John 1

John 1:1-5

From all eternity the Son of God, the great Speaker for and to men, the medium of divine manifestations to us, and to whom all the scripture gives testimony, who may therefore properly be called the word, existed a distinct person, equal to, and the express image of, his divine Father, and the same in substance with him, necessarily possessed of every excellency of Godhead: and by him were all creatures, from the highest to the lowest, formed of nothing in the beginning of time. From that life necessarily existent in him proceeded all kinds and degrees of life, knowledge, and comfort, found among men. And yet, though he, in the dictates of natural conscience and of revelation, manifests himself to men, such is the sinful ignorance and error of their minds, the bias of their will and affections, and corruption of their practice, that they do not naturally understand, but shut their eyes against, hate, and oppose these discoveries

John 1:6-8

John the Baptist was eminently qualified, and divinely appointed, as the forerunner of his personal appearance, to point him forth as the glorious Sun of Righteousness, rising among men, that persons of all sorts, Jews and Gentiles, might believe on him for life and salvation

John 1:9-13

And indeed he, in opposition to the false lights of heathen philosophy, the corrupted and faint typical light of the Jews, and in distinction from John the Baptist, and the prophets and apostles, is the original fountain of light, from which all natural and divine knowledge is communicated to men in every period of time. By his upholding and governing providence, and by his dispensations of light and grace, he has all along been present in the world, which he created; and yet neither his manifestations of himself in providence or in revelation, have been duly discerned or improved: and when, in the fulness of time, he manifested himself in human nature, preaching the gospel; and working miracles among the Jews his peculiar people, most of them wilfully rejected him, and refused to acknowledge him as their Creator and Saviour. But to all such, whether Jews or Gentiles, as heartily received him by faith, as their Redeemer, Prophet, Priest, and King, he bestowed the dignified right and privilege of being the real children of God;—all of whom, without any influence of natural descent, ceremonial law, or corrupt free will, have a supernatural habit or principle of grace divinely implanted in them, disposing them to every good word and work. 14, 16—18. And, in order to effect these grand designs of our redemption, the eternal Son of God assumed our nature, in its debased appearances, into a personal union with himself; and therein, in all his fulness of Godhead, for a season dwelt among us men, particularly us disciples, as JEHOVAR did in the cloud of glory, which covered the mercy seat, full of infinite grace and kindness to men, and of all necessary blessings, to be freely communicated to them. All the laws, promises, types, and prophecies, were fulfilled in him; and we, in his doctrine, miracles, transfiguration, resurrection, and ascension, by faith stedfastly considered, and admired, these glorious perfections, becoming him as one with, and in an inconceivable and unparalleled manner begotten by, his eternal Father: and out of his fulness of divine perfection and communicative blessings, who is infinitely preferable to John the Baptist, all of us believers, great and small, have, do, and shall, receive all spiritual blessings, multiplied one upon another, according to our capacities and wants, and answerable, in nature and kind, to the grace which is in him.—Far superior to Moses, who delivered the laws of God to the Jews in a manner suited to their circumstances, in a ministration of condemnation, and in obscure types, which could not make the worshippers perfect, Jesus has brought in the richest and plainest discoveries of God’s love and grace, in which all the ancient types and predictions have their full accomplishment. And, being himself the beloved and only begotten Son of God, intimately acquainted with all his excellencies and purposes of grace, he alone was fit for this work, and he hath now manifested those things to men, in such a manner as no other was able to do

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—Infinite and divine are the glories of our Mediator!—He is the eternal God, equal with his Father. He is the Creator of all things, and the original source of all light, life, and honour, in the world.—Marvellous is his person as God-man, and full of grace and truth for our supply. His divine nature puts the most wonderful dignity upon his condescension, and on his offering himself a sacrifice to expiate our sins. And his character and mission are gloriously attested by apostles, by John the Baptist, and by his Father and blessed Spirit. Alas, that any, especially such as enjoy his oracles and favours, should remain ignorant or obstinate rejectors of him! But happy are they whom he apprehends by his grace, adopts into his family, conforms unto his image, supplies with his light and life, humbles by his influence, informs 122 136* by his Spirit, instructs by his visits, and honours in his service. And, the more honour God puts upon men, the more humble they ought to be. The more they know of Christ, and his work, the more they ought to extol him, that others, particularly their relations, may seek and follow him. It is habitual, not transient, fellowship with him that will supply the need, and satisfy the desires, of real believers. Acquaintance with him is the best answer to all prejudices and objections against him. They who find him cannot but exult in their acquisition. And great is the honour to have his attestation of our secret devotion and universal integrity.—Our views of his glory are but beginning, and will be for ever on the advance. And angels and men will eternally behold and increasingly admire and serve him in his kingdom above. 11 N