John 6:26

Followeth the sermon it self, preached in the Synagogue of Capernaum, verse 59. wherein, Christ points out the true bread of life unto them, and the excellencie, and way of partaking thereof, with several other passages; upon which, several effects and consequents do follow. This Doctrine is held out by way of conference, because he is oft interrupted by their questions to him, or their grudgings and debates among themselves, upon which more of the Doctrine is brought forth.

I shall take up the parts thereof in this order, 1. Christ discovers and reproves their corrupt ends, in the pains they took, verse 26. and directs them to labour and take paines for better and more spirituall food, verse 27. 2. They seek direct on how to labour, and he points out faith in himself, as the way for attaining this spiritual food, verse 28, 29. 3. They require a signe, before they will beleeve in him as a new teacher, seeing Moses (whose scholars they professe to be) had given them Manna in a miraculous way; verse 30, 31. and Christ, upon occasion of this, sets out the excellency of the bread offered by him, above Manna, verse 32, 33. 4. They professing a great desire after this bread so commended, verse 34. He describes it more plainly to them, verse 35. Discovers their hypocrisie in their desires, verse 36. And sheweth that his Elect would not deal so with him, and should, accordingly, be well entertained and cared for, verse 37.—40. 5. They carp at his doctrine, and that he should so commend himself; whose base original they suppose they knew, verse 41, 42. And he cleareth whence their not beleeving in him did flow, verse 43.—46. and commends himself to be the object of saving faith, and the bread of life, verse 47.48. farre more excellent then Manna, verse 49, 50, 51, — shewing also in what respect he is this bread, even in his flesh, or by reason of his incarnation and suffering, verse — 51. 6. They understanding the last part of his doctrine carnally, verse 52. He doth more seriously inculcate the necessity, and advantage of eating his flesh, or closing with him as God incarnate and crucified, commending yet again this food above Manna, ver. 53,—58. Unto which is subjoyned, a designation of the place where he preached these things unto them, verse 59. 7. Some events and consequents are recorded, which followed on this doctrine and conference; Namely, That many of his disciples do yet carp at this doctrine, verse 60. and he reprehends their stumbling, verse 61. clears and vindicates his doctrine, verse 62, 63. and points out the true cause of their mistakes, verse 64, 65. And, that many of them made apostasie and defection from him, ver. 66. Upon occasion whereof, he confirmes his twelve Apostles, verse 67, 68, 69. and warns them of the unsoundnesse of one among themselves, verse 70, 71.

In the first place, Christ (in this verse) discovers them unto themselves, shewing that notwithstanding all their pains and insinuations with him, yet they were not streight in their ends; nor were they so much as affected with his glory shining in that miracle they had seene; but it was onely the filling of their own bellies that made them so earnest. Whence learn, 1. Christ is neither taken, not will be deceived with fairest shewes of pains, and much respect to him; but will see and discover unsoundnesse, when yet there is much outward appearance to the contrary: Therefore, notwithstanding their pains in following him, and their insinuations, verse 24. he knoweth, and, without being affected with what they did, declareth what they were. And his verdict is to be submitted unto. 2. Christ is so tender, even of hypocrites, that he will not abruptly put them away, but will deal with them: And as their case must be told them before they can know it, so he will discover them unto themselves, and take pains upon them, so long as they will stay with him, and heat; Therefore he doth not abandon them, though carnal, but answered them: and in great compassion discovers their case, that they may not deceive themselves. 3. Albeit it be a most needful thing, that men of double hearts be discovered to themselves, that so way may be made for a cure: Yet it is a very hard task to convince hypocrites, and make them sensible of their condition; Considering that men are naturally blind; that their outward pains may make them appear somewhat in their own eyes; and, that most of such go on, till they be judicially blinded and given up to conceit: Therefore, is this doctrine begun with a double asseveration, Verily, verily, I say unto you, as pointing out the necessity of this doctrine, and withal, how difficult it is for such doctrine to have place. 4. Albeit painfulnesse be commendable, yet the true difference betwixt time-servers and sincere professors is not alwayes to be taken from their outward diligence. But they may be exceeding diligent, who yet are not welcome to Christ, but have a false heart lurking under it: And there may be much unsoundnesse under seeming forwardnesse, as casts it all down: for, here it is granted to them, ye seek me, and that with as much forwardnesse once and again, as could be, and yet they are but naught. See Psalme 78, 34, 35, 36, 37. Isa. 58, 1, 2. 5. Albeit Christ be displeased with the faults of hypocrites seeking of him; Yet he is so tender, that he will approve even of their pains and endeavours, in so far as they are materially good in themselves, though they go about them sinfully: Therefore, he acknowledgeth, ye seek me, and doth not condemne, but yeelds to that, as good in it selfe, if they had done it rightly. 6. Christ, in trying of men, looks not only to their diligence, that for matter it be aggreeable to his will; but chiefly to the ends and principles of men, and their manner of doing that which is right; for, he trieth them thus here, by pointing out wherefore, and for what cause they seek him. 7. As it is a rare thing to see men, who are naturally filled with selfe-love, free of by ends in seeking Christ; So to seek him because of outward advantages, which sometimes accompany him and his way, is the basest and lowest of by ends, and a practice which he exceedingly abhorres; for, this is their byasse here, ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, (of which; ver. 2. and 14) but because ye did eat of the loaves and were filled. To follow him only because of miracles, neglecting his doctrine, were bad enough; but this is yet worse, when only their own belly drew them, and they did not take up his scope in this miracle, which was, to hold forth that he was the true food of souls. 8. Mens hearts are so deceitful, that when they seem to be most taken up with Christs glory in his working, yet they may in reality be only affected with attaining or expecting their own ends; for, though they seemed to be much taken up with the miracle, v. 14, 15. yet Christ declares, that they sought him, not because they saw the miracles, but because they did eat of the loaves. Albeit Christ condescended to conferre bodily benefits upon them by his miracles; yet it was their fault not to see the glory of his Godhead shining in them, nor to look on them as signes confirming his doctrine, that they might beleeve it, but that in the height of their applause, they should only minde their own belly.