John 6

John 6:1-14

In this chapter we have, 1. The miracle of the leaves, ver. 1—14.

2. Christ’s wailing upon the water, ver. 15—21. 3. The people’s fishing after him to Copenhagen, ver. 22—25. 4. His conference with them, acclaimed by the miracle of the leaves, in which he reproves them for fishing corned food, and directs them to spiritual food, ver. 26—27. Blowing them how they must labour for spiritual food, ver. 28, 29, and what that spiritual food is, ver. 30—59. 5. Their discontent at what he said, and the reproof he gave them for it, ver. 60—63. 6. The apology of many from him, and his discourse with his disciples that adhered to him upon that occasion, ver. 66—71.

3. AFTER these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberius. 2. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was high. 5. When Jesus then left up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? 6. (And that he said so prater him: for he himself knew what he would do) 7. Philip answered him, Two hundred y penny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him, 9. There is a lad here, which hath five barley-loaves, and two small sides: but what are they among so many? 10. And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11. And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the slaves, as much as they would. 12. When they were filled, he said to his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing he left. 13. Therefore they gathered from together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophets that should come into the world.

The miracle here recorded is the only one, which all the four evangelists have mentioned. We have,

1. The time and place, when and where it was wrought, Christ had crossed the Lake Gennesaret, called the sea of Tiberias, from a city Herod had built on the borders of it, in honour of the Emperor Tiberius. Multitudes followed him; not so much, it seems, affected by his doctrine, as drawn by his miracles. However the Lord was ready to receive them; and going up into a mountain, for the convenience of being heard, sat there with his disciples, and taught the listening crowd: and the paginers, the third since his entrance on the ministry, now approached.

2. The miracle itself. Beholding with compassion the multitudes who were assembled on this occasion, our Lord addressed himself to Philip, and asked him, in order to try his faith, being himself resolved what to do. Where they could get bread to feed that multitude? Philip, dull of apprehension, looked only to human aid, and fuggetts, that two hundred pericavours of bread (about six pounds five shillings, which probably was all their common flock) would not be sufficient to give each a morsel. Andrew hearing the discourse, fuggetts, there was a lad in the company that had five barley loaves and two small fishes; but their indeed would be as nothing among such a multitude. But where human means fail, the divine power is not featured. Commanding his disciples, therefore, to from the multitude in order, where the grass was their carpet, and the earth their table, with his divine benediction he consecrated the hearty provision, and breaking the bread and fishes, gave them to his disciples, who distributed them to the multitude; and marvellous to behold! under their hands the meat continued to grow as it descended down the ranks; and not only afforded enough for a plentiful meal to all that vast multitude, but like a quantity of fragments as filled twelve baskets full. Nate, (1.) When the Lord is pleased at times to leave us in prophecy, he hath designs of his own to answer, and knows what he intends to do. (2.) Christ’s disciples must not disdain goats and scanty fare, but be content, when his providence so ordains, to put up with barley cakes, and be thankful for them; and then this poor provision, with the benediction of Jesus, shall yield a richer entertainment than all the deficiencies of the luxurious. (3.) They who call a fish-meal fasting, form to call reproach on the rich feast with which Jesus entertained his followers. (4.) Bread must never be wafted, even the fragments of barley cakes are carefully gathered up. If we are full, others are fasting, who will be glad of our leaving; good economy is the means to enable us for more extensive charity.

3. Great was the effect, for the time at least, produced by this miracle on the minds of the people. They concluded this must be that great prophet spoken of by Moses, Deut. xviii. 15. who should come into the world.

4. ¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. 16. And when even was seen come, his disciples went down into the sea, 17. And entered into a ship, and went over the sea towards Capernaum: and it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. 18. And the sea arose, by reason of a great wind that blew. 19. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing night into the ship: and they were afraid. 20. But he saith unto them, It is I, be not afraid. 21. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

John 6:15-21

We have here,

1. The retirement of the Lord Jesus. They, whom he had in so admitting a manner, and were immediately for proclaiming him King of the Jews, and erecting his standard; expecting, according to their mistaken prejudices, that he would set up a temporal dominion, rescue them from the Roman yoke, and place them at the head of the nations. But far different was the kingdom he came to establish; therefore, fearing least their irregular aral should hurry them into some seditious behaviour, and that against his will they might attempt to force the royalty upon him, he left them, and went up again into the mountain alone. Nate, (1.) Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, his true disciples will never find their portion here below. (2.) His ministers must avoid every thing that may give the shadow of silence to the secular powers, never interwondling with civil affairs, but teaching all dutiful submission to the powers that are.

2. Which the master was in the mountain, the disciples were towing on the tempestuous waves. By the command of their Lord they had gone on shipboard, in order to crash the lake; but now the storm arose, the night was dark, the wind contrary, and their master not come to them, which heightened their distress. Nate, (1.) After the sweetest seasons of refreshment, sometimes the darkest days of temptation succeed. (2.)

It is one of the heaviest affiliations to the soul under trials, when the presence of Jesus is withdrawn, and we are left under darkness and desertion. (3.) They who embark in Christ’s cause, must prepare for a storm. The way to glory lies through much tribulation.

3. In their extremity help approaches. In the way of duty we need never despair; Christ will deliver us in the needful time of trouble. He came to them miraculously walking on the waters; but they, affrighted, thought it had been an apparition, till his well-known voice quieted their fears: when he was so nigh, no evil could hurt them. Nate, (1.) We often terrify ourselves with unnecessary apprehensions of danger, and when our minds are dejected, are ready to fear that the very means that are working for our good, ported an increase of our misery. (2.) Jesus alone, by his all-powerful word, can speak peace to the sinner’s troubled mind.

4. With joy they welcomed their master’s arrival; and in a moment the ship, by miracle, was at the place of their destination. Nate, (1.) Christ is doubly precious to the soul; when mourning after him, and walking in darkness, he returns, and lifts up the light of his countenance, and dissipates every cloud of sorrow. (2.) The church, and every faithful soul embarked on this tempestuous world, experience many a storm; but their everlasting safety is secured, they shall never finally be cast away. (3.) It will be a pleasing surprise to many a trembling believer, when he shall find himself at death safely landed on the shores of eternal rest.

5. ¶ The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea, saw that there was none other boat there, saw that one wherein his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone: 23. (However there came other boats from Tiberias, nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks) 24. When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. 25. And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when came it thou hither? 26. Jesus answered them, and said, Verily, verily I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27. Labour not for the meat which periseth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

John 6:22-27

All night the multitude seem to have waited for the return of Jesus from the mountain in the morning; for as they saw the disciples embark, and leave their master behind them, and there was no other boat in which he could follow them, they concluded he must still be on that side the water; but not finding him there as they expected, we are told.

1. How carefully they followed him. Some boats arriving in the morning from Tiberias, near that place where they had been miraculously fed through the benediction of Jesus, they crossed the lake to Capernaum, hoping to find him there, where he usually made his abode. Nate, (1.) They who love Christ truly, will stick at no pains in following him. (2.) When we are found in God’s way, his providence is often seen most graciously to second our good designs and desires.

2. They found him on the other side of the sea, and could not but express their astonishment how he could come thither, having no convenience for crossing the lake. Nate, Many eagerly run after Christ and his gospel, pretending great zeal for hearing, who never truly come to him by faith, nor receive the ingrafted word to the saving of their souls.

3. Christ, who knew the spirit and temper with which they followed him, replies to their question in such a manner, as he saw their state required.

(1.) He rebukes them for the corrupt principle on which they acted. They followed him, not because they were convinced by his doctrine and miracles, and believed in him to the saving of their souls, but merely because they had been fed at his cost, and expected yet greater temporal advantages from him when he should set up his kingdom. Nate, Many follow Christ for the loaves, who have no love for his gospel.

(2.) He exhorts them to seek a better portion. Labour not for the meat which periseth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. The world and all the things of it perish in the using, and we are dying daily, and cannot long possess any thing here below. It were therefore the most egregious folly to say out all our labour on so transitory a portion, and most criminal to make our profession of religion subservient to the holy purposes of earthly advantage. Christ proposes to use a nobler good, even that

Spiritual food of his grace, by which our immortal souls may be fed, and we may grow up to the participation of that eternal life, which the Son of man hath to be flown on every truly faithful soul: for him hath God the Father faded, fully commissioned and authorized him to give this eternal life to his redeemed people, and to feed them with that living bread, of which, if a man eat, he shall never die. Note, (1.) All our blefings, in time and eternity, come from the free gift of our Redeemer. (2.) None who come to Jesus, seeking the living bread, will be denied, for he fiedeth the hungry.

28. Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29. Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, ’that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30. They said therefore unto him, ‘What sign sheweth thou then, that we may for, and believe thee? what doth thou work? 31. Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father given you the true bread from heaven. 33. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me, shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me, shall never thirst. 36. But I said unto you, that ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37. All that the Father given me, shall come to me; and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise call out. 38. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42. And they said, ‘Is not this Jesus the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43. Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Mormon not among yourselves. 44. No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me, draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46. Not that any man hath seen the Father, have he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47. Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48. I am that bread of life. 49. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51. I am the living bread, which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52. The Jews therefore drove amongst themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54. Whoever eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me and I in him. 57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58. This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. 59. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

John 6:28-29

In consequence of what he had spoken, the persons who heard him entered into conference with him, how they might attain that everlasting life he mentioned.

1. They said unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the

works of God? He had commanded them to labour for the enduring meat, and they wanted to know what they must do; whether any thing more was necessary than obedience to the law of Moses: for they founded all their expectations on their own doings and duties, and thought of no other way to righteousness and life eternal than by the works of the law.

2. Christ replied, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. It is not by doing, but by believing, that righteousness and salvation are amenable; faith in Jesus, in his divine character as the Messiah, and in the all-sufficiency of his blood and righteousness, to justify the ungodly in the principal thing, without which it is impossible to please God. And this faith in his own work in the soul, which we can no more give ourselves, than we can create a world.

3. They answered again, What sign sheweth thou then, that we may for, and believe thee, what doth thou work? They overlooked the miracles he had already performed, and demanded greater. For since he formed to adhere higher authority than that of Moses, they thought he should produce greater evidence of a divine commission: it is true he had by miracle yesterday fed five thousand, but they suggest Moses did much more. Our Father did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. The number there was much greater, the miracle daily continued, and the fare far more delicious than barley loaves.

4. Christ reclines their mistake. They ascribed to Moses what was not his, but God’s gift. Firstly, verily I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; it doth not appear he had the least concern in procuring it; neither did it come from heaven, as they imagined, but merely from the clouds, and served only to happen: a mortal life: but my Father, who gave you the manna, giveth you the true bread from heaven, of which that was the type and figure. For the bread of God is he (or that) which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world, a provision as much superior to the manna in the wilderness, as the throne of God is beyond the clouds, and life eternal exceeds the present moment of mortality.

5. Ignorantly mistaking his meaning, as if he spoke of material bread, they said unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. They eagerly desire that heavenly provision, whose properties were so excellent, and so far he paid the manna which their fathers did eat in the wilderness. They indeed understood not what they asked; but if we have talked of the heavenly manna, have fed upon the word of Jesus, and fealled on the sweet and precious promises which are in him, we shall not cease with deep sensibility to cry, Lord, evermore give us this bread!

6. Christ plainly informs them of his meaning. I am the bread of life; he spoke not of bread literally, or of a merely temporal happiness, but of himself; a divine person become incarnate to give spiritual life to immortal souls. He is the bread of life; our bodies could better live without daily food, than our spirit without the constant supplies of his grace. He is both the quickening principle of our spiritual life, and the constant support of it. Therefore, Christ Christ, he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth in me, shall never thirst; whosoever by faith applies to Jesus, shall never want the richest provision to satisfy the most enlarged desires of his soul. But I said unto you, that ye also have seen me, and believe not; they had seen his miracles, yet through their earthly-mindedness and attachment to worldly interests, they received him not as a spiritual Redeemer, nor trusted upon him for eternal life. Some, indeed, there were who would embrace his gospel, and be saved by it. All that the Father giveth me, according to the everlasting covenant of grace, as a peculiar people, shall come unto me; drawn by Almighty cords of grace unreliable, and enabled to exercise faith in me: and him that cometh to me, under whatever load of guilt or corruption he groans, I will in no wise call out. The Saviour’s arms of mercy are open to receive the miserable and the desperate: no sinner who flies to him need fear a repulse, however great or aggravated his iniquities may be, pardon, peace, grace, and glory, are assured to him by the promises of the God who cannot lie. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me; not on an errand of uncertainty, or to carry on any design separately from his Father; but as his ambassador, qualified and commissioned to execute that glorious work of man’s redemption, to which he was appointed; and ready to do and suffer whatever the derminate counsel of God hath ordained. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath grown me, I should lose none, but should raise it up again at the last day. From whence we learn, (1.) That according to the covenant of redemption, a certain number of sinners are given to Jesus Christ, in whom he shall see the trench of his soul: and herein he acts as the eternal King, foreremingly exercising mercy to some, when he might, in justice, have condemned all to suffer the wages of sin. (2.) Christ will infallibly take care of those whose interests are lodged in his hands; his grace shall find them out, his power preserve them; and neither the wiles of Satan, nor the temptations of the world, nor the perverseness of the fallen heart, shall be able to defeat his purposes of love towards them: not one shall be lost, of those whose sins he

bor.

born. (3.) As the Saviour undertakes to deliver his people from sin and all its consequences, death, which is the wages of sin, shall not have dominion over them; as by his grace their souls are rescued from the power of corruption, their bodies shall also be redeemed from the grave, and raised up in glory at the great day of his appearing. (4.) All those have a part in this salvation who hear, and by faith, embrace the gospel which Christ declares. For this is the will of him that sent me, that many are that both the Son, and believeth in him, may have ever-lasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day; the gospel prophets is true salvation, through Jesus, to every midwable sinner, and who ever receives the record of God concerning his Son, sees his own deep need of the Saviour and the all-sufficiency of Jesus, becomes a partaker of that present life of grace, which is the earnest of the eternal life of glory. They who perish now it to their infidelity; they reject the counsel of God against their own souls, and will not come to Christ that they may have life; either through ignorance, infallible to their own misery and want of a Saviour, or through pride, going about to establish their own righteousness instead of submitting to the righteousness of God.

7. Perceiving now that Christ plainly pointed at himself, as the living bread endued with such wondrous properties, the Jews murmured and cavill’d at him, as if he assumed to himself extravagant honours, in pretending to come down from heaven, and being the bread of life, and they objected his known descent from Joseph and Mary. Is not this Jesus the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it from that he saith, I came down from heaven? when his earthly original is so evident.

8. Christ confuses their cavils, and answers their murmuring. He said unto them, Manner not among mayhem; he knew their thoughts, and the prejudices they entertained against him, willing from that native corruption of their hearts, which nothing but Almighty grace could subdue. For no man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me, drew him; such is the present state of fallen man, that he is under an utter impotence to turn unto God, unless drawn by the spirit of God, and enabled to believe in his dear Son. And to as many as are thus drawn to him, Christ saith, I will raise him up at the last day; and the way in which the sinner is thus wrought upon, is according as it is written in the prophets, Isa. 31: 13. Jer. xxxi. 34. They shall be all taught of God, by his revealed word, and the illumination of his spirit. Every one therefore that hath heard and learned of the Father, speaking in his word, and by his spirit to the soul, cometh unto me, trusting on Jesus alone for pardon, righteousness, and salvation; and without such divine teaching and spiritual illumination, the natural man cannot receive the truths of revelations, nor believe in the Son of God. But that any man hath seen the Father, visibly or personally instructing him, since he which is of God, his incarnate Son, he hath seen the Father, is privy to all his consuls and designs; by him all divine discoveries are made, and through his agency the effectual power is communicated to our souls, to hear and receive the gospel-word. Verily, verily I say unto you, as a most undoubted truth, life that believeth in me, hath ever-lasting life; the true believer is already possessed of it by right and title, through Jesus, his glorious covenant-head and representative; it embraces it in faith and hope, hath the earnest and heretofore of it in present grace, and must necessarily be brought to the actual enjoyment of eternal glory hereafter. I am that bread of life; it is from Christ our spiritual life is derived, through him it is supported, and by him it shall be perfected. Your fathers did not manna in the wilderness, and are dead; miraculous as their provision was, it only maintained for a while a temporal life, and did not prevent the ravages of death, or render them immortal. But this is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat throesy, and not die; for whosoever by faith truly feeds upon Christ, shall never die eternally. I am the living bread which came down from heaven, to be the author of spiritual and eternal life: if any man eat of this bread, hanging after the pardon, righteousness, and salvation which Jesus brings, he shall live for ever; though not immortal upon earth, yet sure of an eternity of glory in heaven: and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. His human body, offered up as the great sacrifice for sinners, would be the grand procuring cause of all those inestimable blessings he had mentioned; of which not only the Jews, but the Gentile world would be made partakers.

9. The gross and carnal ideas of the Jews still prevented them from comprehending his meaning. And they drove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Concluding his affection abfurd and improbable, because they under-hood him, as if speaking of his human flesh, which should be eaten like bread. An opinion as monstrous, as that which the Rosæth church hath since adopted concerning the flesh of Jesus, as corporally eaten in the eucharist.

Lafity, Christ confirms and explains what he had said concerning his flesh. It was of absolute necessity, that in a Spiritual sense, that should be done which was figuratively represented by eating his flesh, and drinking his blood; even that they should be vitally united to him by faith, and become one

with him, as the food which is eaten incorporates with our bodies. For verily, verily I say unto you, Kemp ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you; without this union of our souls to him, we can neither have spiritual life here, nor eternal life hereafter. But whose eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, not merely partaking of the elements which represent these; depending on which, many deceive themselves, and think, if they can but receive the sacrament before they die, they shall infallibly be saved; when neither living nor dying will those outward signs at all profit those who are strangers to the inward and (spiritual grace,) I say, it is not partaking of the outward elements, but the spiritual feeding upon Christ and his loving benefits by faith which is both meant; and whoever doth that, hath eternal life, is now entitled to it, and will shortly be put in possession of it; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh it must indeed, and my blood it drink indeed; affording the most delightful nourishment and feast for the soul, infinitely exceeding any corporal refreshment. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, with spiritual appetite and discernment, dwellish in me, and I in him. He is incorporated with Christ, as a member of his body mythical, is entitled to the remission of sins and acceptance with God, which, by the blood-shedding of Jesus, is obtained for all who believe in him, and hath Christ as the quickening spirit formed in his heart, the principle of spiritual life, which shall reach its utmost perfection in eternal glory; the union between him and us once formed, being ever after indissoluble. For as the living Father, who is the fountain of life to every creature, hath sent me, and I, as man and mediator, commissioned by him, live by the Father, supported and enabled to finish the work he hath given me to do; so he that eateth me, united to me by faith, shall live by me; receiving out of my fulness, as the branches are fed by the living root, and their life as eternal as my own. Because I live, ye shall live also. This then is the conclusion of the whole; I am that bread which came down from heaven, concerning which I spoke before, and the properties of which are so transcendently excellent: not as your fathers did eat manna, far different is this bread; that was from the clouds, this from the highest heavens; that was but the type, this the antype and substance; that only supported a momentary life; they who fed thereupon, were subject to all the dissidents and decays incident to mortality, and are dead; but he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

This discourse Jesus held in the synagogue at Capernaum, publicly and openly, that all who defend it might bear and receive his heavenly doctrines. Now, Truth keth us covert. The gospel of Jesus must be declared openly, and will bear the feverish enquiry. His word is truth.

60. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying, who can hear it? 61. When Jesus knew in himself, that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62. Jesus! and if ye shall for the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63. It is the spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68. Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69. And we believe, and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God. 70. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71. He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

61. 60-71. We have here an account of the different effects produced by this discourse on the minds of the hearers.

62. Many who had followed him till then as his nominal disciples were highly shocked at what they heard, taking it in a gross and carnal sense, and not eastering into the spirit of his words; or they were offended at the divine original and operation which he claimed as coequal with God the Father; or, because it was mysterious, they disbelieved his doctrine as absurd: as the infidels and scoffers of our day, who, because the mysteries of grace appear not agreeable to their fallen reason, suppose it a mark of superior understanding to reject them.

63. Christ was apprised of their murmuring; for he bore the hard thoughts which sinners eaterable of him, as well as bears their hard speeches. He searcheth the heart, and therefore re-

plan, Doth this offend you? If the coming down of the Son of man from heaven appears so incredible, What and if ye shall fix the Son of man offend up where he was before? This would perhaps yet more astonish them, considering the means of his present appearance, and might seem still more improbable to happen. As to what he had observed about raising his flesh, this must be understood not corporally, but spiritually: It is the spirit that quickened, the flesh, preformable nothing: the bare participation of the outward ordinances avails nothing to procure eternal life. The sinner’s soul must first be quickened by the power of the Spirit of Jesus, and brought to the discernment of spiritual things, otherwise the most nourishing words of his gospel convey no more to the inward man, than meat doth to the dead couple. The words that I speak unto you, faith be, they are spirit, and they are life; to be understood not in a literal but spiritual doubt, and, accompanied by the power of the Holy Ghost, become the means of quickening the dead sinner’s soul, and maintaining the life which Christ bothers, till it is perfected in eternity. But there are some of you that believe not, professing to be disciples, but in truth not at all experimentally acquainted with the doctrines of the gospel: for Jesus know from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except in some given unto him of my Father, being powerfully drawn by his effectual grace. Note, (1.) Christ knoweth the heart, and sees the unhealthy which reigns within, though covered with the most plausible cloak of profession. (2.) Apollates prove they were always hypocrites. (3.) Unlefs the Lord draw us by his grace, we have neither inclination nor ability to follow him.

3. Many, who had murmured before, now utterly withdrew, and returned to their former occupations, to their own desult ways, and pharisaical teachers, and never made any farther profession, nor attended any more on his ministry. We are not to wonder if we see apollates; nay many, of whom we had formed the most sanguine hopes, go back: it was so from the beginning.

4. Christ hercupon addressed his twelve chosen ones, that he might draw from them a profession of their faith in him: What ye are you away? Not that he doubted their sincerity; but it bepleaks his affection towards them, and his confidence in them; that, whatever others did, they would never follow to bad examples; but in general, at least, cleave to him with unshaken fidelity.

5. Peter’s zealous heart cannot bear the suspicion which the question seemed to intimate, and therefore, in the name of his brethren, he nobly replies, Lord, to whom shall we go? Out of the we can hope for neither pardon, peace, grace nor glory. Turn where we will, misery and destruction meet us. Now, and thou alone, hast the words of eternal life; and we believe all that thou hast lately spoken, and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the loving God. Note, (1.) Peter’s reply must be the answer of every faithful soul, when tempted to quit his profession: To whom shall we go for life and peace? To our God! they will destroy us. To our own works and endeavours! they cannot justify or save us. To the world! it will destroy our expectations. Christ, and Christ alone, is the only foundation of hope and fountain of happiness to a fallen sinner: out of him, nothing but wrath and ruin remain for us. (2.) The more deadly and afforcely we trust in the Son of God, the more we honour him. And that faith which gives him glory, will bring us the most reviving consolations.

6. Jesus answered them, to check too great self-confidence, and prepare them for the issue, Have not I chefen you marks to the distinguished honour of apostleship, and me of you is a devil? published by that wicked spirit, in his heart a traitor and a murderer. He spoke of Judas Hagiot, the Son of Simon; for he it was that should betray him, as Christ will well know; though he was one of the twelve, which aggravated his guilt. Note, (1.) A man, like Judas, may have been the means of calling out devils from others, and yet he a devil himself. Among the most flaming professors there will be found hypocrites and apollates. Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed tell he fall. (2.) The purest features on earth cannot answer for all their members. It is in heaven alone that the wheat will be free from the chaff.