Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A45241
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An exposition of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to John by Geo. Hutcheson.
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Hutcheson, George, 1615-1674.
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1657
(1657)
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Wing H3826; ESTC R11373
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940,105
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442
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the desert of sin that we may abhorre it and to reade his love toward his peuple Rom. 5.8 Verse 6. When the chief Priests therefore and officers saw him they cried out saying Crucifie him crucifie him Pilate saith unto them Take ye him and crucifie him for I finde no fault in him 7. The Jewes answered him We have a law and by our law he ought to die because he made himself the Sonne of God In the third branch of this part of the chapter is recorded the successe and fruit of this policy of Pilate to wit that this sight of Christ did not move them to pity but awaked their cruelty and made them importunately to cry out that he might be put to death and that Pilate declining to be their butcher in executing of an innocent man they bring a new accusation against Christ that he was a blasphemer and therefore by their law ought to be put to death wherein finding Pilate not much moved with the accusation concerning his Kingdome as seeing little hazard to the State in tolerating Christ they bring in this accusation from their law wherein he behoved to credit them as not being able to judge it of himself Whence learn 1. Persecutors will not be satisfied with any measure of affliction so long as Christ or his truth or cause have anie life in them for when the chiefe Priests and officers saw him they cried out saying Crucifie him crucifie him as thirsting for his death though he was already sore afflicted and what they cannot obtain with reason they will endeavour to prevail in it by impudent importunity and tumultuous out-cries 2. Christ submitted to be denied all pity in his sufferings and to have mens face hid from him not only that he might sanctifie such a lot to his followers but that they might finde bowels of pity under their troubles in so far as shall be for their good Jer. 15.11 and 31.20 for so much may be gathered from this part of his suffering that he found no compassion but was cruelly pursued 3. Divine justice pursuing sin could not be satisfied but only by the death of the Surety of sinners nor could that burning fire be quenched but by his blood for there was an over-ruling hand of God craving for compleat satisfaction to justice in his being crucified 4. A natural conscience may cleave long to truth and duty against much opposition and yet at last quit it for so much appears in Pilate who notwithstanding all this vehemency yet stands by his point Take ye him saith he and crucifie him of the meaning whereof see chap. 18.31 for I finde no fault in him He declines for their pleasure to crucifie an innocent and will rather let them do it then put his hand to it Only it is to be marked that however this permission point out chiefly a sad reflexion on their cruelty and injustice yet it insinuates also that his chief scope was to be rid of this processe since he could not get his will but that succeeds not since he employed not his power to rescue the innocent And indeed when men have any light or conscience in trying times and cases they will not get leave to lurk but must either closely follow their light and act by it in their stations or else they will be given up to go over the belly of light and act against it as Pilate did 5. Persecutors are incessant and endlesse in their machinations plots and calumnies against Christ and his followers And when one plot or accusation miscarrieth they will be sure to finde another for so do they here when the former challenge that he made himselfe a King avails not they bring another and do not claime to any power upon Pilates concession but do take upon them only to point out the law 6. Where Religion keeps not the first place it is an argument of no zeal whatever men do pretend for in this they bewray their unsoundnesse that this accusation of blasphemy cometh in the second place after that of his being an enemy to Cesar which they first propounded as was cleared on Chap. 18.33 7. Such as are indeed blasphemers and do arrogate to themselves what is proper to God only by the law of God they ought to be put to death for it was indeed agreeable to the law and may be taken in as a branch of that law against blasphemy Lev. 24.16 that he ought to die who maketh himselfe the Son of God But Christ was not guilty who did not make himselfe but was indeed the Son of God 8. It is no strange thing to see corrupt and bloody men cry down most necessary and saving truths as blasphemous errours and to abuse and misapply Scriptures for that end and to deceive others for they reckon that saving truth of Christs Godhead to be blasphemy and wrest the Scriptures to draw Pilate to be of their minde we have a law and by our law he ought to die c. Ver. 8. When Pilate therefore heard that saying he was the more afraid 9. And went again into the judgement hall and saith unto Jesus Whence art thou But Jesus gave him no answer In the last branch of this part of the Chapter we have recorded some consequents and effects following upon this last accusation before Pilate is perswaded to condemne him And in the first place in these verses is declared that Pilate hearing this is so far from condescending to their desire that he is the more afraid hearing tell of the divinity of him whom he judged to be innocent and of whose fame he no doubt heard much v. 8. And that studying to informe himselfe concerning this matter by conference with Christ himselfe he gets no answer v. 9. Whence learn 1. It is evident to right discerners that all the designes and well contrived plots of persecutors would little availe but rather turn to their prejudice and disappointment if the Lord see it sit to exempt his people from trial for albeit God would not have Christ delivered yet this new accusation doth not make Pilate more forward to persecute Christ but more afraid to meddle with him See Prov. 21.30 2. Such as do but halt in following their duty will have more fear and trouble then even sufferers who walk streightly for it is insinuate that Pilate who did not closely follow his light had fear before and now he was more afraid upon this information as having walked upon so unsafe grounds 3. Serious thoughts of a deity will strike terrour even in a natural heart and conscience especially when they are following a course which their own conscience cannot approve for when he heard that saying of his making himselfe the Son of God he was the more afraid considering what he had done to him and that contrary to his light And albeit it be not sufficient that men have a fear or horrour only upon the thoughts of a Godhead unlesse it be seasoned with love Yet
and Gods preserving of them many times and making the work prosper in their hands in the midst of their sufferings more then if these malicious men had never opposed them Fourthly as for the particulars whereof they are to be convinced sin righteousness and judgement they come to be more distinctly spoken to in the following verses where the grounds of this conviction are spoken of Here in general it sufficeth us to know 1. If we â—ook upon this work of conviction as it is common to elect and reprobate and as the Spirits testimony about them relates to Christ and the Christian Religion These were the points of contraversie betwixt the Apostles in preaching of the Gospel and the world For Christ being the subject of the Gospel the great opposition related unto him whether he was the Son of God and true Messiah and therefore whether they were guilty of great sin who did not beleeve him and receive his testimony and continued still in a state of sin so long as they embraced not him Whether he was righteous in himselfe and the only giver of righteousness to sinners or a seducer and Samaritan and one without whom they were righteous as the world alleaged And whether he was an exalted Prince above Satan and all powers and idols able to absolve his friends and subjects and condemne his enemies or only a mockery and a base person as he was traduced to be All which he promiseth shall be determined to their advantage 2. If we look on this aâ— it is proper to the Elect in the work of their conversion the words contain a sweet method of bringing about this work first to convince them of sin by letting them see the hazard of their natural condition through continuance in unbelief Next to convince them of righteousnesse to be had in Christ only as a remedy to this condition And then to convince them of judgement and dominion and of deliverance from spiritual slavery and the pulling down of Satans kingdome by being in him Of all which albeit the reprobate may get a common conviction as it is hinted in the former consideration yet these things are further and more effectually and savingly carried on in the hearts of the Elect to their conversion and setling upon Christ This purpose thus explained by parts may be taken up in this brief summe That whereas the Apostles after Christs departure were to be engaged in hard service with much disadvantage and difficulty Christ comforts them by shewing that he would poure such a measure of the Spirit upon them and by his Spirit so accompany them in their Ministry as should make it successeful in the world to the conviction even of enemies and reprobates and to the further gaining upon others So that the work should go on his Kingdome be established in the world and his glory shine and they be comforted and carried through notwithstanding all the opposition they should meet with From the words so cleared Learn 1. The service of the Ministers of Christ in carrying through the work of the Gospel is not only difficult but impossible unlesse they be singularly assisted by Christ therein for so is here imported that they need the Spirit for carrying on of this work 2. The Spirit of Christ accompanying weak means and instruments can bring about great things to the advancement of his Kingdome in the world without any visible force and with meere spiritual weapons in despight of all opposition can be made thereunto for so is here promised that the Spirit in them and with them shall effectuate this work how weak so ever they were 3. It is the great consolation of Christs faithful servants and followers to enjoy his presence and blessing upon their calling and employment and particularly of faithful Ministers to have his Kingdome prosper and men wrought upon by their Ministry for this is the Apostles encouragement and in this the Spirit is a Comforter to them that he shall convince the world to make their labours successeful 4. The men of the world are very corrupt and ill principled in reference to the doctrine of the Gospel and have very many mountains standing in the way thereof for they need to be convinced of all these points here mentioned and have opinions and principles opposite thereunto to be rooted out as the Word imports 5. These corrupt principles of the world are not easie to be rooted out but will require great light and strong conviction before they be put from them for they must be convinced and argued out of them to the contrary opinion before they quit them 6. For conviction of the world it will not be sufficient that never so sharp reproofes be given them nor yet only that they have clear light and evidence of what they are to assent unto unlesse also the Spirit come to bear in these things upon them and effectually convince thereof for it is he who must convince the world not only by sufficient external means and operations without them but by inward working making that effectual 7. The Spirit of the Lord is an effectual convincer where he pleaseth to work where clear illumination and strong reasoning will not avail he can irresistibly convince and batter down strong holds And where he will not convert yet he can so put to silence and bridle opposition that it shall be ineffectual for he shall convince the world saith he 8. As Christs saving work on his people must begin with and be carryed on by the convictions of the Spirit So they may get convictions and that by the Spirit who never yet more and are never converted for on the one hand conviction is so far from saving grace that they who have it in a deep measure have yet need not only of faith but also of repentance Acts 1.37 38. and on the other hand it concerneth God in his honour sometime to go this far on with the world for the promoving of his Kingdome and that they may not go on with a high hand Therefore it is promised that he shall convince even the world So that they who were never convinced are yet in a worse condition and do not know how soon the Lord may kindle that sire in their bosome though they sleep secure for the present And men would not rest upon convictions when the Lord lets them see sinne and yet never removeth it righteousnesse and yet never conferreth it and judgement of authority to absolve the righteous and condemne the wicked and yet never giveth them to flee to Christ to obtain the one or to be freed from the other 9. The Spirits manifestations and operations in the primitive dayes of the Gospel do abundantly assert the truth of Christian Religion and refute all the corrupt principles of men concerning Christ So that all who then saw or felt them or since do hear thereof by the sound of the Gospel still accompanied with the ordinary operations of the Spirit where it is