Matthew Poole and continuators on John 7:17

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God , or whether I speak of my self .

Here our Saviour seemeth to obviate an Objection which the Iews would make, viz. How they should know that the Doctrine which he Preached was the Doctrine of God? He indeed said so, but how should they have any Evidence of it? How could he make it appear to them to be of God? If any man (saith our Saviour) will do his will, &c. That is, If any man hath an Heart truly disposed to know and embrace whatsoever shall be revealed to him to be the will of God, how contrary soever it be to the Interest of his own Lust[illegible: 1 letter], and ready to do it in all things; and live according to the Prescript and Revelation of it▪ having a serious purpose of Heart to obey God in every thing. If he seeketh for Truth seriously, and in the fear of the Lord, laying aside all Wrath, Malice, Ha[illegible: 1 letter]red, and only corrupt Passions or Affections, God will reveal the Truth to him, so as he shall know the Doctrine that is of God:

And that I do not speak of or from my self, but by Authority from my Father. Now, from hence indeed followeth, That corrupt Affections, Passions, and Prejudices▪ and an ill Life, may prejudice, yea, and will prejudice men from receiving of the Free Grace of God, Spiritual Illuminations, and the Gift of Faith: So as men that give way to such Prejudices, or nourish such Passions, or live such Lives, shall be left of God to their Native blindness, and to strong delusions, and not discern the Truth in the light that openly shineth in their Faces. But from hence it will not follow, That a Moral Life, and a study of, and a seeking after Truth, are the cause of Faith, or effective of it, with the working of our own will.