John 7:30

Before John proceed to the third effect that followed on this first appearing of Christ, in the middayes of the feast; he inserts two consequents that followed on the former debate. The first is, that these enraged men, being galled with Christs former discourse, would have taken him by violence, but providence did restrain them, because his time to suffer was not yet come, Whence learn, 1. The more that malicious men are dealt with and convinced, the further will they be from any good, and the more exasperat. As here we see in these men, who raged before and now are quite mad in their fury. 2. Violence and persecution against the persons of faithful teachers, is an evidence of men that maliciously oppose truth, and the lot which is to be expected from such; for, they (whom Christ asserts to have sinned against their light, verse 28, 29) sought to take him, that they might kill him, or deliver him up to their Rulers. 3. It is the prerogative of God, that to him belong the issues from death, and that he can preserve his servants in the midst of their enemies, even when they are in the height of their rage; for, but no man laid bands on him. 4. God needs no means to preserve his servants, but can secure them as well by an invisible hand of providence, as if they had all visible helps in the world; for, so did he give proofe to his Sonne here. 5. Many a good turne are men made to do, and to omit many evil, for which they will never be rewarded as service; As being not done or omitted from any principle of grace, but from an hand of providence restraining them; Therefore, it is marked that no man laid hands on him, not from any remorse or honesty in them, but from Gods providence about Christ, because his hour was not yet come. 6. Albeit Christs followers may expect, that at last the Lord, for wise reasons, will not let the malice of men cease, till they be brought to suffering; Yet the time thereof is in Gods hand, and not in the power of bloody men; And they may boldly go on in their lawful calling, beleeving that enemies will not anticipat his time; for this reason of not taking him, because his hour was not yet come, imports; that he was indeed to suffer; that God had the timeing of that in his own hand; and that till his time came, all their malice could not availe.