ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. V.

↑ 2. A pond.) This is as great a wonder and work as was in the old Law, yet never recorded in the Scripture before: the conditions and circumstances of the same much to be distinctly weighed against the miscreants of this time for many causes. First, that God without derogation to his honour, yea to the great commendation of it, doth give virtue of miracles and cure to water or other creatures. Secondly, that he giveth such virtues to these creatures specially which be by use and occupying in sacred functions or otherwise, as it were sanctified: for this pond was it wherein the carcasses of sheep (therefore called Probatica) and other beasts to be sacrificed, were first washed, to which being always red (as St. Jerom saith) with the blood of hosts, this force was given, for the commendation of the Sacrifices of the Law there offered. How much more may we acknowledge such works of God miraculously done in or about the Sacrifice or Sacraments of the new Testament, which faithless men wholly reject and condemn for fables, because they know not the Scriptures nor the power of God. Thirdly, that this operation was given at one time more than another, and rather on great festival days than other vulgar times (for this was the feast of Pasch or of Pentecost) as days more sanctified, and when the people made greater concourse: which showeth that we should not wonder to see miracles done at the Memories and feasts of Martyrs or other great Festivities, more than at other places and times. Fourthly, that the Angels or some special Saints are Presidents or Patrons of such places of miracle, and workers also under God of the effects that there extraordinarily be done. Which ought to make Christians less doubt, that the force of diverse waters in the world is justly attributed by our forefathers and good stories to the prayers and presence of Saints, which profane incredulous men refer only to nature, untruly pretending that God is more glorified by the works of nature, which be of his ordinary providence, than by the graces of Miracle given to his Saints or Angels by his extraordinary providence. Fifthly, that miracles be not wrought on men by their faith only and as well by their presence in spirit as in body, or upon the party’s desire or devotion only, according to the Heretics pretext that God is alike present by his power and grace to every man and place: and therefore that men need not to go from their own houses or countries to seek holiness or health at the places of Christ’s or his Saint’s birth, death, memories: for none could have benefit of this water but he that could touch it, and be in it corporally, and at that just time when the water was in motion by the Angel. Yea sixthly, we may consider that in such cases to make the matter more marvellous, rare and more earnestly to be sought for, and to signify to us that God hath all such extraordinary operations in his own will and commandment, without all rules of our reasons and questioning thereon, none could be healed but that person who first could get into the pond after the Angel came and stirred the same. Seventhly, that these graces of corporal cures given to this water, * prefigure the like force of the Sacrament of Baptism for the cure of souls, though we need not seek correspondence thereof to the figure in every point. Lastly, Christ by his power of excellence and prerogative could and did heal this poor man that could get no body to help him into the water, because he earnestly and long desired the remedy by God appointed, but was excluded by necessity: as our Lord saveth all such as die without Baptism, if they in their own persons earnestly intended, desired and sought for the same.

↑ 14. Sin no more.) We may gather hereby that this man’s long infirmity was for punishment of sins, and that men often attribute their sickness to other natural defects, and seek for remedies of the world in vain, when the sin for which it was sent, remaineth, or is not repented of: and therefore that in all infirmities men should first turn to God and go to their Ghostly father, and then call for the wordly Physicians afterward.

↑ 34. I receive not.) Our Master meaneth that man’s testimony is not necessary to him, nor that the truth of his Divinity dependeth on worldly witnesses, or men’s commendations: though to us such testimonies be agreeable and necessary. And so for our instruction he vouchsafed to take the testimonies of John the Baptist and Moyses and the Prophets: and departing out of this world, to send forth all his Apostles, and in them all Bishops and Lawful Pastors, to be his witnesses from Jerusalem to the ends of the world.

↑ 39. Search the scriptures.) He reprehendeth the Jews, that reading daily the Scriptures and acknowledging that in them they should find life and salvation, they yet looked over them so superficially that they could not find therein him to be CHRIST their King, Lord, Life and Saviour. For the special masters and Scribes of the Jews then, were like unto our Heretics now, who be ever talking and turning and shuffling the Scriptures, but are of all men most ignorant in the deep knowledge thereof. And therefore our Master referreth them not to the reading only or learning them without book, or having the sentences thereof gloriously painted or written in their Temple, houses, or coats: but to the deep search of the meaning and mysteries of the Scriptures, which are not so easily to be seen in the letter.