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The Man is called again before the Sanhedrim, Sect. 130. the Event, when he works with, than without Means; and that all the Creatures are only that, which his Almighty Operation makes them.

Ver. -7.

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Ver. 15, 17, 18, 19.

The Blind Man believed, and received the immediate Benefit of it. Had he reafoned, like Naaman, on the Impropriety of the Means, he had justly been left in Darkness. Lord, may our proud Hearts be fubdued to the Methods of thy recovering Grace! And may we leave it to Thee to chuse, how thou wilt bestow Favours, which it is our highest Interest on any Terms to receive!

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It must be a Satisfaction to every true Christian, to observe the Curiosity and Exactness, with which these Pharisees enquired into the Miracles of Christ, and how thoroughly they canvassed every Circumstance of them. A Truth like this, need not fear any Examination. Every new Witness which they heard, confirmed the Cafe, and confounded the Obstinacy of

Ver. 20,-23. their Unbelief. But surely the Weakness of the Parents was very pitiable, who in the midst of the Evidence and Obligation of such a Miracle, were more afraid of incurring a Human Sentence, than of offending God, by failing to own so great a Favour, and to confess the blessed Person by whom it was wrought. The Fear of Man bringeth a Snare: (Prov. xxix. 25.) But they, whofe Eyes Christ has opened in a spiritual Sense, will fee a Glory and Excellence in him, which will animate them boldly to bear their Testimony to him, in Defiance of all the Censures which Men can pass, or of all the Penalties by which they can inforce them.

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Sect.

131.

SECT. СХХХІ..

The Man who was born Blind, that had received his Sight, is a fecond Time examined before the Sanhedrim, who, provoked by the Freedom of his Replies, excommunicate bim; but JESUS meets him, and declares himself to be the Son of GOD. John IX. 24,----38..

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JOHN IX. 24.

OW as the Sanhedrim were not able to discover any Fraud in the Miracle mentioned John IX. 24. in the preceding Section, by examining the Parents, they therefore called a second Time for the Man who had been. Blind, and faid to him, Give Glory to GOD, by a free Confeffion of the Fraud, if there be any Collufion or Artifice in this Af

fair;

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who would perfuade him, JESUS was a Sinner.

Gon the Praife: we know

that this Man is a Sinner.

25 He answered and faid, Whether he be a Sinner, or No, I know not: one Thing I know, that whereas I was blind, now I fee.

26 Then faid they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine Eyes?.

27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his Disciples?

28: Then they reviled

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fair (a); or if the Cure was really wrought in the Sect. 131.
Manner thou affirmest, acknowledge the Power,
Sovereignty, and Goodness of the Divine Being, in John IX. 24.1
working by so unworthy an Instrument; for we
certainly know, that this Jesus of Nazareth, the
Man of whom thou speakest, is a profligate Sin-
ner (b), and deserves publick Punishment, rather
than Esteem.

Then anfwered be, and faid, If he be a Sinner, 25
I know not any thing of it, having no personal
Acquaintance with him; but one Thing I certainly
know, and will stand to the Truth of it, that
whereas. I was Blind even from my Birth, I now
fee perfectly well, and owe my Sight to the very
Person whom you condemn.

But they again faid to him, hoping that in some 26
minute Circumstance at least he might contradict
his former Account, and give them some Advan-
tage against him, Tell us once more, as particu
larly as thou canst, what did he unto thee? and
how did he open thine Eyes?

And as the Man perceived that they intended 27
only to insnare him, be answered them eagerly, I
have told you already, and ye have not regarded
what I faid, nor would at all believe me: Why
would you defire to hear it again? Would you alfo
become his Difciples, as many have lately done,,
and fome, perhaps, on Occasion of this Miracle:
which he has performed on me?

The Pharifees then were filled with Indignation, 28
him, and were so greatly exafperated, at what appeared

to

(a) Give Glory to GOD, by a free Confeffion of the Fraud, &c.] As it is greatly for the Honour of the Divine Omniscience and Providence, that Persons who are guilty of Crimes not fully proved against them, should freely confess them; and not prefume, against the Dictates of Confcience, to maintain their own Innocence; there is a great Propriety in the Phrafe taken in this Sense: (Compare Joh. vii. 19. and Rev. xi. 13.) Yet some have taken it, as a general Adjuration by the glorious Name of GOD; (as I Kings xxii. 16.. 2 Chron. xviii. 15. and Mat. xxvi. 63:) - The Words also admit another Sense, which I have comprehended in the Paraphrase; but I prefer the former.

(b) This Man is a Sinner.] I cannot, with Mr. Locke, (Reasonableness of Chriftianity, pag. 28.) imagine this any Proof of a Tradition among the Jews, that the Meffiah should! be perfectly free from Sin; but rather conclude, that Sinner here, as in ver. 16. fignifies a notoriously wicked Man. It was certain from the Principles of their Sacred Writings, that a Person not entirely finless, might perform very illustrious Miracles. But how fevere an Insult was here on the Character of our Redeemer, to be pronounced a known Scandalous Sinner, by this high Court of Judicature? An Infamy, which has seldom, in any civilized. Country, fallen on any Person not legally convicted..

(c) We

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206. He argues from the Miracle, that he was fent of GOD. Sect. 131. to them so infolent a Speech, that they reviled him, and faid, Thou art his bim in very opprobrious Language, and faid, Thou Disciple; but we are Mofes John IX. 28. Disciples. art indeed this Fellow's Difciple, as many of the Herd of ignorant People are; but we would have thee to know, that we scorn the Imputation, for we are the Disciples of Mofes (c), and are too firmly attached to that great and holy Prophet, to re

29 gard such a Deceiver as this.

30

We well know

that GOD fpake to Mofes (d), and gave the most
ample Evidence of sending him with a Divine
Commiffion; but as for this Man, we know not
from whence he is, nor can we perceive any fatis-
factory Credentials of his bringing any Message

from GOD to us.

And the Man replied with a becoming Free-
dom of Spirit, and faid unto them, Why, in this
Respect it is strange, that ye know not whence be
is, and yet it is plain, that he has opened my Eyes.
31 Now we all know in general, that GOD beareth
not Sinners, and that Persons of infamous Charac-
ters and immoral Lives cannot expect the Divine
Acceptance in any common Petition which they
offer, much less for the Performance of a Miracle;
but if any Man be truly devout, and faithfully do bis
Will, him indeed he heareth with a favourable Re-
gard: When therefore GOD is found to hear a Man
in such an extraordinary Instance as this, there seems
the greatest Reason to believe, he is a Person whose
Temper and Character are approved by him.

32 And this is plainly an extraordinary Instance; for
from the Beginning of the World it was never heard,
that any Man opened the Eyes of one who, like me,
was born Blind. It is surprizing therefore, that
you, who allow that Mofes was a Prophet, on

the

29 We know that Gon spake unto Mofes: as for this Fellow, we know not from whence he is.

30 The Man answered and faid unto them, Why, herein is a marvellous Thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine Eyes. 31 Now we know that GOD heareth not Sinners: but if any Man be a Worshipper of Gon, and dotk his Will, him he heareth.

32 Since the World began was it not heard, that any Man opened the Eyes of one that was born blind.

(c) We are the Disciples of Moses.] Hereby they craftily, but most maliciously and falsely. infinuated, that there was such an Oppofition between Mofes and Jesus, that it was impoffible for the fame Persons to be the Disciples of both.

(d) We know that GOD spake to Mofes.] Their Partiality here was inexcusable; for if they believed the Mission of Moses, on the Evidence of Miracles, credibly attested indeed, but performed Two thousand Years before they were born; it was much more reasonable, on their own Principles, to believe the Mission of Jesus, on at least equal Miracles, wrought daily among them, when they might in many Instances have been Eye-witnesses to the Facts; and one of which, notwithstanding all their Malice, they were here compelled to own, or at least found themselves utterly unable to disprove.

(e) With

They are provoked at his Replies, and excommunicate him.

33 If this Man were not of GOD, he could do nothing.

34 They answered and

faid unto him, Thou wast altogether born in Sins, and doft thou teach us?' And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they Had caft him out, and when he had found him, he said unto him, Doft thou believe

on the Son of GOD?

36 He answered, and faid, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?

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the Authority of his Miracles, should in this Cafe Sect. 131.
judge so hardly of my Deliverer, whoever he be.

But every unprejudiced Person may easily fee, that John IX. 33-
if this Man were not sent of GOD, he could do
nothing of this Kind.

And not being able to endure so plain and 34
forcible a Reproof, which even stung them to
the Heart, they answered and faid to him, with
great Hatred and Scorn, Thou vile presumptuous
Wretch, thou wast entirely born in Sins, and didst
bring into the World with thee most evident
Tokens of Divine Wrath and Vengeance; and
doft thou insolently pretend to teach us, the Guides
of the National Faith, and Members of the fu-
pream Court of Ecclesiastical Judicature? We
shall find out a Way to correct this Arrogance..
And immediately they cast him out of the Syna-
gogue, paffing a folem Sentence of Excommu-
nication upon him, tho' there was no Shadow of
Proof that he had deserved it.

Now Jefus quickly heard of their arbitrary 35
Proceedings, that they had thus passed Sentence

on the poor Man, and had cast him out for his
Sake; and finding him soon after, he said to him
privately, Doft thou believe on the Son of GOD,
the great expected Meffiah?

He answered and faid, Sir, who is be, that I 36
may believe on him? I know that such a glorious
Person is expected; and if he be already come,
tell me but who he is, and where I may meet
with him, and I am ready to express a due Re-
gard to him, who shall be pointed out to me un-
der that honourable and important Character.

Then Jefus, to encourage him under what he was 37
now fuffering on his Account, faid to him, with a
Degree of Freedom which was very unusual (e),,

37 And Jesus faid unto him, Thou hast both feen him,

Thou

(e) With a Degree of Freedom very unusual.] We have formerly observed the wife Caution of Jesus on this Head. See Sect. 29. Note (q). Vol. i. pag. 177. - The Freedom here: used may be accounted for, by confidering the extraordinary Circumstances of the Cafe; this being the first Instance, in which any one had incurred the great Inconveniences attending a Sentence of Excommunication, out of Zeal for the Honour of Christ. No doubt, this paffed privately between our Lord and this good Man, tho' presently after others joined. the Conversation, as we observe in the Beginning of the next Section.

(f) More

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Reflections on the Force and Prevalence of Truth.

Sect. 131. Thou hast no Need of going far to seek him; him, and it is he that talk

☑ for thou hast both already seen him, and had ExpeJohn IX. 37. rience of his Power and Goodness: It was he that miraculously opened thine Eyes, and it is even be, that is now talking with thee, who is that very Perfon.

38

John ix. 24,--27.

Ver. 28, 29.

Ver. 30.

Ver. 31.

eth with thee.

38 And he faid, Lord, I

And immediately yielding to that convincing Ar-
gument, which arose from what he had himself believe. And he worshipped

experienced of his Almighty Power, be faid, Lord,
I most readily believe, that thou art he, and hum-
bly proftrate myself before thee, to render thee
due Homage as such. And falling down at his
Feet, he worshipped him.

S

him.

IMPROVEMENT.

O little does Truth fear repeated Examinations; and thus does it, after every Trial, come forth like pure Gold out of the Furnace. So did this Miracle of Christ appear to these subtile Adversaries; so will the Chriftian Cause appear to all, who will diligently search into its Evidence.

Who can forbear wondering at the Obstinacy of these Pharifees, and on the fame Principles, at that of the present Jews, who while they acknowledge that GOD fpake by Mofes, because he wrought Miracles, will not on the Evidence of yet more various and glorious Miracles (f), and those attested beyond all Contradiction, acknowledge the Authority of the Son of GOD himself?

But we fee, this poor illiterate Creature, (for such he undoubtedly was,) with the Advantage of Truth on his Side, baffles all the Sophistry of his most learned Antagonists. Great is the Truth, and it will prevail. Great is this Truth, so fundamental to the Gospel, that Jefus is the Son of GOD: And this also, which is so important to Natural Religion and Revealed, that GOD heareth not Sinners; but if any Man be a Worshipper of GOD, and do his Will, him he hears, and most favourably regards. May we be truly devout, and add to our Devotion an obedient Regard to the Divine Will, and the Eyes of the Lord will be upon us, and his Ears be open to our Cry! (Pfal. xxxiv. 15.) Then, being favourably owned of GOD, Wer. 35,-37. we shall have no Reason to fear the Cenfures of Men. If they cast us out, Christ will receive us, and perhaps reveal himself to us with more Freedom, in Proportion to the Injuries we sustain from them.

Ver. 34.

(f) More various and glorious Miracles.) A beautiful Parallel between the Miracles of Mofes, and Christ, is drawn by Orobio on the one hand, and Limborch on the other. Limb. Collat. cum Judæo, Scrip. iii. Quast. 4. N°. 3. pag. 131, & feq. and Refp. ad Scrip. iii. pag. 151, & feq.

SECT.

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