John 7:47–49

The Pharisees, who were ill pleased with their returning without their earand, are more nettled with their reason, and do upbraid them that they should suffer themselves to be deceived, who were their own attenders, when yet none of the Grandees or learned Rabbi’s had closed with Christ, only an accursed crew (as they esteeme them) of ignorant people doated on him. Whence learn, 1. It is an old, but injust, imputation, to account such as embrace Christ and his truth, deluded; for, so do they reckon here, are ye deceived? 2. Christ when he pleaseth, can adde to the vexation of persecutors, by bringing the knowledge of the truth which they persecute in others, in among their own confident creatures, and making them respect it whom they would least suspect of any; for, they are now put to it, to apprehend that Christ is coming in among their own followers, and that they are also deceived. 3. When corrupt men are never so much convinced, yet all that will but contribute to encrease their rage, and their opposition to truth; for, albeit it might have pleaded much for Christ among them, that their very creatures are affected with his doctrine; Yet all that followeth thereupon, is their greater eagernesse to bear him down. 4. Such as expresse any respect to Christ and his truth in evil times, may expect much allurement and insinuation from Satan, to draw them back, and that enraged persecutors will cover their fury with enchantments, to see if they can prevaile; for, these words, are ye also deceived, although spoken in anger, yet do not tend expresly to cry them down who had said somewhat on Christs behalfe, but to insinuate with them, that they should quit that course, alledging not only that they were deceived, but that, however the multitude went wrong, yet they expected better things of them who were their ordinary followers. 5. Such as will not stoop to Christ nor respect the honour of being his servants, are justly left to stoop to their own servants, to intreat for their countenance in their wrong course; Therefore these eminent Rulers must thus insinuate and flatter their base officers, that they may not want a back in their course. 6. It is nothing strange to see eminent men, for authoritie and parts, so puffed up with their own grandour, and with a conceit of their own learning and knowledge, that they will not stoop to Christ, nor embrace him; for, they confesse that not any of the Rulers (or Governours of the Jewes) or of the Pharisees (their eminent sect, though not all of them Rulers) have beleeved on him. 7. It is an old engine of Satan, to keep men from Christ, by reason of the opposition made unto him by eminent and able Churchmen; for, this is the reason whereby they think to disswade them, Have any of the Rulers, or of the Pharisees beleeved on him? But this will prove a weak argument to them who have learned to call no man Rabbi. 8. To live ignorant of God, especially in a visible Church, is in effect a cursed condition; for, this general is of truth, the people who knoweth not the Law, are cursed, though it be ill applied here. 9. It is an ordinary device of Satan, to deterre men from embracing the truth, by branding them with odious and injust imputations who do follow it; for, this they urge as another strong argument, But this people who know not the Law, are cursed, speaking contemptibly of them as a base, ignorant and cursed crew. Whereas not only is it high presumption in Church Rulers, thus to undervalue Gods heritage in respect of themselves; but if all this had been true, yet it was unjust for them to lay all the blame upon the people, when themselves were they who kept the people in ignorance. But it was most injust, thus to traduce the followers of Christ, who by seeking to the fountain of blessednesse, and embracing the promised Messiah, did prove their knowledge and blessednesse; whereas they themselves were in effect blinde (many of them, by malicious shutting of their eyes) and cursed.