John 7:40–44

In these verses, we have the effects of this Sermon among the hearers, some are so affected with it, that they acknowledge him to be that great Prophet promised to Israel, Deut. 18.18. whom they understood to be another then the Messiah; Others do confesse him to be the Christ; but others oppose against that, that he (as they supposed came out of Galilee, whereas according to the Scriptures, the Messiah was to come out of Bethlehem; And upon this diversitie of opinions, there ariseth a schisme and division among them: But there are some so violent, that they will dispute none but with their hands, and yet are impeded. Doctrine, 1. Christs doctrine will not want effects among hearers, but will either gain ground upon them, or put them to disquiet, debate, and vexation. As here we see. 2. Schisme and division is an ordinary consequent that followes upon the preaching of the Gospel; Not through the Gospels fault, but by reason of the divers tempers of men, unto whom it is preached; for, there was a division among the people because of him. 3. Diversity of opinions in matters of Religion, is a mean and occasion of divisions and rentings among a people; for, it was upon their different apprehensions concerning him, that this division arose among the people. 4. Mens ignorance, or not right understanding or taking up of the truth, and one of another, may breed division, whereas otherwise there would be an agreement; for, they who said, of a truth this is the Prophet, and they who said, this is the Christ, did in effect agree; for he is a Prophet, and that is one of his offices as Messiah, to be that great Prophet of whom Moses spake, Deut. 18. And yet their own mistakes, in conceiving that these two were different, bred a division betwixt them. 5. Men may be much affected with Christ and his excellency, who yet come far short of the truth of what is in him, and who do not come to him as a Saviour; for, when they are affected with him as a Prophet, yet they come far short, and do not see him to be the Christ. 6. As for these who acknowledged him to be the Christ, we may either conceive that they did but see him to be so, but yet made no use of him; As indeed, the conviction of many doth produce but small, or no effects: Or, that they were indeed sincere, and yet no more mention is made of them; For the Lord seeth it sitting, oft-times, to bury the memory of many of his dear children in silence, who yet are no lesse honest then these who are more famous. Thus albeit the Lord did choose Matthias, Act. 1.23, 26. and that rather then Joseph, whom it seems the Apostles preferred to him, and therefore mention him first; Yet it pleased him never to registrate a word more of him. And by this he would teach, That to be famous, and in an account in the world, or noted among professours, is not the great businesse in Religion, nor that which the truely sincere will make much account of. 7. Mistakes and ignorance are a great impediment, to the successe of the Gospel; This appears not only in them who mistooke the prediction concerning the Prophet, as if he were to be another then the Messiah; But in these also (either the same or other persons) who being indeed acquainted with the Scriptures which make mention of Christs linage, and the place of his birth, are yet ignorant of the truth about Christs nativity, supposing that he was of Galilee, because he was educate and resided most there: Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the Scripture said that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was, which indeed was true in it selfe, and true of Christ, Matth. 2.1. though they were ignorant and mistook him. 8. Men are oft-times exceeding guilty in the matter of their own ignorance, because they do so affect it, and do not search for knowledge, but rather delight to have somewhat to cavil at; for, such was their way here; as they knew from Scripture where Christ should be borne, so they might easily have been cleared of their doubt, if they had enquired at himself, his mother, or disciples, but they desire to cavil and shew their wit against him, 9. There are some men so brutish in their violence against Christ, that his fairest offers, and his respect among others, do but set them on edge against him; for, after this sweet preaching, and after that some were affected, some of them would have taken him. 10. The Lord, in his wise providence, doth so order, that many who are very eager to wrong Christ and his followers, shall yet want power to do it; for, but no man laid hands on him, which followed not from any natural conscience or reverence in them toward him, but from the overruling and restraining power of God.