Exposition of John, Chapter 1 · Verse 10
Ver. 14. And the Word was made fleſh, and dwelt amongſt us (and we beheld his glory, as the glory of the onelyonly begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.
John cometh here to ſpeak of Chriſts humanity, his incarnation and manifeſtation in the fleſh, whereby he became God and man in one perſon; And declareth further, how he abode in our nature on e…th, for a ſeaſon; how the glory of his divinity ſhined forth even in that abaſement, in the view of his diſciples and followers; and what the benefits were, he was filled with for ſinners good to whom he came, and among whom he abode: even grace and truth, in oppoſition chiefly to the curſe and ſhadows of the Law, as appeareth from ver. 17. Doctrine 1. The ſinfulneſſe and ingratitude of the world, and viſible Church, will not make void Chriſts love to his own, nor will hinder him to draw ſo neer unto them (and to others for their ſake) as is needful for their redemption and ſalvation, and may yet further convince others of their ingratitude; for, notwithſtanding that ingratitude, ver. 10, 11. he drew neerer yet, and was made fleſh. 2. So great was the difficulty of reſtoring the image of God in loſt man, and of reſtoring him to Gods favour and the dignity of Son-ſhip, that no leſſe could do it, then the natural Son of God his becoming the Son of man to ſuffer in our nature: And ſo great was Gods and Chriſts love, as to lay a foundation of reconciliation betwixt God and man in the perſonal Union of the divine and humane nature in Chriſt; ſo much is imported in that the Word was made fleſh 3. The perſon of the Godhead that was incarnate, was neither the Father, nor the Holy Ghoſt, but the Son, the ſecond perſon; for, the Word was made fleſh. There being a real diſtinction of the perſons, that one of them is not an…ther, and each of them having their proper manner of ſubſiſtence; the one of them might be incarnate, and not the other, and it is the Godhead not ſimply conſidered, but the perſon of the Son ſubſiſting in that Godhead, that was incarnate: And it was very convenient, that the ſecond, or middle perſon (in order of ſubſiſtence (of the bleſſed Trinity ſhould be the reconciler of God and man; and that he by whom all things were made, ſhould be the reſtorer and maker of the new world, and that he who was the expreſſe image of the Father, ſhould be the repairer of the image of God in us. 4. The Son of God became true man, and did take on our nature with all the eſſential properties thereof, and all the common infirmities thereof, yet without ſin; for, ſo much is imported in that he was made fleſh, by which name is not ſignified that he aſſumed onelyonly a body, his divinity ſupplying the place of a ſoul; for, as the ſoul is ſometime taken for the whole man, Acts 27.47. ſo alſo is fleſh, Pſal. 145.21. And the Scripture ſpeaks expreſſely of Chriſts ſoul, Matth. 6.38. of his will, Matth. 26.39. And knowledge, or wiſdome, as man, Luke 2.52. Nor doth it ſignifie that he took on our nature, as it is corrupted with ſin by the fall, as fleſh is ſometimes taken; for he was ſeparate from ſinners, Heb. 7.26. But the deſignation ſerveth to point out the reality of his humane nature, that he was true man, having a real body with all the properties thereof; And it points out his ab…ſing of himſelf, that he united not onelyonly our ſoul to himſelf; but even our fleſh and body wherein we agree with beaſts; And that he took on the ſinleſſe infirmities and frailties of man, as fleſh oftentimes ſignifieth, Iſaih 40.6. Pſal. 78.39. that ſo he might ſimpathize with us as a merciful and faithful High-Prieſt. 5. Albeit Chriſt did aſſume both a ſoul and a body, yet theſe did not make up another perſon in Chriſt, diſtinct from the perſon of the Son of God, but the perſonal ſubſiſtence of his humanity was prevented in his conception, by its being aſſumed into a perſonal union with his Godhead, and that without any change on the Godheads part, and without mixture or confuſion of the natures, and properties flowing from the ſame: for, ſo are we taught in that the Word was made, or, became fleſh, that is, being God from all eternity, and remaining ſo ſtill, he became alſo man, in reſpect of the unity of the perſon; and yet the Word and fleſh remain diſtinct ſtill in their own natures and properties, though the properties of either nature be aſcribed to the whole perſon with relation to that nature to which they do belong, and both concurre in the operations required in execution of the office of Mediator. And by reaſon of this union, he is a fit Mediator, betwixt God and man, his ſufferings are of infinite worth, being the ſufferings of one who is God. Act. 20.28. And is able not onelyonly to ſuffer, but to carry through the work, to apply his own purchaſe, and repair all our loſſes. 6. As the ingratitude of the world did not hinder the Son of God to come into the world, and to take on our nature, ſo it pleaſed him in our nature to live in the world for a ſpace; That ſo he might prove the truth of his humanity to theſe who converſed with him; That he might ſanctifie the earth, by his reſidence upon it, as a place of his peoples pilgrimage, that he might in his owne perſon, who was greater then Moſes, abrogate the ceremonies of Moſes; and, That he might perfect the work of mans redemption appointed to him of the Father; Wherein his great love appeared, that no provocation, no contradiction of ſinners did prevaile with him to leave the earth, till he had perfected his work; for, the Word was made fleſh and dwelt among us ſaith John, in name of all the Apoſtles. 7. The Son of God his incarnation and dwelling in our nature, is the ſubſtance of the type of the ancient Tabernacle in the Church of Iſrael; His humane nature and fleſh is that true Tabernacle wherein he dwelt, Heb. 8.2. and 9.11. The glory of his Godhead did fill this Tabernacle and ſhine forth in view of his diſciples (as after followeth) as the glory of the Lord filled that Tabernacle, Exod 40.34, 35. And the Son of God thus incarnate, is the tryſting place wherein ſinners may draw neer unto, and meet with God, as of old they ſought him in the Tabernacle. Therefore it is ſaid in the Original, He, or, the Word dwelt as in a tent, or Tabernacle among us. 8. Chriſt our Lord during his abode in the world was content to ſubmit to a meane and pilgrims life, That through his poverty many might become rich; That he might ſanctifie a poor condition of life to his followers; and, That he might aſſure us of his being a fellow-feeling High-Prieſt, having been in his own perſon partaker of our miſeries; for, ſo much alſo is imported in that he dwelt as in a tent or Tabernacle (which is the habitation of pilgrims) among us; And to this alſo doth the type of the ancient Tabernacle agree, which was ambulatory, and fitted to their wandring condition: Though Chriſt alſo be the ſubſtance of the type of the fixed Temple, John 2.21. 9. Chriſt alſo came into the world, and dwelt in it, to undertake a warfare, and did undertake, Devils, men, death, and all that had any thing to ſay againſt his people; and did overcome them, that ſo his people might have to do with vanquiſhed enemies, and might go to him in need, as to one who had experience of hard conflicts and exerciſe in his own perſon; for, ſo much further doth his dwelling as in a tent (which is a military habitation) import. 10. Chriſt in his abaſement and ſufferings, did not ceaſe to be the ſame glorious and excellent Lord ſtill, and this his glorious excellency and Godhead did ſhine through the veile of his fleſh, and in his low condition, and was ſeene by all them who got anointed eyes, and ſeriouſly conſidered it; for, ſaith John, in name of the Apoſtles and believers we ſaw (or, did contemplate, and ſeriouſly view, till we diſcerned) his glory; His ſtarres appearing while he was lying in a manger, the Angels proclaiming his birth to the ſhepheards, his diſputing with the Doctors when he was young; the glorious appearances at his Baptiſme and transfiguration; yea, the whole courſe of his doctrine, miracles, and ſufferings, aſcenſion, and pouring out of the Holy Ghoſt afterward, did abundantly evince this. And by this we are taught not to judge of him nor of his members according to outward appearance. 11. Chriſt, as God, comes of the Father by way of inexpreſſible generation proper to himſelf onelyonly, as being an eternal generation, by communication of the ſame eſſence and properties; And a generation wherein the Father is not before the Son, but both alike eternal: And this his glory did ſhine forth in his loweſt condition; for, his glory was the glory as of the onelyonly begotten of the Father: that is, ſuch glory as was ſutable and becoming Gods onelyonly begotten Son; for, as, here, is not a note of ſimilitude or likeneſſe, as when we ſay of a beggar, he goeth as (or like) a King, but a note of ſutableneſſe, as when we ſay of a King, he goeth as (or as becometh) a King. And by this Chriſt is commended to his people, as he who ſhould be onelyonly and chief in their hearts. 12. Albeit Chriſt converſed in the world in a poor and meane condition, yet his furniture for the worlds behoof was rich, And particularly, there was in him grace; or the free favour of God, as a remedy for that wrath which the Law revealeth becauſe of ſin, and the gifts of grace to cure, and remove ſin; In him did the fulneſſe of the Godhead dwell bodily, and on him as man, was the ſpirit poured forth above meaſure; and he had fulneſſe of this grace, to ſupply all his peoples wants, to make up the greatneſſe of their miſery, and to overcome even their abuſe of grace; for, he dwelt among us full of grace; as the conſtruction in the Original conjoyneth them. 13. Chriſt alſo came into the world fraught with truth, and fulneſſe of truth, being as God, truth it ſelf, and as man, full of truth by vertue of the perſonal union; having treaſures of knowledge for all our ignorance and errours, the truth of all the ſhadows of the Law, and what was foretold of him by word, or ſignes, being found in him, and all that is in him, and ſaid of him, being true and ſolid, and ſuch as will not diſappoint us, whereas other things without him, prove but ſhadows; for, he dwelt among us full of truth.