John 9:6–7

Christ, having given these reasons why he behoved to cure this man, doth now fall about it, and having made clay with his spettle on the dust, and anointed the mans eyes therewith, he sends him to the pool of Siloam to wash; which he obeying, doth recover his sight. As for this pool, of which also, Nehem. 3.15. it was a fountain springing out from mount Zion, from whence flowed out the brook of Siloah, which watered a part of the City, of which, Isa. 8.6. And as divers allegories are invented by the wit of men on this miracle, (as if his making use of clay in this miracle did point out, that he could cure the man, who had made man at first of clay; and, that his spettle making the clay, did point out the efficacy and vertue that sloweth from Christs humanitie, being now personally united to the Godhead) so, in particular, the signification of the name of this pool, which is, sent, makes men conceive the name was given to it, with an eye to the Messiah, who is Shiloh, Gen 49.10. But as Johns drift in interpreting the name, is only (according to his custome) to make his meaning plain; so the name seemeth to have been given of old, only in testimony that they accounted it a special gift sent of God, to have a fountain or brook among these hills, so commodious for their City: or, because it did slow out not constantly, but now and then, according as God was pleased to send it. Doctrine 1. Christs affection to needy sinners, manifested in his Word, is such as he will give reall proofe of it, according as it is needed; Therefore he contents not himselfe to have said so much of it, ver. 4, 5. but when he had thus spoken, he works the miracle, and will give a present proofe of what he had said. 2. Albeit it be our duty to pray when we are in distresse, yet such is Christs compassion, as to give us what we need, when we have little minde of it, and so cannot pray for it; for, when the man is not minding at all the cure of his disease, but is only sitting there to beg, then Christ conferreth this unexpected benefit upon him. And by this way of dealing, Christ gives ample encouragement to his own to pray in their distresse, being confident that he who prevents prayer, will undoubtedly hear them. 3. When Christ employeth any means for the help of the miserable, yet the power that doth them good is not in these means, but in and from Christ; for, neither could clay heal, nor the pool wash away blindnesse, but that flowed from his omnipotency only. And therefore as we should rest on no means, so neither should we be discouraged in using means appointed by Christ, so long as we have his promise. 4. Christ can bring about wounderful deliverances and mercies to his people, even by means, which seem improbable and contrary to nature; for, clay of it selfe is rather fit to put out seeing eyes, then to open blind eyes. 5. Such as Christ takes in hand, as his patients, he may make them sicker before he cure them, and put them in a worse condition to sense, then they were before; for, so much also doth the application of clay teach, It addeth an external impediment to his natural blindnesse, and yet is all done in order to his cure. And thus it is also in spiritual conditions; the strong man may make greatest trouble when he is to be put out, Luke 11.21, 22. 6. Where Christ doth good to any, he will first try their faith, by their subjection and obedience to his commanded means, before they finde the comfortable issue; for, such is his method here; He first puts him to subject himselfe to have his eyes anointed with clay, and then to go wash in the pool of Siloam, before the cure be wrought. Whatever Christ may do in his soveraignty in grace, yet it is our duty to beleeve, as we would have his power and grace manifested on our behalfe, Marke 9.22, 23. And saiths first work must be subjection and obedience to commanded duties, 2 Kings 5.10.—14. 7. Faith in Christ yeelds prompt obedience, and will repine at no command prescribing the means of help; for, he went his way therefore and washed. And this (no doubt) flowed from faith given him by Christ (who, it may be, hath said more to him then is here recorded) which made him quit the opportunity of getting almes on the Sabbath day, and essay so improbable like a mean. 8. As there is no difficulty too hard for Christ; So there are none who, trusting in him, shall obey and follow his prescribed means, but they shall obtain a good, and the promised issue, were it never so improbable; for, he went and washed, and came seeing. 9. If we compare Christs method in this cure with that which he followeth in curing another blind man, Mark. 8.22, 23, 24, 25. wherein he opens a mans eyes by degrees, and here it is done at the first act; If, I say, we compare these, we will not only finde this difference; that whereas Christ abode with the one, therefore he did it by degrees; but sending this man away, and leaving him, upon the first act of his faith and obedience, he is cured; As indeed, Christ orders his dispensations according to the need of them he deals with: Such as he is to stay with in some visible and sensible way, he may give them more work about the curing of their diseases, that so they may employ him more: Whereas such as he is to withdraw from, may get their businesse more easily done. But further, It will be found that this is common to both, that being to meet with so great a mercy, as to be cured of blindnesse; it is not wrought at first on either; but the one, with whom he stayeth, is cured upon Christs putting his hands twice upon his eyes, and this man hath a time of it, in going from before the Temple to the pool, before he be cured: Not only that many going with him, and observing him, they might be witnesses of the miracle, but also that himselfe might have time to be prepared for such a wounderful and unexpected change. And so it teacheth, That great and unexpected mercies need much preparation to sit us for them, as well as crosses; that so we may be armed with strength to bear them, and with grace to emprove them well.