spirit.

new born, and accordingly so here in an high degree; the second, by being born of the Spirit, entering on a new pure spiritual life, and not only passing under those external washings, (agreeable unto which it was that Christ's disciples were admitted not only by water, as John's and the Jews' proselytes were, but by the Holy Ghost's descending upon them, see note [a] Acts i.) he cannot enter, &c.

6 That which is born 6. The actions of a natural man which hath none of the flesh is flesh; of this new Christian birth, that hath not thus given and that which is himself up to a Christian life, will be but natural born of the Spirit is actions, at least but external purifications, restraints of sin in the outward part. But the actions of a spiritual person, thus born anew from that higher principle, a proselyte of Christ's, they will be spiritual, purifications of the very spirit.

7 Marvel not that 7. And therefore you are not to wonder that I tell I said unto thee, Ye you of the necessity of this new birth, undertaking must be born again. this new course, and forsaking the former, nor to think there is nothing in it because it is not visible to your eyes many things have great force in them. whose beginnings are not visible to the eye, or at all known by men.

8 The wind bloweth

sound thereof, but

8. As for example; the wind, which, though nowhere it listeth, and body knows from what part precisely it comes, what thou hearest the beginning it hath, and how produced, and when it canst not tell whence riseth, or what becomes of it when it ceaseth, yet it cometh, and whi- hath most discernible effects, comes with a great ther it goeth: so is force and noise, (which is evidence enough that there every one that is born is such a thing,) is heard by all men: and so is it in of the Spirit.

9 Nicodemus an

10 Jesus answered

this matter; he that is born anew, that undertakes to be a proselyte of Christ, he by the Spirit of God, and those influences that are conveyed to him from Christ, is able to do wonderful things, is discernibly another kind of man than he was before; and so his new birth is and must be seen by the fruits and growth, &c., discernible to himself and others, though the beginnings or source, or means of conveying this unto him, be undiscernible. See Mark iv. 26.

9. Nicodemus still continued ignorant of the meanswered and said un- ing and possibility of the truth of what Christ said, to him, How can and therefore still questioned how this could be? these things be? 10. To which Jesus answered, This that I say of and said unto him, new birth in baptism being not only agreeable to but Art thou a master of perfectly a piece of your doctrine about proselytes, it Israel, and knowest is strange that thou, being a learned Jew, a Pharisee, not these things? and master in Israel, shouldst not understand it. (See note [a] Matt. iii., and note [b] John xiii.)

HAMMOND, VOL. I.

B b

11 Verily, verily, I

say unto thee, We

The things that thou so wonderest at, and wilt not speak that we do believe, I have perfect knowledge of, and assure you know, and testify of the truth of them, but the Jews will not believe me.

that we have seen;

and ye receive not our witness.

12 If I have told

12. Your not believing or understanding (ver. 9.) you earthly things, those things that are ordinary in the Jewish law (see and ye believe not, ver. 31.) is an argument that things of an higher

how shall ye believe,

if I tell you of hea- nature will not be received by you.

venly things?

13 And no man

you

13. And if I shall tell that I am to ascend up hath ascended up to to heaven, and from thence demonstrate to you that heaven, but he that I came down from heaven, and am the very Messias, came down from hea- the eternal Son of God, that am now a man. ven, even the Son of man which is in hea

ven.

even so must the Son

14, 15. And again, that I am to be lifted up on the cross, and thereby to fulfil what was typified by 14 ¶ And as Moses Moses's lifting up the brazen serpent, and that this is lifted up the serpent the way by which I mean to bring all that believe in in the wilderness, me to everlasting life, as all that looked on the brazen of man be lifted up: serpent were cured of whatsoever diseases. 15 That whosoever 16. For herein hath God's unspeakable love been believeth in him expressed to all mankind, that he hath sent his eternal should not perish, Son to assume our nature, and to teach and give exbut have eternal life. amples of holy life, and at last to die for them, and loved the world, that rise again, and ascend to heaven, all on this one dehe gave his only be- sign, that every person in the world that shall receive gotten Son, that and obey him shall be rescued from eternal death, and whosoever believeth then made partaker of eternal life.

16 For God so

in him should not

perish, but

my

my

mission from God 17. For this have Father was everlasting life. designed all in mercy and charity, not to punish or 17 For God sent condemn any man, but on purpose that all men might not his Son into the be rescued from punishment.

the world; but that

world to condemn 18. He that receiveth and obeyeth me is by me the world through secured that he shall escape all punishment, only he him might be saved. that rejecteth me is certainly condemned, (by the pur18 He that be- port of that very covenant, of which mercy to believlieveth on him is not ers is the principal part, all others being absolutely that believeth not is excluded,) for that great sin of refusing of Christ now condemned already, sent to him, as having not embraced that only remedy, because he hath not the only Son of God now offered to him.

condemned: but he

Son of God.

believed in the name 19. And this is it that will aggravate your sin and of the only begotten punishment, that when God made such provision for 19 And this is the you, when Christ came to enlighten and take men off condemnation, that from all their former evil courses, they were so besotlight is come into the ted to their own sinful ways, that they chose rather to world, and men loved continue in them than to be reformed and purified by

darkness rather than

light, because their Christ, or but so much as to be taught their duty by deeds were evil. him.

20 For every one 20. But as he that fears coming into the light, it is that doeth evil hateth certain he hath somewhat to conceal, and that he hath the light, neither cometh to the light, not a mind to part with it; so the refusing to come lest his deeds should and be instructed in the knowledge of his duty by me be reproved. is an evidence that that man is a wicked man, and 21 But he that do- means to continue so, who cannot venture his actions eth truth cometh to the light, that his in the light for fear they be found faulty, and he endeeds may be made gaged to reform them.

22 After these

manifest, that they 21. Whereas he that lives a justifiable life, or reare wrought in God. solves to amend what is amiss, a sincere, upright perthings came Jesus son, will be glad of a director, will come cheerfully to and his disciples into be put in the way of strictest duty, and venture to the land of Judæa; have his actions judged of whether they be right or and there he tarried no, which is an argument that what he doth he doth in with them, and bap- the fear of God and with a good conscience.

tized.

23 ¶ And John also * and receiving those that believed on him baptized was baptizing in Æ- them.

non near to Salim,

much water there:

pur

because there was da place chosen by him as commodious to that and they came, and pose by reason of the pools of water; and thither the people came and were baptized of him there.

were baptized.

24 For John was not yet cast into pri

son.

25 Then there arose a 'question between some of John's

disciples and 5 the

26 And they came

this receiving of proselytes and using the cereJews about purify- mony of baptism, on which occasion mention was ing. made of Christ's using the same ceremony. unto John, and said 26. Hereupon they come and tell John that Christ unto him, Rabbi, he (describing him to him) receiveth proselytes with this that was with thee ceremony, and there is a great recourse to him. beyond Jordan, to f I can do no more than I have commission from God whom thou barest to do, and that commission doth not equal me to him. same baptizeth, and 28. And therefore you cannot but remember that I all men come to him, always said of myself, that I am not the Messias, but 27 John answered only his harbinger.

witness, behold, the

cept it be given him

and said, 'A man can 29. When the bridegroom hath the bride in secret. receive nothing, ex- conference, to consummate the marriage, and the from heaven. friend of the bridegroom hearkens at the door, to hear 28 Ye yourselves whether all succeed well or no, if the bridegroom sigbear me witness, that nify (by some form of speech that was usual to that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I purpose) that all succeeds prosperously, then that am sent before him. friend rejoices exceedingly; and thus is it with me in 29 [6] He that hath my attendance on Christ at this time.

3

5 a Jew:

2 because. 4 were many waters, ὕδατα πολλὰ ἦν. dispute, ζήτησις. so the King's MS and others read, μerà 'Iovdaíov. So the Syriac, Chrysostome, Theophylact, Nonnus, and all the copies of Paris but one, saith Lucas Brugensis.

the bride is the bridegroom:

30. And of him I shall farther foretell you, that he but the shall increase daily in splendour and fame, and I progroom, which stand- portionably decrease.

friend of the bride

For

eth and heareth him, 31. And it is all reason that it should be so. rejoiceth greatly be- he cometh from heaven, and so must needs be supecause of the bride- rior to all such as I, who am an earthly man, having groom's voice: this my joy therefore is my original from the earth, made up or compounded of earth; and therefore what I say or do is but of an 30 He must in- earthy, but what he, of a much higher original; my crease, but I must baptizing is but like the rest of your Jewish baptisms, (see ver. 12,) only with water, but his with the Holy Ghost also.

fulfilled.

decrease.

31 He that cometh from above is above

all he that is of the 32. And the thing which he teacheth he knows to earth is earthly, and be true, having received it from his Father, but the speaketh of the earth: multitude of men in the world receive not his testihe that cometh from heaven is above all, mony, believe not that he is sent from God.

32 And what he 33. He that doth receive it doth in effect no more hath seen and heard, but bear witness unto and acknowledge the veracity that he testifieth; of God himself, it being as impossible that one so sent from God as Christ should lie, as that God should lie himself.

and no man receiveth

his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimo

34. The former prophets had the Spirit in a limited ny hath set to his measure bestowed on them by God, to go on such or seal that God is true. such an errand, on which God sent them, and it is 34 For he whom therefore, Thus saith the Lord, to all their prophecies; God hath sent speaketh the words of but on Christ the Spirit descended once for all, and God: for God giveth commanded belief of all that he should say.

measure unto him.

not the Spirit by 35. Christ is the well beloved of his Father, and by him God hath revealed to us all things fit to re35 The Father loveth the Son, and veal: (see Matt. iii. 17.) And therefore hath given all things into his hand.

on the Son hath ever

36. Whosoever gives up his faith and obedience to him is in a course which will bring him to all felicity 36 He that believeth eternally; and on the contrary, he that stands out conlasting life: and he tumaciously against his doctrine continues immutably that believeth not the and inevitably under the wrath of God, due to him Son shall not see life; both for his former sins and this addition of his standbut the wrath of God ing out against this powerful method of God's for the recalling him.

abideth on him.

WHEN therefore

CHAP. IV.

a the Lord knew how a Christ knew that the Pharisees heard of his rethe Pharisees had

heard that Jesus ceiving more proselytes by that ceremony of baptism made and baptized or washing than John, (though—

more disciples than

John,

2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

into Galilee.

3 He left Judæa, 3. Considering the danger that this might bring and departed again upon him from the sanhedrim of the Jews, it being 4 And he must not yet the fit season for him to leave the world till needs go through he had farther disseminated his doctrine, he left Judæa for a time and departed

Samaria.

5 Then cometh he 4. And Samaria was in his way.

to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

6 Now Jacob's well

6. In this place was the well which Jacob once

was there. Jesus digged, on which occasion Jesus being weary of tratherefore, being wea- vail sat down close by it on the ground, and it was ried with his journey, sat [a] thus 'on about twelve of the clock, mid-day.

the well: and it

was about the sixth hour.

7 There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

8 (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9 Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no

b

commerce or communication of familiarity with

b dealings with the Samaritans.

IO Jesus answered and said unto her,

it is that saith to thee,

the Samaritans.

If thou knewest the e what a mercy and bounty of God is now designed gift of God, and who thee, and who it is that made that request to thee, on Give me to drink, purpose that thou mightest be partaker of a far greater thou wouldest have gift, thou wouldst not have startled at this request, asked of him, and he but have made advantage of it to ask, and he would would have given certainly have given thee that fountain water, of a thee [6]living water, divine special quality, which would have yielded thee unto him, Sir, thou eternal life.

II The woman saith

hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater