John 7:17–18

Next, because they would not readily credite him, in asserting his doctrine to be of God; Therefore he subjoines two Rules and helps whereby they might be enabled to try doctrine and Teachers. The first whereof is required in the person who would trie doctrine, ver. 17. To wit, that he be a pious man, and one who according to light received, walks in Gods wayes. Such a one hath the promise that he shall be made able to discerne whether his doctrine be divine, or devised by himselfe. The second Rule and help in trial, ver. 18. relates to the person and doctrine to be tried; wherein he asserts, that a man who runs unsent, and preacheth his own inventions, doth in his carriage, and by his doctrine, but seek to exalt himselfe; whereas he, who being sent of God, makes it his scope in his carriage to exalt God only, and the nature of his doctrine tends to that, doth prove that he is a preacher of truth, and that there is no unrighteousnesse nor fraud in his doctrine. For understanding of this, we are to consider, That Christ in giving these rules of trial, doth not seclude other rules and proofes of the truth of his doctrine already given, Chap. 5. and particularly, that of Scripture; For Christ in Scripture makes it elsewhere clear, that good men, in some cases, may be misled with errour, and unrenewed men may know and embrace truth, though not savingly; And on the other hand, erroneous Teachers and doctrines may pretend to be much for God, and may cry out on truth, as denying to God his glory; But Christs meaning is, to shew, That his doctrine being undeniably true, and according to Scripture, it was odious in them to contradict it by wicked rebellion, and to evidence by their opposition, that they were not tender walkers. And that this is so much the more hainous, that they saw his whole carriage, and the nature and scope of his doctrine, tend only to glorifie his Father, and not to advance his own private glory. Doctrine, 1. It is the duty of the Lords people, not to receive Doctrine or Teachers upon trust, but to try and discerne, who are sent of God, and who not, and who speaks true or false doctrine; for, it is here imported, that they should know who are sent, and whether their doctrine be of God, or of themselves. 2. Every man is not a fit discerner of Christs doctrine, but many through their own default, are left destitute of such a mercy; for, so doth the requiring of qualifications, in these who trie, import. 3. Such as truely fear God, and make conscience of known truth in their conversation, have his promise for ability and discerning, to try doctrine; for, so doth the promise expressely hold out, if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, &c. Which we may branch out in these. 1. Such have indeed the promise of discerning, whereas ungodlinesse and loose practices provokes God to withold discerning light. 2. Albeit the Godly may, and many times do erre, and are misled; yet ordinarily, that is but the fruit of some former defection in practice. 3. Mens fleshly humours and passions, in debating and seeking out of truth, while yet their practice is not subjected to the rule, is not the right way to come speed. 4. Such as have no use for truth nor end in searching it out, but only to informe their judgement, or satisfie their curiosity, may readily get leave to go wrong. 5. Such as make conscience of known light in their practice are in Gods way for attaining further light in dubious contraversies. 6. Such as come to hear, with a purpose to examine doctrine by carnal reason, and to like or dislike of it, according as it shall relish or be displeasing to their lusts, will readily reject sound doctrine; But he that cometh with a subjected minde, and fixed resolution to receive and obey, what shall be found to be the will of God, shall get a discerning Spirit, unlesse God have him to humble for some former guilt, of which he hath not yet repented. Doctrine, 4. The great scope of Preachers, and of their doctrine, should be, to deny and abase themselves, and to exalt and seek Gods honour; for, so doth Christ teach, ver. 18. that a teacher should seek his glory that sent him: and so himselfe did in carriage and doctrine. 5. Such as do run unsent, and do broach their own inventions and errours, they certainly affect the praise of men, and hunt after vain-glory, let them pretend to what modesty and humilitie they will; for, he that speaketh of himselfe, seeketh his own glory, the scope of his carriage tendeth to that. And albeit selfe-seekers may be for the truth, and may make use of it, for their own ends; yet they are fitted to go wrong, if they have a tentation, and they will go wrong, before they be not respected; Yea, and God is provoked to give them up to go wrong. 6. As true doctrine doth tend to set forth Gods glory, and to exalt him; So corrupt doctrine, devised by men, doth not aime at Gods glory indeed, whatever it seem to do: for, in this respect also, he that spaketh of himselfe, seeketh his own glory; the nature of his doctrine riseth no higher then his own or another creatures glory; whereas he that is true, or sound in doctrine, seeketh his glory that sent him. That this may appeare, consider. 1. Many corrupt and erroneous doctrines do eminently exalt the creature, in its merit, free-will, liberty to dispose of its actions, &c. to the manifest depriving of God of the glory of grace, dominion, and soveraignty, to the abasing of Christ, and his sufferings, the denial of providence, &c. 2. Many opinions and practices in Religion, though they pretend to, and seem to speak much selfe denial, in these who professe and practice them; yet they never ascend to give glory to God, but to exalt another creature in his roome; Such as that voluntary humility, in worshipping of Angels, Col. 2.18. 3. Though some erroneous opinions get place in the world, and are cried up as exalting God and Christ; Yet he will have no such honour, and it is but a real dishonouring of him, to think that he needs a lie to set out his glory, and to maintain errour under a pretext that otherwise he will want his glory; See Joh. 13.7, 8, 9. 4. As no erroneous opinion doth tend to Gods glory, so no erroneous person doth really minde it in maintaining that errour, but would exalt himselfe under a pretext of humility, and seeks to be accounted and reputed of as somewhat, because of his new opinions. Doctrine, 7. To preach sound doctrine, is great faithfulnesse to God, and to the souls of people, who are taught; whereas the unsound Teacher commits the greatest, and most cruel, of frauds, as being false to God, and to the souls of people, Therefore it is said of the Teacher of sound doctrine, the same is true, and no unrighteousnesse is in him; Not that they are perfect, (though Christ was so, being truth and righteousnesse it selfe) but that being true, he deales righteously, in not having any fraud in his doctrine.