John 9

They are not taught of God; they have Christ's Word to enlighten them, but not his Spirit to sanctify them. But, that you should have the inward, as well as the outward teaching, that Christ should anoint you with the heavenly unction of his Spirit, that you can say, as in (John…

Quest. But how comes faith to be so precious? Ans. Not as it is a more holy quality, or as if it had more worthiness than other graces, but respectu Objecti, as it lays hold on Christ the blessed object, and fetches in his fullness (John 9:16). Faith in itself considered, is but…

It is most true, none can work faith, but the only Creator and Author of faith: but will the Author hence infer, no man, the most wicked, nor any that ever heard Christ or his Apostles preach, doubted of their faith? 2. The sun, with all its light, cannot persuade a blind man wh…

And Matthew 12:24: This fellow does not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. Generally they looked upon him as an enemy to Moses; John 9:29: We know that God spoke to Moses, as for this fellow we know not from where he is. Others had a more moderate opinio…

But when the plagues and miseries should cease, then the Lord would open the eyes of those that were his, to the end they might see and embrace the goodness of God. For this is the true way to effect the restoration of the Church; namely, in giving sight to the blind, and hearin…

We do not render to God the honor which is due to Him, unless with reverence and modesty we adore His justice, when it is concealed from us. Whoever wishes to obtain more full information on this point, may consult my Commentary on these words, Neither has this man sinned, nor h…

If we see a man that boldly calls God his Father, and commonly speaks in the most bold, familiar and appropriating language in prayer, My Father, my dear Redeemer, my sweet Savior, my Beloved, and the like,—and it is a common thing for him to use the most confident expressions b…

On the like occasion did the Pharisees ask of our Saviour that question with pride and scorn; are we blind also? Joh. 9. 40. But as he lets them know, that their presumption of light and knowledg, would serve only to aggravate their sin and condemnation, v. 41. so he plainly tel…

Though all men have always sin enough to be the meritorious cause, yet oftentimes sin is not the moving cause of their afflictions. When the disciples put that question to Christ concerning the blind man (John 9:2), 'Master, who did sin, this man or his parents, that he was born…

Others denie the Historie of Moses to be true, by reason of Noahs Arke, which (they say) as it is described for quantitie could not containe a couple of every kind of creatures, with prouision and fodder for them, for a whole years space: of this opinion was Appelles an auncient…

It is imprudence for one to begin to work for Heaven, when he is past his labor. There is a night of sickness and death coming, and our Savior says, The night comes when none can work (John 9:4). Sure a man can put forth but little violence for Heaven when old age, and old sins…

He was called a blasphemer, and was accounted by many a wizard, or one that wrought miracles by the black art, and communication with Beelzebub. They excommunicated him, and agreed to excommunicate any man that should own him, as, John 9.22. They wished him dead, and were contin…

I have heard (and my soul is grieved for it) that since my departure from you, many among you are turned back from the good old way to the dog's vomit again. Let me speak to these men: it was not without God's special direction that the first sentence that ever my mouth uttered…

But there is also a believing on him, called believing on the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:13). So also (John 9:36) yea the distinct affixing of faith, affiance and confidence on the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, as the Son of God; is most frequently pressed. John 3:16.

As then was said before, the Scriptures being [illegible], is not the case the same, as with a man that was so? is there any thing in the Writing of it by Gods Command, that should impair its Authority? nay is it not freed from innumerable prejudices that attended it, in its fir…

Thus That is often taken in Scripture. John 9:39. Christ says there, For judgment I am come into the world, that they which see not, might see; and that they which see, might be made blind. It was not Christ's scope to do so, but Christ foresaw that this would be the event of hi…

There is far more reason why we should hear God, than God hear us: for there is more equity in his precepts, than there is reason in our prayers; and we are bound to obey God's will, more than he is to grant our request: and therefore if we would not have God turn away his ear f…

This is a great hindrance to the entertaining of the word. So Christ tells the Pharisees who were conceited of their own knowledge (John 9:39), For judgment am I come into this world, that they which see not, might see; and they which see, might be made blind. The Pharisees were…

So (2 Chronicles 18:23) he smote him on the cheek, and said, "When went the spirit of the Lord from me, to speak to you?" So the Pharisees hated Christ, because of his free reproofs (John 9:40): "Are we blind also?" They cannot endure to hear of their faults, especially from one…

And our Lord Jesus came to be, and give light to them that sat in darkness (Luke 1:76-79). And indeed none but he can open the eyes of them that are born blind (John 9). He was the light of the world, which without him is a dark dungeon.

What it was in the sermon that could possibly offend, I cannot guess, unless the eighth head; and I wonder not much at their offence at that, since it appears they are weak brethren. It is sad that men should walk not as wise but as fools, when the drift of the discourse was to…

The word there used in the original implies a sleight of hand as we call it, when such wily spirits can turn themselves into all shapes, to [reconstructed: slip past] the evidence of the Truth; so many windings and turnings, so many twistings of devices, so many outs and doubtin…

That under such ceremonies is contained no higher mystery, they shall easily judge who note how great liberty the Lord and his Apostles used in these outward things. The Lord going about to restore sight to the blind man, made clay of dust and spittle, some he healed with touchi…

And (1 Peter 2:8): The stone which the builders refused is made a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed. With that of our Saviour himself (John 9:39): For judgment I am come into th…

The places are: Matthew 12:32; 13:22, 39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20; Mark 4:19; Luke 1:70; 16:8; 20:34, 35; Acts 3:21; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 1:20; 2:6, twice, 7, 8; 3:18; 10:11; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:21; 2:2; 6:12; 1 Timothy 6:17; 2 Timothy 4:10; Titus 2:1…

This is manifestly the argument, by which he presses on us the present diligent discharge of our duty; and this argument would be utterly inconclusive, if there were another state, in which what our hand now finds to do, might be done. Of similar import is (John 9:4): I must wor…

No man would understand the expression in any other sense than this, that in the midst of the war and battle, he was struck with conviction of his wickedness, and became cordially reconciled to his sovereign. If the Doctor depended on the original words [in non-Latin alphabet],…

When my father and mother, says David, forsakes me, the Lord will take me up (Psalm 27:10). Have you not read of that poor man which the Pharisees excommunicated for cleaving to me, and how the Lord Jesus graciously received him (John 9:35)? Come, Poverty, don't fear, the worst…

Wildfire cannot roast raw flesh. 2. God hears not sinners (John 9:31). Let his prayer be sin (Psalm 109:7).

That which is next, is a word of the Essential principle of true Faith, and that is a proportionable measure of grace (Philippians 1:29) required in Faith: men naturally imagine that faith is a work of nature; hence that speech of a multitude of Atheists (I believe all my days,…

It is time of war with the saints in this life: and then all cities keep watch, and strangers without a pass are examined, searched and tried, what correspondence they have with the enemy. 4. God's way of hardening by Satan is often mysterious, silent, dumb and speaks not (John…

And does not this light which you have from Christ call for your love? If the man that was born blind, and was cured of his natural darkness by Christ, did love Christ for this favor, so as boldly to plead for him before the Pharisees, though he were for it cast out of the synag…

But take you a man pricked in conscience, he is like the scribes and Pharisees, when the blind man answered them with a mighty power of a gracious spirit, and set them to the wall, that they knew not what to say, they said, you are altogether born in sin, and will you teach us?…

It has been acknowledged by all divines, as a thing common in all ages, and all Christian countries, that a very great part of those that sit under the gospel, do so abuse it, that it only proves an occasion of their far more aggravated damnation, and so of men's eternally murde…