John 9:26–27

Seeing he will neither deny the miracle, not yet have evil thoughts of Christ, they give him a second assault, and pose him concerning the manner and way of his cure, if so be they might out-weary him, or make him contradict, and so invalidate his own testimony, verse 26. But he being encouraged by the Spirit, and perceiving their drift, doth answer them roundly, chalenging them that he had told them before, to little purpose; and, in derision, enquires for what end they were so careful to hear it? if they had a minde to become converts? which imports that he knew they would not give up their names to Christ, let him repeat it never so often. Whence learn, 1. Persecutors are importunate and incessant in their endeavours to pervert such as confesse Christ, and to get advantage against them; for, this repeated question doth import, not onely that this poor man put them to great puzzles, driving them to question him so passionately; but that they would not give over their endeavours, to make him faint, or entrap him. 2. The obstinate continuance of persecutors, in their incessant trying of weak Professors, is a sifting exercise, which is apt to prevaile with them who might endure one assault well enough; for, they look on this course of holding him at it, as a mean to prevaile at last; and that however they prevailed not at first, yet when he saw they were not wearied, nor minded to give it over, he might be broken. 3. The manner and way of working any good work, is a special way to try, whether the doer of it be approven or not: Therefore do they so much insist on that, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? If possible they might gather some ground of chalenging Christ; as working the miracle in an unlawful way. 4. Albeit persecutors be politick, and confessors of truth oft-times weak and simple; Yet the Lord cannot onely give them courage, but wisdome also to discern the drift of persecutors; for so doth this man insinuate that he knew it was for little good they were so inquisitive. 5. It becomes the people of God well, when they perceive men dallying with truth, and Christs working, to put on an holy indignation and zeal; for, so doth he here with these Pharisees, who are so inquisitive to know the way of the miracle, when they minde to make no right use of it. 6. It is the duty of friends to truth, not to foster up enemies, with answering their needlesse questions, propounded onely out of malice; for, saith he, I have told you already, and ye did not hear, or, beleeve, or liked not of it, wherefore would you hear it again? Since it is just the same it was. 7. They who were in esteeme above others, do, by their malicious opposing of Christ, become justly contemptible to the basest, and may lawfully be touched in the sore, by the avowers of truth; for, here they are so absurd, that he who had been a blinde beggar, doth taunt them to their faces, and lets them know how he saw into their malicious disposition. 8. Albeit sinners be invited to hear what God saith, or what is reported of his doings; Yet he will not be sleighted by any: And such as, out of malice, will not give credit to what they hear, it is just they be denied further information, and that pearles be not cast before such swine: for, so is imported here, I have told you already and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? 9. The right fruit of all we hear of Christ, is, to gain our consent to be disciples and followers unto him; and they who will not yeeld to that, it is just they get no more of his minde revealed unto them; for, so is imported in this reasoning, wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also (among the rest) be his disciples? For, it implieth, that since they had no purpose to become scholars unto Christ, there was no reason that his glorious works should be so much revealed to them.