George Hutcheson
18 But the Jewes did not beleeve concerning him, that he had been blinde, and received his sight, untill they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your sonne, who ye say was borne blinde? how then doth he now see?
The third particular in their proceedings, is, their examination of the mans parents: When they can gain no ground of himselfe, they will not beleeve that he had been born blinde, and therefore try his parents if they own him for their sonne, and if he was borne blinde, and how he now recovered his sight; if so be they might, possibly, bring out somewhat to obscure the glory of this miracle. Whence learn, 1. It is the practice of corrupt Church-men, to appropriate to themselves the priviledges and titles of the people of God, as if none were worthy of these but themselves: Therefore, it seems, the Pharisees, and council are called the Jewes, because they called themselves so, though it was a name common to all the nation: Because not only were they of that nation, but they usurped it as only due to them, while as they have a low esteem of the people, Chap. 7. 49. 2. Persecutors are incessant in their malice, and endeavours to smother the glory of Christs clearest working; for, so do they labour to get it denyed that ever such a miracle was wrought; and do expect that possibly his parents, through fear, may deny that he was borne blinde. 3. When men are led by malice against Christ and his truth, they will be so impudent, as not to give credit even to what they see, for, they did not beleeve concerning him, that he had been blinde, and received his sight, though they were already convinced of it, and had condemned Christ for curing of him, verse 16. 4. In a time of tryal, not only they who are most eminently concerned and engaged, but even others, may be brought upon the stage; for, not only the man, but his parents, are here brought out to give a confession, they did not beleeve, untill they called the Parents, &c. 5. Persecutors are very subtile and politick, and know how to make use of all advantages, and tempers and interests of men, to bear down Christ and his truth; for, so doth appear here. They purpose to obscure and bear down the glory of this miracle, and finding the man so affected, as they could not draw him to comply with them, they essay his parents, if possibly they, being lesse concerned and affected then the man, might be moved and tempted to deny somewhat of the truth. 6. It is the palme of persecutors, to confound simple men with multiplicity of questions, and to dash them with their own prejudged thoughts upon the matter; Therefore do they pose them with three questions at once, and do in their questions insinuate what they were inclined to beleeve, ye say he was borne blinde, but we do not credite it.
