John 5

John 5:1

AFeast,] if Saint Iohn hath exactly followed the order of times, this feast might bee Pentecost, which immediately followed the Passeover, Iohn 2. 13.

John 5:2

Sheep market,] the Italian Sheepe gate,] it was one of the gates of Ierusalem which stood neere the Temple, and it is likely was called so: because that thorow that gate cattel were brought into the Cuie. See Nehemiah 3. 1. 32. and 12. 39. Others the sheepe-market, but it is all one, for this market was close by the Gate A poole,] a great place to keepe water in, as there were many of them in Ierusalem: into which the water of Gihon came by pipes under ground, for to bathe themselves, to wash or water their Cattel in, or the like uses, Nehemiah 2. 14. and 3. 16. Isaiah 7. 3. and 22. 9. 11. and 6. 2. Iohn 9. 7 Bethesda;] that is to say a house or place of pietie, so called by reason of the miraculous healing which was there. Others doe expound this name otherwise, but this seemes to be the likelier sence.

John 5:4

An Angell,] by GODS will and power.

John 5:10

It is not,] true it is that carrying of burthens was one of the bodily actions, which were forbidden to be done on the Sabbath day, Nehemiah 13:19. Ier. 17. 21. but Christ being the Soveraigne Lord, might exempt them from it, and besides, this act was not contrary to the meaning of the Law, because it was not a labour but a publike signe of the deliverence, to the glory of God, and for the instruction of men.

John 5:14

Sinne no nore,] turne from those thy sins which had moved Gods justice to so long a punishment, Matth. 9. 2. Or seeing thou hast receaved this favour at Gods hands, yeeld him a perpetual acknowledgement therefore in obedience and service.

John 5:17

My Father,] as God is not subject to the Lawes of the Sabbath, but operates incessantly, though not to create a new world or any new species: so I his everlasting son do operate at all times, without any law or limitation, as well in workes which are purely divine, as in those which I doe in the qualitie of Mediatour.

John 5:19

Can doe,] not by reason of any impotency, but by reason of the unitie of the essence, and the perfect union of will and operation which is betweene me and the father, who is the spring, and as it were the first pattern of al the aforesaid actions.What he seeth] a figurative term to shew the unspeakeable communion of wil, wisedom and power, between the Son and the Father, in the internall order of the most holy Trinitie: or the perfect dependencie and conformitie, of the will of Christ as Mediatour, to that of God his Father. And his Fathers perpetuall conduct towards him, Isaiah 11:3. Or the office of fulfilling all Gods secret councel, Isai. 11. Or the office of fulfilling and performing Gods secret councell, which was as it were the model of al Christs actions, see the same orderof operation in the holy Ghost, John 16:13.

John 5:22

Judgeth no,] hee doth not governe the world nor his Church immediately, as by the operation of his owne person. but doth doe it in, and by his Son, to whom he hath given all power, and by him doth operate, and manifest all his power, Philippians 2:10. Colossians 1:18. Hebrews 1:2-3.

John 5:23

As they honour,] he means that religious reverence which is engraven naturallv in all men towards the God-head, and which God by his word commandeth to bee yeelded to his Sonne, who is his living subsistent and perfect Image, Philippians 2, 10, 11.

John 5:25

The dead,] namely those which are spiritually dead in sinne, Ephesians 2:1. Colossians 2:13 That heare,] with a lively faith in the Gospell, Hebrewes 4. 2 Shall live,] in a spirituall life, consisting in the participating of the grace and Spirit of GOD in CHRIST, Romans 6:4 Ephes. z. 4. Colossians 3:4.

John 5:26

Hath life,] Namely hee is the beginning and spring of all the naturall subsistency and life of every thing To the Sonne,] as hee is mediatour and head of the Church To have,] Namely to bee the Author and beginner of a spirituall and everlasting life to all his beleevers, Ioh. 6. 56.

John 5:27

To execute judgement,] namely to rule and governe, ver. 22 Because he is,]not onely as hee is true everlosting God, but also as hee is Mediatour, having taken humane flesh upon him, Acts 17:31. 1 Cor. 25. 28. in which nature also, he is his fathers deputy, Daniel 7:13.

John 5:28

Marvaile not,] Christ proves his power, to work this spirituall resurrection, by the resurrection of bodies, which is an effect of the same power, but more sensible.

John 5:30

I can,] See upon, ver. 19 Mine own will,] not that indeed the Son of God, as he was God, had a will severall from his Fathers will: but because it seemed so to men to whom he did speake. See Ioh. 6. 38. and 7. 16. and 8. 50. Vnsesse this be understood of the will of his humane nature; which though it were not the same as his divine nature, yet was it perfectly regulated by it, Matthew 26:1-75. ver. 39.

John 5:31

If I beare,] If you had no other proofe of the truth of my person and doctrine, but only mine owne word, as I am in your imaginatior, but onely a meere man My witnesse,] I grant that you might then have some pretence to hold it to bee false, though in deed it be very true, Ioh 8. 14.

John 5:32

There is another,] Namely GOD the Father who hath borne mee witnesse from Heaven, Matthew 3:1-17. ver. 17. and then afterwards by Iohn, who was sufficiently approved to bee his Prophet, and by my workes, verse 36. and by his Scriptures, verse 39 And I knew,] I doe condescend unto, and am content with his witnesse. And am certaine that you are convinced there by, and do withstand it but only thorow malice and obstinacy.

John 5:34

I receive not,] I have no need of it for my selfe, being the Soveraigne truth but only make use of it to you for your salvation, to whom Iohns person and ministery hath beene more evident then mine, though they both be true enough in the same way of truth, but in different degrees.

John 5:35

Shining light,] as 2 Peter 1:19 We dwelling,] you tooke pleasure in Iohns doctrine but without any firme root of faith, see Matthew 13:20.

John 5:37

Hath borne witnesse,] by his Prophets or by his voyce from Heaven, Matthew 3:17 Yee have neither,] it is no marvaile that my fathers witnesse is of so little esteeme and weight amongst you, for his word is as unknowne and obscure unto you as his glorious face in heaven is.

John 5:38

Yee have not,] yee have no light, nor internall habit of true knowledge, nor faith in Gods Word: wherefore like blinde men, you cannot discerne the light of Gods witnessing.

John 5:40

And yee,] your ignorance can not be holpen, because it is wilfull, See 2 Peter 3:5.

John 5:41

I receive not,] this which I speake is not because I am ambitious of being receaved or honoured by you: but out of meere zeale to the glory of God, whom you hate in rejecting mee, Iohn 15. 23, 24.

John 5:43

In my Fathers name,] sent by him, with commission and authority from him: mine actions having no relation but to obey him, without pretending any thing for myselfe: which should be a sufficient proofe to you of my fidelity In his owne,] of his owne minde and motion, seeking his owne glory and his owne advantages.

John 5:44

How can yee,] the true cause of your incredulity is your hypocrisie, and worldly ambition, in being desirous to appeare holy and perfect before men, which hindereth you from giving glory to God through repentance, and from comming to mee by faith. And those among you which are convinced concerning the truth of me, will not make open profession thereof, for feare of being reviled by the rest, Iohn 7. 13. and 12. 43. Romans 1:1-32. ver. 16. 2 Corinthians 4:2.

John 5:45

Doe not thinke,] you are sufficiently accused for your incredulity by Moses himselfe, and by his doctrine, and you need not be any more accused by my word and the proofes thereof which you doe not beleeve. See Romans 2:12 In whom,] in the observing of whose Law you repose all the trust of your salvation, Romans 2:17. and whose name you make a buckler, as if you rejected mee to cleave to him supposing there is some contrariety between Moses and me, which is not so.