John 9:30–33

In these verses, the man gives a solid answer to their frivolous cavil; He passes what they had spoken against himself, and doth not labour to diminish Moses due esteeme; but onely replies to what they had excepted against Christ. And 1. He propounds his reply by way of admiration, that Christ having wrought such a miracle on him, yet they should be ignorant of his authority, verse 30. 2. He proceeds, by solid argument, to evince that his working this miracle proved he was of God. Wherin 1. He layeth down a general proposition; that no grosse sinners, but onely such as did worship God and obey him, would be heard or obtain things at Gods hand, verse 31. 2. He subsumes in particular, that Christ behoved to be heard of God, having wrought so great a miracle, and so singular, that none of the Prophets, nay, nor Moses, of whom they boasted, did ever the like verse 32. 3. From this he concludes, that certainly Christ was not a wicked sinner, but of God, seeing if it were not so, he could not do any thing of that kinde, verse 33. For clearing this argument, Consider, 1. We need not be curious to evince the truth of this assertion, That Christ his miracles proved his divine authority, however Impostors and Deceivers may also work wonders; For, the greatnesse of his works, and the way of doing them, were so convincing, that even enemies themselves could not deny it, when they spake their real thoughts, verse 16. John 3.2. nor could the greatest enemies contradict it, unlesse they maliciously sinned against the Holy Ghost, as Matth. 12.24, 31. 2. while he supposeth that Christ prayed to God that he might work this miracle; we are not to conceive that he undestood who Christ was, or that it was his way to pray to the Father in the state of humiliation, John 11.41, 41. But he onely looks on him as meere man; and therefore he doth so commend the instrument, as he exalts the power of God in what he did. 3. While he proves Christ to be heard, because he wrought this miracle, the meaning is not to prove that all that are not heard in an extraordinary way, are sinners; But this holds onely good in them who pretend to extraordinary callings, that they must prove it by some wonders; and doth also argue, that none who are so heard, are sinners. 4. Taking this Assertion generally, God heareth not sinners; it is not to be understood that even the grossest of sinners may not come to God to have their sins pardoned and removed, and expect to be accepted and heard through Christ; But the meaning is, that they cannot be heard in other things, while they purpose to continue in their sins. 5. It is also to be considered, that in some respect God may hear even grosse sinners, so far as to give them many temporal favours, to their greater condemnation in end; as witnesse his answer to Ahabs hypocritical repentance, 1 Kings 21.27, 28, 29. Yet this that is asserted here doth also hold good, not onely because whatever God do for wicked men, yet he hates both their persons and their prayers; or, because whatever God do for the wicked at some times, yet the perpetual assistance and favour of God, accompanying Christ in all his life and actions, did prove that he was none of these. But seeing the man (as appears) knew not so much of Christ, nor doth he insist on any other proof, but this one miracle: Therefore the very nature of this miracle, whereof the like was never done by any, did prove that he was of God. For however many miracles were wrought by Prophets before him, yet some sort of miracles were reserved to be done by him, to evidence that he was the Messiah. The words being thus cleared in reference to the present scope, from verse 30. Learn, 1. Most learned men will grow blinde and absurd, when they oppose themselves against Christ and his truth; for so doth this man finde these Pharisees to be. 2. Christ may give his weakest friends so much sound knowledge of him, as will make them wonder at the blindnesse and absurdity of persecutors; for, saith he, herein is a marvelous thing that ye know not whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 3. Such as are truly affected with Christs dealing, will wonder, and be ill pleased, that every one will not see as much in it as they do; for, he wonders, and takes it ill, that they are not so affected with the miracle, and with Christ the author of it, as he was.

From verse 31. Learn, 1. Christs weak followers will not want a mouth, and wisdome, and courage, to plead his cause, and confound their adversaries, in a day of trial; for, this poor beggar is enabled, solidly to reason against the Rulers, to their confusion. 2. The generality of the visible Church want not common and received principles, which being well emproven, might refute them in their many particular miscarriages; Therefore doth he bring in a received principle, to refute them in this particular, we know that God heareth not sinners, &c. and therefore Christ cannot be a sinner. 3. Such as would be approven of God, ought to be devoted unto him, to worship and call on him, and employ him in all things; that so they may come speed in particular exigents; for, here it is required that a man be a worshipper of God, and this makes way for his being heard in particular cases, such as this in debate was. 4. It is not enough to prove men religious, or approven of God, that they keep up a forme of worshipping God, unlesse they walke tenderly in obedience to Gods will, that so they may come speed in prayer; and do emprove grace as it is received, to enable them yet to more obedience: for, to be a worshipper of God, and do his will, must go together. 5. Albeit no meere man be free of sin in this life; Yet such as sincerely worship God, and make conscience of obedience, do give evidence that they have fled to Christ for justification, and have attained to some victory over sin: and so are not sinners, or living in a state of sinne, in Christs account; for, here, to be a sinner, and to worship God and do his will, are opposed each to other. 6. They only who thus worship God, and are not sinners, will finde accesse to God in their prayers, and get answers to what they ask according to his will; for, God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doth his will, him he heareth, that is, they who have extraordinary callings, will come speed in extraordinary things, and others will come speed in their lawful desires, according to the tenour of Gods promises to hear his peoples prayers. It is one special mean to clear men in the matter of their personal approbation and acceptance with God, when they employ God much in prayer, and so come to finde acceptance and audience from him: for, by Gods hearing a man, he cometh to gather that he is not a sinner, but a worshipper of God, and doer of his will.

From verse 32, 33. Learn, 1. Christ had many publike evidences, to witnesse for him, that he was accepted and heard of God, in the discharge of his office; for, so doth he subsume, that Christ by this miracle had proven it. 2. Christ is omnipotent to do that which never hath been done before; And when any come to him with a distresse that never any had experience of the like, he can help them for all that, and make his dealing to them an experience to others, inviting them to emply him thereafter; for, since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was borne blind. I need not debate whether ever such a cure as that was wrought before, (whereof yet we read not in Scripture) nor whether other miracles, formerly wrought, may be paralleld with it. For (beside that Christ wrought it by his own proper power, not as the Prophets wrought miracles, though the man knew not this) it was certainly a singular and great miracle; and whatever may be supposed of the mans mistake; yet the general truth holds good. And the man, in commending it thus, doth evidence that he looks on Gods mercy in granting it to him, as singular, which is far from their practice, who undervalue the favours conferred upon themselves, in comparison of what is done to others. 3. Whatever wonders Satan and his instruments may be permitted to work, to draw men from the truth; Yet Christs miracles were such, as did clearly evidence he could never have wrought them, unlesse he had been approven and sent of God, for, if this man were not of God, he could do nothing, to wit, such as this work is.