Christ shewes in Ioh. 6.45. which of these tea∣chings the Prophet heere speakes of: for he alledgeth this text, and therefore we neede not seeke for a better expositor. It is writ∣ten in the Prophets (saith he) And they shall be all taught of God. Whosoeuer then hath heard and learned of the Father, commeth vnto me. If this place then should be vnder∣stood of the externall preaching, that which Iesus Christ concludes hence would not be firme enough. For this is no good conse∣quence, [ 1] The Gospell is preached, therefore [ 2] all beleeue: for many resist it, others openly [ 3] scorne it, and some are hypocrites. The elect only who are chosen to eternall life become teachable, to whom properly it belongs to be accounted in the number of Christ his true disciples. The Gospell I grant is preached indifferentlie both to the elect & castawaies, but the elect only come to Christ, because they are taught of God. Hence let vs conclude then, that the Prophet speakes in this place of them, and of none other.
By this we may see, how and by what meanes wee are made liuing and pretious stones to serue in the building of the Lords spirituall temple, to wit, vvhen the Lord hath squared and polished vs by his holy spirit: and to the outward preaching of his vvord, ioines the inward power and efficacie of the same spirit. And thus we are also taught how great the peruersitie of mans vn∣derstanding is, in that it can not be bowed nor reformed, vnlesse the Lord worke vpon the same mightily by the powerfull opera∣tion of his blessed spirit.
Our Prophet hath conioined these two maners of teaching together, to wit, both the inward, and the outward. For he calles those the children of the Church, who are taught of the Lord: if they be children, then haue they bin conceiued in her womb, and nurced vp in her lap, first with milke, afterward with strong meate, 1. Cor. 3.2. Hebr. 5.12.13.14. vn∣till they grow vp, and become perfect men in Christ Iesus, as Paul speakes Ephes. 4.13. The outward ministrie of the word then is requi∣red if we will be his disciples.
Whence it appeares, how absurd and bloc∣kish the rauing of those fantasticall spirits is, who peruert this testimonie, to ouerthrow the preaching of the word, and the ministrie of the Church. For children of the Church can they not be, vnlesse they will be nouri∣shed vp in her lap. Let them goe then with their secret reuelations; for the holy Ghost teacheth none but such as submit themselues vnder the Churches ministrie. Well may such be the disciples and children of Satan, but not of God, seeing they contemne the order which hee hath established. For these two points, to wit, the children of the Church, and the schollers of God, are so lincked together, that those who refuse to be taught of the Church shall neuer be Gods disciples. I grant they must be aptly distinguished, euen as Isaiah al∣so doth, lest that be attributed to men which only belongs to the power of the holy Ghost. And yet they must be so lincked one to the other, that we must know that in this worke God will serue his turne by man.
Moreouer by this verse we are taught, that Gods calling works with efficacie in his elect. S. Augustine hath prudentlie pondered this place, and very fitlie applies it against the Pellagians, who extolled mans free will a∣gainst the free grace of God. These Heretiks I grant seemed to attribute somewhat vnto Gods grace, but in such sort, that they left it to the free will of man either to chuse or re∣fuse: which our Papists do at this day, who af∣firme that euery one may reiect or receiue this grace. But all, saith S. Augustine, shall be taught of God. His disciples therefore are taught with efficacie, and follow his calling, Ioh. 10.27. He also alledgeth that sixth of Iohn by vs cited before, whence it manifestly ap∣peares that it proceeds not from any free e∣lection that man hath in himselfe, to be able to bow his will which way him listeth.
We are also to note hence what account the Lord makes of his doctrine, whereby he fits vs for this building, to the end we may be Pearles, Saphires and Carbuncles. For those that goe about to erect a Church without the preaching of the word, shall rather build a Stie for Hogs, then a Church for God. By this also we may learne what to iudge of that in∣folded faith wherof ye Papists tattle so much: for thus they would make men to differ in nothing from brute beasts, that so they might play the Merchants with them openly, with∣out controle. But I trow, if we be taught of God, it is no reason we should resemble vn∣reasonable beasts.
It may be demanded, [Quest.] whether the Patri∣arks, Prophets, and other of the faithfull vvere taught of God vnder the law or no? [Ans.] Cer∣tainely they were. But our Prophet speakes heere by way of comparison. For vnder Christ the Lord spake so euidentlie, that he openly manifested himselfe to be the teacher of his Church, and after he gathered to himselfe a great number of disciples. Moreouer, this place accords with that of Ieremiah, Chap. 31.34. And they shall teach no more euery one his neighbour, nor euery man his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know me from the least of them to the greatest, saith the Lord. Wherefore if it were of necessitie that all the children of God in old time were the disciples of ye holy Ghost, much more ought we to be so in these times, seeing this prophe∣cie properly belongs to the kingdome of Christ.
And there shall be abundance of peace.] By the word peace, he meanes felicitie, that is, all good things. Hence we are to gather where∣in mans chiefe happines consists, namely, in hauing our minds illuminated of God, to comprehend that saluation which is manife∣sted to vs in Christ. For as long as wee bee strangers to this knowledge wee are the vn∣happiest people vnder heauen; for so the very blessings of God are turned into cur∣sings, Mala. 2.2. till they be sanctified vnto vs by faith.