John 9

John 9:2

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

There be these two things, which we take for granted; the one, that all punishment that is inflicted upon man, is for sin; the other, that every man’s soul hath formerly had a being in some other body, and hath passed from one to another: now therefore, these things presupposed, tell us whose sin it is, that is punished with blindness in this man: was it his own, while he was in some other body; or was it his parents; for which he is now thus, from his very birth, blind and miserable?

John 9:3

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Howsoever, ordinarily, these outward afflictions are the just punishments for sin; yet, in this case, it was not the respect to the sin of any man whomsoever, that is the cause of this man’s blindness, but the respect that God hath to his own glory, that hereby occasion might be taken, to shew forth his great power and mercy in his cure.

John 9:4

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

While it pleaseth my Heavenly Father, that sent me, to give me opportunity of life, I must do these great works, that he hath designed me unto: the night of death comes now shortly and fast on; then, it will be no season to work in this kind any more.

John 9:5

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

The sun hath his daily course, which when he hath finished, he then withdraweth his light, and then the night succeedeth: while my bodily presence is in the world, I am that True Sun that enlighteneth the world; but this sun of mine shall set, and then ye shall not expect from me any more this visible and sensible illumination, that I should shew forth my Father’s glory by my personal miracles.

John 9:7

Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

Go, and wash in the pool of Siloam, which is by interpreta-

John 9:24

Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

Do not so wrong God, as to rob him of his glory, in ascribing that to a sinful man, which is due only to his glorious name: never say that this man cured thee thus: he is a sinner, we know; for he is a Sabbath-breaker: God hath done it, sure, by some other means.

John 9:30

The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.

It is a strange thing, that ye, who profess so much knowledge, should be ignorant in so great and important a matter: I am but a simple man, yet I can easily see, and boldly affirm, that such a miracle, as this is, cannot be wrought any other way, than by a Divine Hand; and can a man be sent from God, with such supernatural power, and yet ye not know whence he is?

John 9:31

Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Never tell me, as ye do, that this man is a sinner: we know, and have been so instructed by you, that God gives not to sinners such wonderful graces, as this, to be able to give eyes to a man that never had them: yea, this is a thing that transcends all finite powers; and therefore do not cast so wrongful an imputation upon him, that hath done so great things for me.

John 9:33

If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

If this man were not of God, in an extraordinary manner, as sent from him, assisted by him, it were not possible he should do such wonders.

John 9:34

They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.

Thou ignorant and presumptuous fellow; God had set a mark upon thee in thy very birth; therein proclaiming to the world, that thou hadst been a sinner in thy former estate, ere thy soul entered into this body of thine; and dost thou take upon thee to teach us, who are Masters in Israel? And they excommunicated him from their synagogues.

John 9:39

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

I am come to set right those things, which are confused and disorderly in the world; and, therefore, in much mercy, to illuminate those, that are spiritually blind; and, in no less justice, to give those up to blind ignorance and spiritual darkness, which are fondly and proudly misconceited of their knowledge and wisdom.

John 9:40

And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?

What dost thou strike at us in this speech of thine? Canst thou not hold up thine own reputation, without disgracing of us? Others, we know, are blind and ignorant enough, but dost thou cast this aspersion upon us?

John 9:41

Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

If ye were blind in your own conceit, or were so indeed for want of those helps which are afforded unto others, your sin should be the less, and your fault should be both the more excusable and more easily remedied: but now ye stand upon the opinion and ostentation of your quick sightedness, ye make yourselves incapable of redress; and can look for no other, but that your proud contempt of God’s ordinances shall be required of you.