John 9

John 9:2

WHo did,] to avoide the absurdity, which at the first sight appeares in this demand, seeing none can commit sinne before they be borne: we may say that this is spoken i regard of Gods foresight; as if they had said, what sin had God foreseen in this man? unlesse the Disciples were tainted with that phantasticall opinion which reigned amongst the Iewes, namely, that the soules after death did passe out of one body into another: and that in the subsequent body, they suffered punishment for the offences committed in the first.

John 9:3

Neither hath this,] either that God indeed in the afflicting of this man had not had any respect to any particular sin of his father or his mother; nor to any foreseene offence of his: or that the meaning plainly be, Leave this curious and unprofitable inquiry, and onely reape the fruit of Gods secret providence, who in this blinde man will make you see his wonders, to his glory, and your edification and confirmation.

John 9:4

While it is,] while the appointed time lasts, for me to lay open my power in working of miracles, Iohn 11 9 The night,] he seemes to meane the time of his approaching passion, at which, that power should be restrained to give way unto his voluntary sufferings. See Luke 22:53.

John 9:5

As long as I,] I doe not measure my actions by the time, as men do by the length of the day; but the time takes his measure from me. For whilest I am in the world, I am the Sun which shineth in it in grace and miracles: when I am gone out of the world, you shall have no light, but shall be given over to the darknesse of your own reprobate sense.

John 9:6

Made clay,] as God in his miracles hath often times used actions and matters as he hath pleased, beyond all naturall causes and properties: whereof there can be no reason given; unlesse we say in this place, that Christ would try this mans faith, encreasing his blindnesse to heale it: to teach us, that in the spirituall illumination, we must renounce the light of sence and reason, to receive the heavenly light from God. See Acts 9:17-18. 1 Corinthians 3:18.

John 9:7

In the poole,] whereof, see Nehem. 3. 15. See upon Iohn 5. 2.

John 9:16

A sinner,] a wicked and bad man.

John 9:22

Be put out,] that is to say, excommunicate and interdicted by the Church. See Iohn 12. 42. and 16. 2.

John 9:24

Give God,] that is to say, humble thy selfe before him, by a sincere confession of thy dissimulation and collusion. See Iohn 7. 19.

John 9:27

Did not heare,] that is to say, did not give care unto it, and beleeve it.

John 9:29

From whence,] who hath sent him, or from whom he hath his charge and authority, Iohn 8. 14.

John 9:31

God brareth not,] that is to say, wicked men are alwayes hatefull to God, and their prayers and requests are rejected and refused: though sometimes he granteth them some temporall thing, to their greater condemnation: but in all Christs life, and in all his actions there appears Gods perpetuall assistance and favour.

John 9:33

Nthing,] namely, none of these great miracles.

John 9:34

Borne in,] namely, of a most perverse nature Cast him out,] namely, out of the Synagogue, v. 22

John 9:39

For judgement,] to governe justly the kingdome, which my Father hath given me to the salvation of pooe and humble sinners, whom I enlighten with the light of truth, and of Gods grace, so they do renounce themselves. And to the condemnation of the proud, who being full of their own understanding, reject my Gospell: whereby they are deprived of all heavenly light, and given over to be more blinded by the devill. See Luke 1. 52, 53. & 2. 34. Iohn 12. 39. Romans 11:7-8.

John 9:41

If ye were,] if your sin were a sin of meere ignorance it might be remissible, 1 Timothy 1:13. but having the knowledge of divine things, Iohn 7. 28. whereof you make profession and shew, and which I have declared unto you, Iohn 15. 22. it can no way be imputed but to wicked obstinacy. And therefore it becomes incorrigible and irremissible. Matth. 12. 32. Mark 3:29.