John 7

4. If you would have the teachings of Christ, walk according to that knowledge which you have already. Use your little knowledge well, and Christ will teach you more (John 7:17). If any man will do his will, he shall know of my doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak…

Such as speak of the philosopher's stone suppose it to have such a property that when it touches the metal, it turns it into gold; such a property has the Spirit of God upon the soul — when it touches the soul, it puts into it a divine nature, it makes it to be holy, and to rese…

He who dwells in a house keeps the house in repair; the Spirit dwelling in a believer keeps grace in repair. Grace is compared to a river of the water of life (John 7:38). This river can never be dried up, because God's Spirit is a spring which continually feeds it.

If a man were sick, they thought on this day they might not use means for his recovery. Christ charges them with this, that they were angry that he had wrought a cure on the Sabbath (John 7:23). If a house were on fire, the Jews thought they might not bring water to quench it.

As the apostle says of the law, so I say of your former title: it is not destroyed but established rather by this. And as Christ says in John 7:17, 'If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it is of God' — so often the best way to know the truth is not…

To all such Christ has made most sweet and comfortable promises, which can appertain to none but to the elect. John 7:37: If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink: he that believes in me, as says the scripture, out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life. Revelati…

Secondly God in making promise of salvation respects not men's worthiness. For he chose us to life everlasting when we were not: he redeemed us from death being enemies: and entitles us to the promise of salvation, if we acknowledge ourselves to be sinners (Matthew 9); if we lab…

If you continue in my word (says Christ, John 8:31-32), then are you my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. And (John 7:17), if any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I speak of mysel…

I rather believe the Holy Ghost, Ho, every one that thirsts, come to the water, come buy wine and milk without money and without price (Isaiah 55:1). And if any man thirst, let him come to me and drink (John 7:37). And whoever will, let him take of the water of life freely (Reve…

(John 5:24) Verily, verily, I say to you, he that hears my word, and believes in him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death to life. (John 7:37) If any man thirst, let him come to me, and drink. (Acts 13:39) And by him,…

And yet the desire remains both in the sweet complacency and liking of the Saints, delighting in present fruition, and also in an act of longing for the highest pitch of degrees of union, just as in the act of drinking, thirst is half swallowed up in begun satisfaction, and thir…

And I, when I am lifted up on the cross, will draw all men to me. Here is a drawing of all men, and so an effectual conversion, but not of all and every man, as Mr. Den says: 1. Because verse 33, this drawing is by the power of Christ, lifted up on the cross, and by the Holy Spi…

Therefore verse 33 of that Acts 2, Peter giving an account how it came to pass that they were so filled with the Holy Ghost, says, that Christ having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, had shed him forth on them; which receiving is not to be only understood…

As pacified in Christ, received into glory (1 Timothy 3:16): Certainly God is well pleased since he has given not only a discharge, but a reward. The gift of the Spirit, for renewing the heart of man, which is the great pledge of God's being satisfied (John 7:39): This he spoke…

7. Closet Prayer must be with all secrecy and solitariness: In a closet, door shut: As we must not blow a Trumpet when we give alms, so we must not hold out a flag when we go to wait on God in the duty of Prayer. It was carnal counsel the brethren of Christ gave him (John 7:4):…

They are like those who are propping up some remote members of their body, while their vitals are wasting in a languishing consumption: These are like a man in a fever, his face and hands burn, but his heart shakes and quivers for cold: These I may call Pepper-professors, hot in…

Therefore this witnesses sufficiently, that I teach not man's doctrine. After the same manner Christ speaks also in the seventh of John: "The world can not hate you, but me it hates, because I testify of it that the works thereof are evil (John 7:7)." And in the third of John: "…

He therefore that seeks his own glory in the Gospel, speaks of himself: and he that speaks of himself is a liar and there is unrighteousness in him. Contrariwise he that seeks the glory of him that sent him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him (John 7). Paul therefore…

He preaches glad tidings to the poor: he gives drink to the thirsty. If any thirst (says John) let him come to me, etc. (John 7:37-38). He heals the broken hearted, etc.: that is, he comforts those that are bruised and afflicted by the law.

And this was the care of Christ: who says, My doctrine is not mine but his that sent me. Joh 7:16. And at this daie, this must be the care of the Ministers of the Gospell, to deliver nothing of their own.

And therefore we must learn the way of life in humility (Psalm 25:9). We must obey it, and in obedience we shall learn it (John 7:17). We must as heartily love the word of God, as in mind we conceive it; lest by not loving of it we be given up to strong illusions to believe lies…

For it was not shut in the old Testament. And, the holy Ghost was not yet, Ioh. 7. 39. that is, in the full measure. And, the way into the Holiest, was not open while the Tabernacle was standing, Hebr. 9. 8. that is, plainly made manifest.

Read the Scriptures: & be a doer of them in the exercises of inuocation, faith, repentance, then shalt you neuer be a heretike. It is Gods promise, Ioh. 7. 17. If you will obay, you shall know whether my doctrine be of God or no.

For whereas in former time they were wont to say, Let vs goe heare a Masse: now the common saying in Italie is this, Let vs goe see a Masse. Let vs therefore trie the spirits before we trust them, and especially in matters of religion, follow Christs precept, not to judge by the…

And this guide is either the outward, or the inward guide: the outward guide (I speake of reading onely) is a Commentarie, especially such a one as a sanctified spirit has much breathed upon: seeing it is the best learning the Theorick of him which is skilfull in the Practicke.…

This arrogance was chiefly displayed by the high priests, and by others who had any share of government or authority. The common people were treated by them as profane and "accursed," (John 7:49,) and they looked upon themselves as the holy first-fruits; just as, in our own day,…

Under the fruits the manner of teaching is itself included, and indeed holds the chief place: for Christ proves that he was sent by God from this consideration, that "he seeks not his own glory, but the glory of the Father who sent him," (John 7:18.) Is it objected, that few per…

Some persons, by way of excusing the leper, think that Christ did not seriously forbid him to publish the miracle, but rather gave him an additional excitement to do so. Others more justly consider the reason of the prohibition to have been, that the full "time was not yet come,…

And this was a part of that emptying of himself which Paul mentions, (Philippians 2:7,) that when he could easily have protected his life by a miracle, he chose rather to submit to our weakness by taking flight. The only reason why he delayed to die was, that the seasonable time…

When they see that he has already obtained some reputation, their ambition leads them to desire that he should be admired in Jerusalem; for they exhort him to go up to that city, that he may show himself more openly, (John 7:3, 4). But now that they perceive him to be hated on o…

In short, in order to walk uprightly, we must necessarily put away respect of persons, which obscures the light and perverts right judgment, as God frequently inculcates in the Law, (Deuteronomy 1:16; 16:19), and as experience also points out. Thus Christ (John 7:24) contrasts a…

And in answer to this Act of God, those on whom he is bestowed are said to Receive him. Joh. 7. 39. This he spoke of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should Receive. 1 Cor. 2. 12.

The Incarnation of the Son of God was promised and expected from the first entrance of Sin, and received its actual Accomplishment in the fulness of Time, during the continuance of the Mosaical Paedagogie. But this Dispensation of the Holy Ghost whereof we now proceed to treat,…

And whereas in the Verses foregoing he had immediate Respect to his Apostles and present Disciples, that we may know that neither his Prayer nor this Grace are confined or limited to them, he addes, Neither pray I for these alone, that is in this Manner, and for these Ends, but…

I challenge the greatest and most learned moralists in the world to give an instance of any duty of morality confirmed by the rules of the highest moralist that I will not show is more plainly and clearly required by the Lord Christ in the gospel, and pressed on us by far more e…

Yet how few (though we must suppose many convinced) did heartily believe in him? More — indeed more — did so upon a less-advantageous-external revelation after his ascension; and the reason is plainly told us, the Spirit was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorifie…

The Word is a light to your feet, Psalm 119:105 (i. e.) it has a discovering and directive usefulness as to all duties to be done, and dangers to be avoided: it is the great Oracle at which you are to enquire: treasure up its rules in your hearts, and you will walk safely, Psalm…

Indeed the Apostle affirms that the privilege of sonship was brought in by the Incarnation of Christ, who is said, in the fullness of time to be made of a woman, etc., that we might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:5). But in Scripture a thing is spoken of as newly done…

And that this imputed and renued righteousnes may here be understood, will appeare by these reasons: First, in such places of Scripture where like sentences are repeated, we must understand not Ciuill righteousnes, but justification, sanctification, and regeneration: as Isa. 55.…

Many men there be that will bee of no religion, because there are so many and diverse opinions about matters of religion in the world; and therefore till some generall Councell have determined of the truth of religion, they will live as they doe: but these men must know, that th…

In a word, she is not only a garden, but a spring, that is furnished with moisture and water, for making her fruitful. More particularly, by this may be set out the graces of the Spirit, compared to waters (John 7:38-39) and said to become a well of water in these that believe o…

The Bride's lips were spoken of (Chapter 4:3, 11) and explained to signify her speech: by proportion they hold forth in him the loveliness of his Word, wherein he is especially lovely, in that he magnifies it above all his Name (Psalm 138:2) and makes it often sweet as the honey…

Again, this heap of wheat is said to be set about with lilies, not only thereby to express its beautifulness, with its usefulness, but also the fruitfulness thereof, in having particular graces as lilies growing about it, which are moistened and nourished by these two parts, the…

On (John 7:19) Did not Moses give you the Law: And yet none of you keeps the Law? I have in several discourses, according to the measure of divine assistance, endeavored to unfold to you the vast contents of the law, and those various duties that are summarily comprehended in th…

And the sum of the blessings, which the redeemed shall receive in heaven, is that river of water of life, that proceeds from the throne of God and the Lamb (Revelation 22:1). Which doubtless signifies the same with those rivers of living water, explained in John 7:38-39, which i…

It is said of the almond-tree (of which Aaron's rod was) that the rind thereof is bitter, but the kernel is very delicious, and the oil pressed out of it very physical, and of much virtue; just such are the chastising words of a plain-dealing ministry, bitter at present, but pro…

Says Doctor Hammond, and quotes an ancient saying, "The end of Christian philosophy is to make them better, not more learned, to edify, not to instruct" ([reconstructed: Practical Catechism] p. 2). The truth is, conscientious practice is both the end of knowledge, and the means…

But they that are planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of our God; indeed, they shall bring forth fruit in old age (Psalm 92:13-14). For a lively principle is the seed of God that will never die, and this spring of grace is fed with supplies from the fu…

He was by most esteemed a poor insignificant person; one of little account, slighted for his low parentage, and his mean city Nazareth. He was reproached as a glutton and drunkard, a friend of publicans and sinners; was called a deceiver of the people; sometimes was called a mad…

His sun shall set, and never rise again; but I live in expectation of a sweet morning, after this dark night. Rouse up therefore, O my soul, set your faith to work on Christ for quickening grace, for he has life in himself, and quickens whoever he will (John 7:38). Stir up that…