Passion Sunday The Gospel John. 6.v.1 Wednesday Meditation: A Plaine Path-way To Heaven Thomas Hill 1634


GOSPEL (John 8:46-59) 
At that time, Jesus said to the crowds of the Jews, "Which of you shall convince me of sin? If I say the truth to you, why do you not believe me: He that is of God heareth the words of God. Therefore you hear them not, because you are not of God." The Jews therefore answered and said to him: "Do not we say well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil?" Jesus answered: "I have not a devil: but I honour my Father. And you have dishonoured me. But I seek not my own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Amen, amen, I say to you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever." The Jews therefore said: "Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets: and thou sayest: If any man keep my word, he shall not taste death for ever. Art thou greater than our father Abraham who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Whom dost thou make thyself?" Jesus answered: "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifieth me, of whom you say that he is your God. And you have not known him: but I know him. And if I shall say that I know him not, I shall be like to you, a liar. But I do know him and do keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he might see my day: he saw it and was glad." The Jews therefore said to him: "Thou art not yet fifty years old. And hast thou seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them:"Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I AM." They took up stones therefore to cast at him. But Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Wednesday

Christ expostulated with the Jews thus: If I tell you the truth, why do you not believe me?

As if he should say: If I tell you the truth, & confirm it with miracles, & do not contradict it in my life and conversation, why do you not believe me?

Sure there is some other cause then the incredibility of my doctrine. Sure that is but a false pretense: the matter is some secret sins, and worldly delights, you are so much addicted unto, that you're loth to leave them.

For as Christ said in the gospel, he that doth evil liveth not the light, that is to say, the light of the word of God preached unto him, least his works should reproved.

Come, saith the scripture in the person of wicked men. let us putt down the just man, because his works are contrary to our, and condemn us; & the like no doubt will they say and do, if they could, when the preacher reproveth their works in his sermon.

Theses the general reason why people ate not willing or forward, but rather fearful to hear sermons least they should in general terms at least be reprehended and inveighed against for their sins, they would not hear of they sins nor understand, as the Prophet David observeth, least they should do well, least they should leave their sins & evil customs, which they are unwilling to do, being holden fast as it were in fetter with the delight of their sins.

This was the true cause that the Jews, and especially the Scribes and Pharisees and chief of the priests,here and at other times, could not endure to hear the doctrine of Christ, especially if he touched them any thing plainly, as here and oftentimes else he did. The reason why we love not to hear the word of God, is , because it telleth us the truth: we love the light of truth, saieth St. Bernard, shinning upon us, but not rebuking us. We desire to be flattered, and humored, which the Prophet David callieth flat lying: O ye sons of men, how long will you love vanity, and seek a lie rather then truth: King Achab said of Micheas the Prophet, I hate him, because he Prophesied to me evil & not good, that is to say pleasing to my humor. .

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