Matthew Poole and continuators on John 9:31

31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners : But if any man be a worshipper of God, and doth his will , him he heareth .

This poor man proveth, That Christ was from Heaven, because he had opened his Eyes; not as yet apprehending that Christ did it by putting out an immediate Divine Power for his Healing; but as a great Prophet obtaining such a power from God, for the confirmation of the things which he delivered. Now (saith he) we know that God heareth not sinners. But the question is, what truth there is in this Axiom, or Proposition. Doth not God hear Sinners? Then he can hear none; for who liveth, and sinneth not against God? How did he hear Ahab, and others who were notorious Sinners? Answ. 1. By Sinners here, must be understood notorious and presumptuous Sinners, that live and go on in courses of Sin with hardned hearts: The Word here used, signifieth bold presumptuous Sinners; not such as sin meerly through ignorance, weakness, or humane infirmity. 2. God is under no Covenant-Obligation to hear Sinners; they can challenge no such favour upon the account of any Promise: but God out of the aboundings of his Goodness may hear them, as he heard Ahab and others, he may hear them as his Creatures crying in their misery, though he hears them not as his Children, or upon the account of any Covenant. 3. As to the sense of this maxime in this place, it seemeth to be particular, and special; and the Words seem to be restrained to that particular degree of favour here spoken of; God useth not to honour notorious and flagitious Sinners, by giving them a power to Work Miracles, by which they should confirm any thing which they say. This poor man bringeth this as an Argument, why Christ should not be such a notorious Sinner as they spake him, because it was not God's way to honour such persons with his Presence and Assistance to the doing of those things which none could do, but by a Divine Power committed to him. Two things this man assumeth, or taketh for granted. 1. That no man can work miracles, without a power obtained of God by prayer, as we saw it was in the case of Elisha, 2 Kings 4.33. 2. That what Christ did, he did as a man. The First is true, the Second was false. He was not yet convinced of Christs Divine Nature, nor lookt upon him higher, than as a Prophet; one sent of God, to Reveal the Will of God, and to work great works in the World by Prayer; as to which he Affirms, That if he were such a Sinner as they Clamour'd, God would not hear him. So as the Question, How far God may hear sinners, in giving them any thing they ask of him, seemeth not at all proper to this place, though it be enough clear from other Scriptures; such as Psal. 66.18. and Isa. 1 5. That none that live in a course of Sin can expect that God should hear, or give answer to their Prayers; and tho God may give in to such Sinners such things as they ask him for, which are of a meer External concern, yet it is not with respect to any Promise which he hath made to them, but out of the aboundings of his own goodness,

But if a man feareth God, and worketh righteousness,

him the Lord heareth, accepteth, and answereth. The secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him, Psal. 25.14. Prov. 3.32.

Marginal references: Job 27.9. and 35.12. Psa. 18.41. Prov. 1.28. & 28.9. Isa. 1.15. Jer. 11.11. and 14.12. Ezek. 8 18. Mic. 3.4. Zech 7.13.