John 10

John 10:1

HE that entreth not,] in this similitude Christ is the Doore, the Porter and supreame Shepherd altogether; those that come in thorow him, are beleevers, whom he admits into his Church through faith in him: and also all the good Shepherds who have their charge from him, and get themselves an entrance into mens hearts by his pure doctrine. The theeves are the wicked She pherds who intrude themselves without any lawfull calling, or doe insinuate themselves by false doctrines, and hurtfull deceipts. The Sheepfold is the Church. The sheep are the beleevers, endowed with spirituall light and discretion. The passure is the word of God, and all the benefits of his grace.

John 10:3

Calleth,] his care is not only for the generall body of the Church, but it extends it selfe also towards every particular member as need requireth. See Acts 20. 20. 31. 1 Thessalonians 2:11 Leadeth,] that is to say, he openeth, unfoldeth, and distributs unto them the pasture of Gods word, 1 Corinthians 16:9. 2 Corinthians 2:12. Revelation 3:8.

John 10:4

Goeth before them,] he doth guide, defend, and protect them; and finally he is alwayes present and vigilant upon all occasion of need Follow him,] the faithfull doe voluntarily adhere unto him, acknowledging him in his word to be their faithfull Shepherd, and therefore loving him with all their hearts.

John 10:5

They know not,] this ought to be understood of the knowledge of approbation, and inclination, not of that of judgement and discretion.

John 10:7

The doore,] because that by faith in Christ onely, man obtaineth entrance into the communion of Saints, into the favour and grace of God, and into the kingdome of heaven. Iohn 14. 6, 7.

John 10:8

All that,] namely, all those that have usurped the right which belongeth to me alone, to establish religions and meanes for to be reconciled to God Came before me,] the Italian, That came, are &c.] namely, being not sent by me. Therefore some texts adde, before me The sheep,] namely, the true beleevers and elect. See 1 Cor. 11. 19. 1. Iohn 2, 19. 10.

John 10:9

Shall goe in,] by the going in, he means the spirituall safegard and security: by the going out, the pasture.

John 10:10

Abundantly,] the Italian, That they may abound,] namely, in all manner of true good. Or that they may alwayes have more: that is to say, that the spirituall life may alwayes increase in them, untill it come to its perfection.

John 10:12

The Wolfe,] namely, the false Doctors, or other kinde of corruptors, and also the violent persecutors, that seek to subvert the beleevers faith, which every true shepherd ought to endeavour to maintain to the last.

John 10:14

And know,] hereby is intimated the election of beleevers, 2 Timothy 2:19. accompanied with Christs perpetuall, care, love, and protection: and ratified by the interchangeable knowledge which he gives them of himselfe, to be by them embraced by faith, lored, followed, and retained.

John 10:15

As the Father,] as my Father hath chosen me to be head of the Church, so I likewise rete my selfe who’ly to him, and do adhere unto him by a perfect obedience, which is said according to the proportion which the Scripture sets, between that, as the Father is towards Christ Mediator, and that which Christ is towards his beleevers, Iohn 6. 57. & 17. 11. 18. 21. 1 Cor. 3. 23. & 11. 3.

John 10:16

Other sheep,] namely the elect amongst the Gentiles, who are to be called by the Gospell, and incorporated into the Church, with the elect of the Iewish nation I must bring,] for Christ by his Spirit fulfilleth all things in all men, 1 Corinthians 12:5-6.

John 10:17

Therefore,] he doth not speak of the eternall and naturall love of the Father to the Son, but of the acceptation of Christs perfect obedience and righteousnesse, as he is man, by which, both his humane nature, and all beleevers in him are acceptable to God. See Matth. 3. 17. Ephes. 1. 6.

John 10:18

Taketh it from me,] namely, by force, and against my will, for I myselfe a the Priest of this oblation, though men be the instruments thereof.

John 10:22

The feast,] of which see the occasion and ordination, 1Ma 4:59 Winter,] for that feast was kept in the moneth of Caflew, which was the November Moone.

John 10:23

Porch] this was the Porch of the Easterne comming in of the Temple, called Solomons Porch, as Acts 3:11. Peradventure because it was a part of the ancient Temple, which remained more entire then any of the rest, though that also was repaired by Herod.

John 10:25

Name,] that is to say, by his commission, authorley, and power.

John 10:26

Of my,] namely, of my Fathers elect which he hath given me to save, and in whom I create the gift of faith, Iohn 12. 39, 40. Acts 13:48 As I said,] this ought to bee referred to Christs reproving of them. Or the meaning is, you are none of those good sheepe, which I have before described unto you.

John 10:30

I and,] in unity of essence and power, as everlasting Sonne. And so the Iewes understood it, v 33. and Christ approves it, v. 36. And likewise in perfect union of action, and communion of vertue as Mediator; wherefore none can forcibly take my sheep out of my hands, no more then he can out of my Fathers hands.

John 10:32

From my Father,] whereof my Father is the first author, by order of subsistency and operation, and which as Mediator I doe by his commission and power.

John 10:34

Law,] namely, the holy Scripture, Ioh. 12. 34.

John 10:35

If he called,] if the word of God communicates the name of God to those who by a publick calling doe represent him in the world, you cannot tax me with blasphemy, if I call my selfe God: if I were no more but what I undoubtedly shew you that I am: namely, a holy Prophet sent by God Be broken,] gainsaid, resuted, and reproved as false.

John 10:36

Sanctified,] cleansed in my humane flesh, even from my first conception from all contagion of sin, full of the gifts of the holy Ghost: and consecrated to the divine office of being Saviour of the world, Luke 1:35.

John 10:37

Of my Father,] which my Father only, who is the only true God, can do.

John 10:38

That the Father,] namely, that all his power dwelleth in me; either by unity of essence, as I am his Son, or by union of will as Man and Mediator, I do subsist, and am as it were founded in him in both respects, and that perfectly and inseparably.

John 10:40

Into the place,] namely, into Bethabara. See Iohn 1. 28 & 3. 23.

John 10:41

Iohn did,] though Iohn did not confirme his ministery by any externall miracle, yet the event hath verified all that which he hath said of Christ.