Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 3:9

9 And think not to say within your selves, we have Abraham to our Father: For I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

All Hypocrites bear up themselves upon something, upon which they Promise good to themselves, and a Freedom from the Judgments of God. The Iews rested much upon their Descent from Abraham, as appeareth also from Ioh. 8.39. by which means they intituled themselves to the Covenant, Gen. 17. extended to his Seed, as well as to himself, as also to the Name of the Church, Abraham's Posterity by Isaac being all the visible Church, which God had upon the Earth at that time: It is the great work of Ministers to drive Hypocrites from their vain Confidences. This Iohn doth here, as if he should say, I know what you trust too, you think with your selves; that, because you are the only Church of God upon the Earth, Judgment shall not come upon you, God would then have no Seed of Abraham, to shew Mercy to, and to keep his Covenant with, but mistake not, God of stones if he please can raise up Abraham a Seed, to keep Covenant with Papists, and Formalists have much the same Presumption, tho with this difference, The Iews were the true, the only Church of God, these do but arrogate the Name to themselves.

Marginal references: Joh. 8.33. Act. 13.26.