John 4

John 4:3

HE left,] to not derogate out of time, as it is likely, from Iohns authority by his presence. Or to not give any cause or matter of making comparison, or opposition betweene two baptismes, to the prejudico of both. O to shunne the occasion of vaine ambition and popular applause.

John 4:5

Syhar,] it is thought to bee the same place which is elsewhere called Sichem.

John 4:6

Well,] it was some noted well ofspringing water, which did beare Icobs name. Yet the Scripture doth no where else make mention of it Sa thus,] like to a man that was weary: without seeming to stay there a purpose; though in the secret of his divine providence, he had an intent to convert the people of that place The sixt houe,] namely about noone.

John 4:7

Of Samaria,] a Samaritan by nation and prosssion: Or who was borne in Samaria though shedwelt in Syehar.

John 4:9

The ewes,] for the Samaicans were but a mixture of Pagan Nations, 2 King. 17. ver. 24. who after the Captivity had built themselves a Tempe upon mount G〈…〉zim, and together with some apostaed lewes, had there established a false worship, to imitate that of Ierusalem, Nehemiah 13:28. wherefore they were excommunicated by the Iewes, and did hate one ano her exceedingly.

John 4:10

The gift,] namely the Saving grace which God presents to men by me Living water,] he calleth the grace of God so, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, which are of a continuall lastingnesse and power for to quench the burning of the conscience, scorched by Gods curse: To satisfie them that thirst after eternall goods, and warer the barrennesse of the soule, and make it fruitfull in good works.

John 4:12

Art thou,] as much as to say, seeing thou cnst not give me any of the water of this well having nothing to draw it and take it up withall, I doe Imagine that thou puttest mee in hope of some other water more pure and excellent then this, but how can that be, seeing that Iacob, with whom thou art not to be compared, was content with this? Our father Jacob,] for these nations did yet beare, though falsly, the name of Israelites, by reason of some remainder of the ten Tribes; and some mixture of the Iewes which were amongst them.

John 4:14

Never thirst,] with that thirst of the soule, which is an entire privation of Gods grace, and of the comfort of his spirit, with a burning and desperate feeling thereof, Isaiah 66:13. Hosea 2:3. Luke 16:24. Not of the thirst of feeling his own wants, nor of the servent desire of enjoying that grace: which the beleever ought to have continually so long as he is in this world: where he is never satisfied nor appaied, Isaiah 55:1. Matthew 5:6. Revel. 21. 6. and 22. 17 But the water,] that is to say, that spirituall gift, is not like a draught of water, which being dranke up passeth away sodainely: and the effect thereof is not long lasting, but it is a grace residing in the believer, like a provision or slore which he hath lying by him, to goe unto, whensoever he needeth, to preserve in himselfe the spirituall life, till such time as it bee compleated in the eternall.

John 4:16

Goe call,] Christs end was not onely to make this woman know that he was true God, who knew her evill life: but also to awaken her conscience to acknowledge her sinne, and desire pardon from GOD thorow saith and Repentance, which is the true refreshing and watering of the soule.

John 4:20

Our fathers,] namely the ancient Patriarchs as lacob, Genesis 33:20. Now being convinced in her conscience, and finding that Christ was a Prophet, she imagineth that Christ being a Iew, would desire nothing of her, but that she should become a Iewesse, and thereupon she frameth this objection Mountaine,] namely of Garizim.Yee say,] according to Gods order, who had restrained that ancient libertie of serving him in other places.

John 4:21

When yee shall neither,] that all distinction of places shall be annihilated, as well as the difference of nations by the preaching of the Gospell: you Samaritans being receaved into the covenant of grace, and admitted into his service, as well as the native Iewes, Malachi 1:11.

John 4:22

Ye worship,] that is to say, for the present your Samaritan worship is altogether false being contrary to Gods law, notwithstanding all your intentions of serving the true God, whom you do not know seeing you do not follow the light of his word, and doe not serv him according to his wil. Contrariwise the Iews onely have the true God, and his externall service established and approved by him, in which outward service notwithstanding true piety consists not, but in the internall and spiritual service of faith, invocation, conversion, &c. which I will shortly establish in the world we know,] namely the Iewes, whereof I am one Salvation,] that is to say, the saving doctrine of the covenant of grace is preserved amongst the Iewes and must be sought out amongst them, Rom. 9 4.

John 4:23

In spirit,] spiritually by actions and motions of the soule regenerated by the Holy Ghost: which is the substance and the true body of the shadowes and figures of ceremoniall worship, the use of which shall be disannulled by me to establish the other, see Romans 14:18. Vnlesse Christ by the Spirit, do meane the spirituall forme which God had ordained: and by truth, the sincerity and uprightnesse of heart to observe it.

John 4:24

Must worship,] to yeeld him a service befitting his nature.

John 4:25

I know,] from hence it appeares that the Samaritans themselves expected the Messias which was promised to the Fathers: who they beleeved should fully reveale the will of God, and the doctrine of salvation Christ,] in the Greek tongue, which was in those dayes commonly used in Palestine.

John 4:27

That he talked,] a thing which they thought, was to meane and unfitting for him.

John 4:34

My meate,] namely mine only delight is to do mine office, as at this time to convert this woman and these people

John 4:35

Say not yee,] earthly harvest indeed is’not ready as yet, but the spirituall harvest of the conversion of Nations by the Gospell is, which is as it were ripe fruit of the seed sowne by the Prophets, as you shall soone see by the example of these Samaritans Foure moneths,] these speeches being spoken presently after the Passeover, Ioh 2. 13. and the harvest being in Iudea at Pentecost: called therfore the feast of harvest, Exodus 23:16. it seems that by harvest here ought to bee understod the heart of summer, which is all the world over, the time of harvest. Vnlesse one should say that these speeches were spoken the yeare following in some season which is not specified Look on,] by spirituall contemplation The fields,] namely the whole world sowne al over with the elect, who are upon the point of being called and converted.

John 4:36

Hee that reapeth,] though it should seeme that the Prophers have bin like the labourers, and sowers, enduring the hardest labour, in respect of you Apostles who come to the harvest which is ready to be reaped which is the more easie and pleasant work, yet there is a great reward layd up for you, as well as for them in the heavenly happinesse, common to the Prophets, the Apostles, and all Gods true servants Unto life,] of which labour the recompence is eternall life.

John 4:37

That saying,] it might bee some ordinary proverb, spoken of such men as doe reape the fruits of other mens labours.

John 4:42

And know,] by the inward perswasion of the spirit, which went a long with Christs word.

John 4:43

Into Galilee,] namely to Cana, v. 46. and not into Nazareth his own Citie out of which hee was driven, Luk. 4 29. nor to Capernaum the place of his ordinary abode, Mat. 4. 13. and 9. 1.

John 4:46

Noble man,] the Italian, Royall officer,] namely one of Herod the Tetrarchs officers, who yet usurped the title of King: though hee were put by it by Augustus. See upon Matth. 14 1.

John 4:48

Except yee see,] a reproofe made to the Galileans because of their incredulity.

John 4:50

Liveth,] that is to say he is safe and sound.

John 4:51

Going downe,] that is to say was pretty well on ward in his way going homeward.

John 4:53

Beleeved,] that is to say made open profession of his beliefe in Christ.

John 4:54

The second,] the meaning is after hee was already returned into Cana, where he had wrought his first miracle, Iohn 2. 7, 11. hee wrought this second miracle there also.