his own in distresse, endeth in healing of them at last, how little soever it seeme to promise; for, so doth his conference with this man. 3. Christ is not tied to means, ordinary, or extraordinary, but can work without both when he pleaseth; and by his word of command can do greatest things, and cure most desperate diseases; and not onely command, but work that which he commands, and by his word conveigh vertue and efficacie, and give strength to obey; for, he doth not take the man to the pool, but by his word cureth him. 4. Albeit in trouble, all means and probabilitie should saile us, yet their case is never desperate, who have Christ to go unto; So much also doth this instance teach us: Yea, singular afflictions, and disappointments under them, may end in a more eminent and singular way of deliverance, as this man found: And, long delay in waiting on in the use of means, may be made up with a speedy compleating of the delivery when Christ begins; for in an instant the man is made whole. 5. Christs miracles and wonderful works upon, and for the afflicted, are so reall and through, as will make them speak for themselves, and they should be observed by all; for, this command, rise, take up thy bed, and walk, which he obeyed, importeth that this cure was a through cure, and that he would have the man satisfied about it, and all to remark it. 6. As Christ doth his great works, that his glory may be manifested, and not buried; so a work appointed by him for setting forth of his glory, may, and should be set about, and that without any violation of the Sabbath; Therefore, he not onely commands him, take up thy bed and walk, that the miracle might be published, but alloweth it to be done on the Sabbath, not onely because he was Lord of the Sabbath, and so might dispence with the observation of it, but because this was no servile work enjoyned for a worldly end and commodity, but a mean appointed by himself for setting out his glory, and so was subservient to the great end of the Sabbath. 7. Such things, within the compasse of our calling, as tend to the setting forth of Christs glory, are to be set about, with a single eye and heart, albeit we knew others should stumble and carp; for, so did Christ in his station, he stood not on the Jewes stumbling in commending this to be done on the Sabbath, as minding hereby to hold out his own glory in the miracle, and in the following dispute.