John 7:50–51

While they are thinking to reclaime their Officers, a new confusion ariseth among them, and they are refuted in their proud brag concerning the unanimitie of their Rulers, by Gods stirring up of Nicodemus, who though he do not yet openly avow Christ, yet he pleads that he might have fair justice, and that they who taxe the people of ignorance of the Law, would not manifest their own ignorance, in condemning him unheard, and before they examined narrowly what he had done. Whence learn, 1. Christ, when he pleaseth, can give persecutors more work then they can overtake, and raise up so many witnesses for himselfe, that they will hardly know how to refute them all; for, before they have done with the officers, Nicodemus gives a new testimony. 2. God can turn persecutors loose, even where they think they are surest, and raise difference of judgement, even where they blesse themselves in their unitie; for, they use it as a strong argument to their followers, ver. 48. that the Rulers are all against Christ, and now they are refuted by Nicodemus a Ruler. 3. Such as are but infirme and weak, may yet get courage in a time of need, to speak for Christ; And albeit true faith may lie long lurking, when it is beset with the centation of a great place; Yet Christ can draw it out when he needs it; for, Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night, (Chap. 3. 1, 2.) dare now say some-what in Council for him; and albeit yet he do not openly avow him, but only pleads for that which is due to the greatest malefactour; yet it is taken by them as a testimony to Christ, and afterward we will finde him appear better. Christ will not want witnesses, so long as there is a timorous Nicodemus, a politick Gamaliel, yea, or an Ethnick Pilate, to employ. 4. Albeit the hazard of ill company be but too discernably, in many who converse with them; and albeit where the Lord gives a calling, the overcoming of that one difficulty of departing from respect and accommodations, would prevent many tentations that follow on staying; Yet it is not the will of God, that men abandon a lawful station, because of the corruptnesse of these who are employed with them in it; Nor yet that they should quit their station in a Church judicatory, so long as that Church hath not received a bill of divorce, and the judicatory is in it selfe Gods ordinance, and the members, such officers as are warranted by the word to be there, and not of mens devising, however they be corrupt; Therefore, it is marked of Nicodemus, without any blemish, that he was one of them, and now in Council with them. For this Council was Gods ancient Ordinance, and the Church of the Jewes was yet a true Church, and the Rulers, how corrupt soever, were men in lawful Ecclesiastical office. And elsewhere, it is not beleeving Rulers fault, that they were Rulers, but that they wronged Christ by their silence in their station. See Joh. 12.42. 5. It is the lot of Christ and his followers, to meet with much partiality and foule play in the world, so that they will not be allowed the faire justice that is not denyed even to malefactours; for, so doth Nicodemus his Apology import, that they would judge him before they hear him, and know what he doth, which is not only contrary to the Word, but to all equity in any procedure, which requireth that Judges should hear parties, and be clearly satisfied in matter of fact, before they proceed to sentence. See Exod. 23.1. Lev. 19.15. Deut. 17.4. 6. Men may very readily fall in that fault which they will soon discerne in others; And they who taxe others of ignorance, may give proofe of much ignorance themselves; especially when they are blinded with passion; for, whereas they condemned the people as ignorant, ver. 49. Nicodemus findeth their practice lesse aggreeable to the law, doth our law (given to us the Jewes, and of the knowledge whereof we the Rulers do glory) judge a man before it hear him, &c?