John 1

John 1:1

IN the beginning] 1 John 1. 1. From eternitie: in the beginning, not temporall, determinate, or to be measured by time, but indeterminate, eternall, and before all time. Colos. 1. 17.

was] Not made when the creatures were, but before any of them were, He was.

the Word] The promised Messiah, of whom God before spake to all the Fathers. It is usuall with the Hebrews, to put word for the thing spoken of; Deuteronomy 19:3. 1 King 6. 19. and 12. 24. Psal. 28. 2, &c. and he is the same by whom God revealed his will. Vers. 18.

was with God] Coeternall with the Father.

the Word was God] Christ is eternall God.

John 1:2

The same was, &c.] Genesis 1:1.

with God] God of the same substance with the Father.

John 1:3

All things were made] See Colos. 1. 16. Heb. 1. 2, 3. This declareth the Deitie of Christ, for none can create but God.

John 1:4

In him] Whereby all things were quickened and preserved. Acts 17. 25, 28.

was life] Before he created the world.

was the light of men] The Fountaine of reason and understanding to men, made to Gods own image.

John 1:5

And the light] Christ.

shineth in darknesse] In mans minde, after the fall, full of darknesse, Romans 1:21. Ephesians 4:18. such is carnall wisdom, Romans 8:7.

comprehended it not] Understood not, 1 Corinthians 2:14. neither acknowledged Christ; as vers. 11.

John 1:6

There was a man] Matthew 3:1. Luke 1. 57, 80. and 3. 2.

from] Therefore Malachi 3:1. he is called the Angel, which signifieth a Messenger or Ambassadour of Christ, Mark 1:2-3. to prepare his way, by manifesting him to Israel.

God] Luke 3:2. Malachi 3:1.

was John] Luke 1:13; Luke 1:60; Luke 1:63.

John 1:7

witnesse of the light] Of Christ.

through him] That is, Johns testimony and ministery.

John 1:8

that light] John was not Christ, that increated light, which the Jews once supposed, Luke 3 15, 16.

John 1:9

That was] Christ was the eternall light, before John testified of him.

true light] Which properly deserved the name of light; a light by nature, not onely participation, as the creature hath light.

cometh into the world] Which is born. He speaketh of the common benefit of reason and understanding.

John 1:10

the world was made by him] As vers. 3. and Hebrews 11:3.

knew him not] Gods wisdom, power, and glory shined in all the creatures, yet they knew him not, nor glorified him as God; Psalms 19:1. Romans 1:21. Of his manifestation in the flesh he speaketh vers. 11.

John 1:11

He came unto his own] To Israel his peculiar people.

his own received him not] Acknowledged him not for their Messiah.

John 1:12

But as many as received him] By true faith and obedience.

power] This dignitie, right and priviledge, 1 John 3:1. adoption of sons Galatians 4:5. to be counted worthy of the Kingdome of God, 2 Thessalonians 1:5.

on his Name] In Christ.

John 1:13

of the will of the flesh] That corrupt nature of man which is contrary to the Spirit: nor by any naturall course.

but of God] Of God the Fountain of regeneration and free grace.

John 1:14

And the Word was made flesh] Matthew 1:16. He became man, not by confusion of natures, but by uniting the divine and humane natures in one person of Christ, God and Man.

dwelt among us] The word signifyeth a dwelling in Tents or Tabernacles: a short time he was bodily present with men, untill his Ascension.

beheld his glory] The manifestation of his Majestie, not onely in his tranfiguration, Matthew 17:2. 2 Peter 1:16. but also in many works which shewed his divine power and glory; John 2. 11. and 11. 4.

as of the onely begotten] As signifieth not here similitude, but identitie, the very truth, such glory as became the Sonne of God.

full of grace] See Colos. 1. 19. and 2. 9.

John 1:15

cried] Freely and publikely declared.

cometh after me] As one baptized of me.

for he was before me] More excellent then I.

John 1:16

of his fulnesse] Col. 1. 19. Christ is the fountain of grace, then fully opened, and flowing out, when he came and shewed himself to the world, Zac 13:1. John 4. 14. and 7. 38, 39. of whose fulnesse, we all who beleeve, have received the gifts of grace and sanctification.

grace for grace] Or, grace upon grace. Abundance of grace.

John 1:17

by Moses] By the ministery of Moses.

but grace, &c.] The exhibition of the promises: he opposeth the law to grace and truth, because the morall law did but shew the disease, Romans 7:7. which Christ healed; and the ceremoniall law onely shadowed out that which Christ performed.

John 1:18

No man hath seen God] See 1 John 4. 12. 1 Timothy 6:16.

the bosome] Most dear; united in nature, and acquainted with all his secrets. See John 13:22-23.

declared him] Gave us the knowledge of God, otherwise unsearchable.

John 1:19

Who art thou] For they doubted whether he were not the Christ. Luke 3:15.

John 1:20

he confessed] Plainly and openly; as Acts 13:25.

John 1:21

Art thou Elias] They understood that literally, which is spoken al. 4. 5. which Christ interpreteth of John Baptist, Matthew 11:14. John denyeth that he is Elias in their sense.

Art thou that Prophet] Or, a Prophet. Spoken of Deu 18:15. They expected some notable Prophet, vers. 25. John 7. 40, 41. and 6. 14. whereas Moses spake of a succession of Prophets, such as God would raise them, until the comming of Christ the Head of all Prophets.

John 1:23

I am the voice] Isaiah 40:3. Matthew 3:3. Luke 3. 4. one whose Office was to lift up his voice, and crie in the ears of deaf sinners.

the wildernesse] See Luke 3:2.

make streight] Make plain. Isay in the Letter spake of their marvellous deliverance under Cyrus, which was a type of our spirituall deliverance by Christ.

John 1:24

the Pharisees] A most strict sect of the Jews, Acts 26:5. so called of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Interpreters or Expounders of the Law; or of separation.

John 1:25

Why baptizest thou then] By what Authority?

John 1:26

I baptize with water] Unto amendment of life, Matthew 3:11. that you may repent Acts 19:4. but Christ giveth the inward effect, who is the Authour of baptisme, whereof John was but a minister.

John 1:27

He it is who coming after me] Matthew 3:11. See Acts 19:4.

John 1:28

Bethabara] Judg. 7. 24. It was a passage into Canaan, and type of baptisme, the entrance into the Church of Chist.

John 1:29

the Lambe of God] Alluding to the Paschall Lamb: in Christ is the substance of all Legall sacrifices to take away sinnes, which he did as suffering for them as man, and remitingthem as God: and he taketh them away continually; for though he suffered but once, yet the vertue thereof sloweth as a continuall fountain to cleanse us.

taketh away] Or, beareth.

John 1:31

And I knew him not] He knew him not by sight, but by revelation, till he came to be baptized.

John 1:32

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit] See Matthew 3:16. Ma. 1. 10.

John 1:33

Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending] By this sign God revealed Christ to John.

with the holy Ghost] Who giveth the effect of baptisme, sanctification and cleansing from our sinnes.

John 1:37

the two disciples heard him speak] For John gathered not disciples for himself, but for Christ.

John 1:38

What seek ye] Not dubting, but affording them occasion of conference.

where dwellest thou] Or, abidest. Where lodgest thou? dwelling at Nazareth it seemeth he was a stranger there.

John 1:39

Come and see] Thus Christ readily entertaineth them who seek him in truth.

about the tenth houre] That was two houres before night.

John 1:41

the Christ] Or, the an〈…〉ed.

John 1:42

And e brought him to Jesus] You must understand this of Andrew and Peters first coming to Christ, after which they returned to their fishing again: their calling to the Apostleship, when they left their nets and followed Christ, was after this, and is recorded Mat. 4. 18, &c. Luk. 5. 10, 11.

a stone] Or, Peter.

John 1:45

Moses in the law] Genesis 49:10. Deuteronomy 18:18.

prophets did write] Isaiah 4. 2. and 7. 14. Jeremiah 23:5. and Jeremiah 33:14. Ezekiel 34:23. and Ezekiel 37:24. 25. Daniel 9:24. Micah 5:2. Zechariah 6:12. and Zechariah 13:1 Malachi 3:1.

the sonne of Joseph] As men supposed, Luke 3:23.

John 1:46

Come an see] Be not withheld from Christ, by other mens prejudicate opinion, but try.

John 1:47

no guile] A man of simple integritie, which maketh the difference between the true and feigned Israelites.

John 1:48

wast under the fig-tree] Christ seeth us where ere we are, and when we think not of him.

John 1:49

thou art the Sonne of God] Christs word begat this faith, which brake out into confession of more then he heard of Philip: he calld him the sonne of Joseph, but Nathaneel acknowledged him to be the Sonne of God.

King of Israel] He knew not yet the extent of Christs kingdome, Psalms 2:8. Revelation 17:14. therefore according to his measure he confesseth.

John 1:50

beleevest thou] This question is in effect a vehement assveration.

thou shalt see greater things] Which shall more evidently manifest me to thee.

John 1:51

heaven open] The kingdome of heaven opened to men in Christ, which their sinne and ignorance shut up.

and the angels of God] He alludeth to Jacobs ladder, Genesis 28:12. See Colossians 1:20. Ephesians 2:19. Psalms 34:7. Hebrews 1:14. and he signifieth his divine power, which should be seen in the ministerie of the Angels to him the head of the Church, and the elect his body.