John 8:56

Secondly, Christ answers in particular to the ground of their exception; and, comparing himselfe with Abraham (who was greatest, in their account, of any of the Prophets, they mentioned with him, and indeed was the father of the faithful) he proves that he was greater then he. For Abraham knowing of him, the true Messiah, to come of his seed, did earnestly desire to see that day, and did get a sight thereof by faith to his joy and contentment. And by this he proves that Abrahams joy and comfort depended on him, and that he lived by faith in his words and the promises concerning him, according to that, ver. 51. And on the other hand, he proves by this, that they were not Abrahams true children, who rejoyced not in him, and in the day of the Gospel. Doctrine 1. Christ will make use of wicked mens boasted of priviledges, to aggreage their faults, therefore doth he designe him, your Father Abraham, to wit, according to the flesh, that they might see how far they were degenerate from him in manners. 2. The time of the Gospel is not only a day, in respect of the dark ignorance in which the world lies without it; But it is Christs day by way of excellency. For albeit the Gospel and Christ were known and embraced before, yet that treasure was but couched, for most part, under dark types, and seen at a great distance, and sinne and the law and the curse did bear much sway: But now free-grace doth eminently reigne and shine, and Christ in his own person did appear on earth in our nature, to publish these gladtydings more clearly; Therefore doth he call it my day. 3. Men were not saved before Christs incarnation, by any thing beside Christ; but as Christ and the Covenant of grace were known then, so men were made participant of him and his benefits by faith; for, so is clear in the matter of Abraham, to whom it is supposed Christ was known, not only as God, but as Mediatour to be incarnate, otherwise he could not have desired a sight of him, and it is expressely asserted, that he saw his day, and was glad. 4. Such as indeed have heard tell of Christ, their knowledge will produce earnest desires after him; and such as prize Christ and salvation by him, will look upon the time of the Gospel, and his incarnation, as a very sweet sight; for, Abraham hearing tell of it, he rejoyced to see my day, to wit, of my coming in the flesh, as Luke 10.24. and this rejoycing presupposeth and includes an earnest desire. 5. Even the best of men stand in need of Christ, and according as they grow in real goodnesse, their desires after him will grow; for, so even Abraham, that eminent Saint, rejoyced to see my day. 6. The spiritual desires of Gods people may be, and (when they are well managed) are full of joy; begotten partly, by the estimation of what they desire, seasoned with hope that they shall come speed in some measure; and partly, by what they do really enjoy who are sincerely desiring and pursuing, their very hunger proves a blessednesse, and that they do possesse in part. Therefore it is said that Abraham rejoyced, or, skipped for joy, to see my day. His heart was warmed with the thoughts of it even in desiring it. 7. The sincere desires of Gods people will not be frustrate, nor will a sincere and cheerful pursuer be disappointed, in Gods way and measure; for, he rejoyced to see, and he saw, not with bodily eyes, Luk. 10.24. but by faith, Heb. 11.13. 8. The Lord, for wise reasons, may suspend the satisfying the desires of his people all their dayes in their way; and yet in effect be granting them in a way that is as good for them; for, albeit Abraham saw not this day with bodily eyes, in its full accomplishment, yet for all that he saw it: The Lord indeed suspended the exhibition of Christ in the flesh, till long after Abraham; because it would have crossed his purpose of reserving that to the fulnesse of time, to have done otherwise; (and Saints must stoop to quit their will, when it doth not consist with Gods great purposes concerning his Chruch:) Yet Abraham got that which was far better then a simple bodily sight. For albeit believers and the Disciples in that time had a double advantage, of getting both a bodily and spiritual sight; yet a spiritual sight of him, either in the word of promise, before he came, or in the word of performance, since his exhibition, is far beyond a bodily sight of him, which avails, not without this, as was seen in the most part of them who saw and heard him. 9. The desires of the godly, which slow from faith, are well satisfied, when they get more ground and encouragement yet to believe, and depend and wait on; for, Abraham behoved to believe before he could desire, and now his desires are satisfied with seeing more by faith. 10. Faith will see far off, and through many impediments, and will draw comfort from what is not only invisible at present, but not to come for a long time; for, at that great distance, and through all these types, he saw my day and was glad. 11. A sight of Christ by faith, though at never so great a distance, and under many vails, will bring true peace and joy, and will satisfie a believer, however he desire often much more; for, he saw it and was glad. He was content of that, though his desire was after more, and it did indeed bring true joy unto him, and made him (with the rest of the Patriarchs) confesse they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth, Heb. 11.13. I need not here curiously enquire, why it is said that in desiring he rejoyced, or, skipped for joy, and in getting that sight, he was only glad. It may be conceived thus, that joy might be more solide, and make lesse noise, when men have greatest cause of joy, and particularly in enjoyment; or his rejoycing points at that more satisfactory measure of joy that he apprehended would be in seeing Christ incarnate, and with bodily eyes, as well as by faith, and his being glad, points at the measure of joy he attained to in the sight he got, the other being reserved till he came to his rest.