An exposition on the whole fifth chapter of S. Johns Gospel also notes on…An exposition on the vvhole fifth chapter of S. Iohns Gospell also notes on…

Now in temporal things all men are ready to use the means of obtaining any good: but in things spiritual, we all stumble and fail. Wherefore seeing God hath appointed his Word and Sacraments the means for our salvation, we ought to be concionable in the use of them. And whereas many flee unto Predestination, that they need not use the means, seeing if God have elected them, they shall be saved; we must consider, that God, who chooseth us unto this end, hath ordained means to bring us unto it. Neither doth this use of the means withdraw our hearts from depending on the providence of God, but in a moderate use of them, our hearts are more lifted up to the consideration thereof.

Now in temporal things al men are ready to vse the meanes of obtaining any good: but in things spirituall, wee all stumble and faile. Wherefore seeing God hath appointed his Word and Sacraments the meanes for our saluation, we ought to be concionable in the vse of them. And whereas many flee vnto Predestination, that they need not vse the meanes, seeing if God haue elected them, they shall be saued; we must consider, that God, who chooseth vs vnto this end, hath ordained meanes to bring vs vnto it. Neither doth this vse of the meanes withdraw our hearts from depending on the prouidence of God, but in a moderate vse of them, our hearts are more lifted vp to the consideration thereof.

The Restraint stands in this, that but one was cured at once, he that went in first: not because God was able to cure no more, but first, to show, that the virtue came not from the water, but was in the will of God. Secondly, to cause them to strive to go in first. Thirdly, to show, that this was not so much for ⟨p. 10⟩a corporal good as for a spiritual or to draw their mind to consider of his power and presence among them. We may here apply this to the means of salvation, that as there was here a strife to enter into the water: so in us there should be a strife after the Word of God, and an endeavour to follow it, as it was in Johns time, when the kingdom of Heaven suffered violence, But the instruction that naturally ariseth hence, is this; That means are not further powerful, then God doth give a blessing unto them. So here, it being the will of God that but one should be cured, he that came in after the first found no help, the water was but common water to him. So the Sea that was a wall to the Israelites, drowned the Egyptians. So