John 3

John 3:2

The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

The same man, being, on the one side, desirous to hold his reputation with the Jews, and especially them of his own sect; and, on the other side, one who secretly honoured Jesus, and willing to be his disciple; came to Jesus by night, and said, Master, howsoever the envy of thine enemies is ready, both to deny thee thy due, and to cast false imputations upon thee, yet we do well know thou art a teacher sent from God; for it is not possible for any man to do those miracles, which thou doest, but by a divine power.

John 3:5

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Except a man be born again by the effectual working of God’s Spirit, as by the Author of this new birth; and, in the ordinary course of God’s proceedings, in his Church, by the water of Baptism, as the sign appointed by God in the Sacrament of our Regeneration; he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.

John 3:6

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

We receive nothing of our fleshly parents, but a corrupt nature; neither can they convey any thing into us, but what they have: if we will have any goodness or grace, it must be wrought in us by the Spirit of God; which only can bring forth effects like itself, spiritual and holy.

John 3:7

Marrel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Let it not seem so strange a thing unto thee, as if it were past thy belief, that I said, Ye must be born again.

John 3:8

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

It is not for us, to measure the works of God by our own conceit and comprehension: how possible is it, that we may be born again by the Spirit of God, and yet can give no account of the manner how it is done! Even in natural things, we see it to be thus: the wind bloweth, at uncertainties, from all coasts; thou hearest the sound, &c. How much more is it so in the supernatural works of God! his Spirit moves, where and how it pleaseth; and no man can understand the secret operation thereof.

John 3:11

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.

Both myself, and the prophets that have been before me, speak that, which we know to be the truth of God; and testify that, which both he hath revealed to us, and which we have experimentally felt in ourselves: but ye, that are carnally minded and worldly wise, find no savour in our words, and believe not our witness.

John 3:12

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

VOL. IV. Q And if, while I have only discoursed to thee of these principles of Christianity, which both our enlightened reason and experience can easily make good, thou believest not; but findest such difficulties, both in apprehension and assent; what likelihood, yea possibility, is there, that thou shouldst believe me, when I shall tell thee of the greatest mysteries of salvation, and of those high and incomprehensible matters of another world?

John 3:13

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven.

These are things, whereof no man can tell thee, but He, that hath been in heaven; and no man hath been there to see them, but He, that is now come down from heaven, even that Son of Man, that talketh with thee, who, in respect of his Deity, is still in heaven. III. 14, 15. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. And, as the brazen serpent was erected by Moses in the wilderness, for the cure of those Israelites, that were stung with the fiery serpents, there; so must the Son of Man be lifted up, on the cross, that all they, who are envenomed by that old serpent the Devil, and stung with the conscience of their sins, looking up unto him, by a true faith, may be healed and live for ever.

John 3:17

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

It was not the end and intention, that God had in sending his Son into the world, that the world should be condemned for not believing in him; but his holy and gracious drift and purpose therein was, that the world of mankind should by him be saved, in that, by a lively faith, they apprehend that All-sufficient Redeemer.

John 3:18

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already.

Whosoever believeth in him, how great soever his unworthiness and iniquity be, yet shall not come into condemnation; but he, that believeth not, is in a certain way of inevitable condemnation, and is left, without all remedy, in a state of eternal death. III. 19, 20. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light. And this is that, which brings just condemnation upon the world of unbelievers; that, whereas the Son of God is come into the world, and hath sent his Gospel, the means of man’s

John 3:22

And there he tarried with them, and baptized.

And there he tarried with them, and, by the hands of his disciples, baptized many. III. 27, 28. John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. It is strange, that ye should still move these questions, after ye have had so full information from me; but I well see, it is not in the means: except God teach the heart from heaven, by his Spirit, all our instruction prevails not: ye yourselves can bear me witness, that I did always disclaim this honour, and said still, I am not the Christ, whom ye expect; I am only his servant and messenger, which am sent before to make way for him.

John 3:29

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

It is he, who is the true and only Bridegroom, and Husband of his spouse, the Church: this honour is proper to him therefore to enjoy her, whom he hath chosen and betrothed to himself in truth and righteousness: as for me, and all other his faithful servants, we are the friends and attendants of this Blessed Bridegroom; and therefore, as our duty is, we wait upon him, and hold it to be our greatest joy and glory, that we hear his voice, and that we see the happy success of this his Spiritual Marriage.

John 3:30

He must increase but I must decrease.

I came, but to notify him unto the world; which when I have done, I do most gladly give way and place to him, my God and Saviour. His glory shall increase every day, more and more; in that he shall be known for the Son of God, by his irrefragable miracles: my name and honour shall decrease every day, by the growth of his: in that the world shall find themselves mistaken in reputing me the Messiah, whom they shall now know to be only a servant to this Christ, whom I forerun and proclaim.

John 3:31

He that cometh from abore is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.

Q 2 It is he, that cometh from above; and therefore justly hath this preeminence, that he is above all: as for me, and such as I am, we, howsoever our mission is from above, are but from the earth, weak, earthly creatures; and, being full of infirmities, speak as we are: when we speak, as of ourselves, we speak nothing but earthly things; but He, being of the eternal substance of the Father, is far above all finite creatures, and therefore justly challengeth all answerable respects from us.

John 3:33

He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

He, that hath believed and received this infallible testimony, which Christ giveth to himself from his Father, hath seconded the truth of God; and is so graciously accepted of him, that he is pleased to hold himself honoured by his subscription to and obsignation of his divine truth.

John 3:34

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

For this Son of God, whom the Father hath sent into the world, speaketh only the words of God; for God hath not, in any finite measure, communicated the graces of his Spirit unto Him, as he hath done to us, men; but hath endued him with an infinite proportion thereof, as in whom the Godhead dwelleth bodily.