John 9:24

Followeth the fourth particular in their proceedings, to verse 35. which is their conferring of new with the man himselfe, wherein he endures several assaults from them, and doth answer them so, as at last they excommunicate him. The first assault is in this verse; wherein, having called him in again, they deal with him in an insinuating way. And, 1. They exhort him to give God praise; whereby I do not understand so much, that they supposing the miracle was wrought, would exhort him to take no notice of Christ in it, whom they knew (as it is afterward) to be a sinner and wicked man, but to give God all the glory of it. But comparing this speech with Joshuahs exhortation to Achan, Josh. 7.19. we will finde this to be their meaning, They would have him to glorifie God by a free confession of the truth, that either he was never blinde, or that Christ cured him not, but he had been dissembling or colluding with Christ in the matter. 2. To presse him to this, they hold out their own thoughts of Christ, that they knew him to be a sinner, and would never beleeve that he could cure him, say what he listed. Whence learn, 1. Whatever be the malicious designes of enemies, or the weaknesse of these who are called to make confession of the truth; Yet the Lord can keep his own glory from suffering prejudice, and enemies from getting advantage: for, so did it prove here. Albeit the Rulers thought to have gained much by putting his parents to it, and they did indeed come short in their duty; Yet the matter is so ordered, as they gain no ground against Christ, and are put to essay other means. 2. Such as receive most eminent favours at Christs hand, must look to share in trials beyond others; for, albeit his parents get one assault, as having shared in the favour conferred on their sonne; yet his share being much more in the mercy, his trials are oftner renewed, Then againe called they the man that was blinde. He behoved to get a trial according to the measure of mercy received; and withall, the Lord would breed him in this first School, till he came to be sitted for a new proofe of Christ, and till the persecutors get a greater dash by him; as the issue made clear. 3. Among other trials from persecutors, this is one, that they will smoothly insinuate with such as confesse Christ, if so be they may pervert them by that means; for, here they lay aside all harshnesse, and speak him faire. 4. It is no strange thing, to see men pretend to aime at nothing but the honour of God, when yet they are maliciously opposing Christ, his glory and truth; And this is one of persecutors policies, whereby they labour to ensnare the simple: Therefore they pretend that, in all this, they aime at nothing but that he would give God the praise. 5. The confession of the truth of any thing, whereof men are guilty, is indeed an honouring of God; when they are called to it; not onely in so far as it glorifieth his justice in what he shall inflict for it, but in so far also as it giveth him the glory of knowing what is secret, and of being a punisher of lying and dissimulation: Therefore do they urge him to a confession in these termes, give God the praise. 6. Such is the perversity of Christs enemies, that they will not onely load him with unjust calumnies, but will obtrude their judgment and opinion (if they be men in power) upon others, to pre-judge them in their free confession; Therefore, albeit they require a free confession, yet they pre-limit him, by obtruding their opinion, as infallible, upon him, we know that this man is a sinner, that is, albeit thou be deluded so far as to think him a Prophet, yet we, who have both authority and skill to judge, do certainly know he is a wicked sinner. 7. It is the malicious cruelty of persecutors, that they impudently brand Christ and his followers with calumnies, and yet will never give them a fair hearing, nor make them out upon them; for, albeit Christ had put them to it, to convince him of sin, chap. 8. 46. yet they would never do that, and yet they will not give over to traduce him, we know that this man is a sinner.