Exposition of John, Chapter 1 · Verse 4
Ver. 4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
A further manifeſtation of Chriſt, and proof of his Godhead and ſubſiſtence before his incarnation, appeared in his communicating of further excellency to ſome creatures then their bare being; as life to all living creatures, which was derived from him, and preſerved by him. And unto man, with his natural life, the light of reaſon and underſtanding alſo; together with holineſſe, and the image of God, which was implanted in him at firſt. Doct. 1. It doth ſet forth the glory of Chriſt, and is a proof of his Godhead, that all creatures that live, have and hold their life of him not as an inſtrument, but as the fountaine from whence their life floweth, and is preſerved; for, in him was life, Not onelyonly hath he life in himſelf eſſentially from the Father, John 5.26. but the life of all living creatures, was in him, as in the fountaine cauſe, as the ſtreame is in the fountaine, and the rayes of light in the Sun: and in him ſtill as the preſerver when it is given, as the fountaine conſtantly feeds the ſtream, that it dry not up; for in him we live, Acts 17.28. and, he upholdeth all things, Heb. 1.3. 2. Believers ought to ſtudy the Godhead of Chriſt their head, as ſhining in his giving life to all living creatures, and their having their life ſtill in him; That when they ſhall obſerve ſuch variety of living things from the leaſt to the greateſt, fed by that fountaine, they may come confidently to him for life and quickning, as to him who can create life, can reſtore a ſoul, and quicken a dead piece of clay: That they may not be diſcouraged by their baſeneſſe when they come to him, who diſdains not to communicate life to the baſeſt worme, and ſmalleſt midge, that they may hold their ſpiritual life of him, and by abiding in him, in whom life ſtill is, even when they get it; and, that they may not fear the decay of their life, when they dwell in him, in whom the inexhauſtible fountaine of life is, who preſerveth and continueth the life of all creatures. So much doth this proof of Chriſts Godhead teach, in him was life. 3. In the creation man was exalted not onelyonly above lifeleſſe creatures, by having life, but above all creatures, except Angels, by being endowed with a reaſonable ſoul, and a faculty of underſtanding, and with the image of God, conſiſting in the lightſome and ſweet eſtate of clear knowledge in the underſtanding, of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe in the will, and of peace, joy and comfort in the affections, for, the life was not onelyonly the life, though man have life, but the light of men, he was endowed with a life of light. 4. The reaſonable ſoul of man, and the image of God, wherein he was at firſt created, was Chriſts gift, not as Mediatour (which office he did enter upon but after the fall) but as the Son of God, working with, and from the Father; By which work his Godhead is proven, the rayes of his glory ſhining ſo brightly in the making of man, that little world, and eſpecially of his moſt noble part, the ſoul, that none can conſider themſelves rightly, but they will ſee a finger of God in that work; for, this is another proof of his Divinty, the life, or the Son of God, the fountain and preſerver of life in living creatures was the light of men, or their life of light was from him as the fountain and preſerver, as was before ſaid of life. 5. Chriſt the Son of God, by creating man after his own image, and enduing him with a reaſonable ſoul, hath not onelyonly laid obligations upon him, not to employ theſe noble endowments againſt their Maker: But he hath alſo given an eſpecial pledge of his own reſpect to mankind, and a proof of his power, as Mediatour, to reſtore that image of God, which he at firſt implanted in him; As alſo of his infinite and perfect knowledge of all things for his peoples good; and of that life of light, and felicity, which he enjoyeth in himſelf with the Father and holy Spirit, to the ſight and fruition whereof he will at laſt bring beleevers, in ſuch a meaſure as finite man can be capable of; for, therefore is this proof of his Divinity held forth by John, for the inſtruction and comfort of beleevers.