John 1:10–11

The manifestations and shining of this true light, are here spoken of to aggravate the sin of the world and visible Church, giving him ill entertainment, as a clearer Commentary of what was said, v. 5. As for the world, albeit Christ had made the world, and was still present in it by his power and providence, yet the men of the world did not know him, nor take him up: As for the visible Church of Israel, albeit, beside his common manifestations in the world, he came yet nearer to them; yet the body of them did not receive nor embrace him. This challenge holds true of the world and of the visible Church in all ages, to whom he draweth neer by his Word and Ordinances, though here it be spoken especially with relation to the time before his incarnation, if not also to his coming in person to the Church of Israel, Luke 20.13, 14, 15. Doct. 1. Christ from the creation to his incarnation, was ever in the world as God, (as he also still is) in his essence filling heaven and earth and in his providence preserving and upholding all things, and manifesting himself in variety of dispensations; so universal is the providence of the beleevers head; for, he was in the world. 2. As Christs creating of the world is a manifestation of his glory to be seriously studied, (and therefore is here again repeated) so his creating of it is sufficient to prove his constant presence in it; it being impossible for the creatures made by him to subsist without him; Therefore it is subjoyned to the former, he was in the world, and the world was made by him, as a proof that he behooved to be in it, because he made it. 3. It is the sin of the world, not to know or take notice of Christ in his manifestations; And particularly it is the sin of men without the Church, that they do not acknowledge nor glorifie God, when he manifests his glory to them in the works of creation and providence; for, the world knew him not. 4. God may justly make use of very common favours and means, as sufficient to aggravate the sinne of such as do not acknowledge him; for saith he, he was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not, which imports that his making of the world, and his presence in it, was such a manifestation, as might have led them to know, acknowledge, and glorifie him as God, and that they were without excuse, who having these means, did it not, Rom. 1.20. And that the common favour of mens being, and Gods providence about them, doth heighten their sin who do not acknowledge their Maker, Isa 1 3. 5. Besides Christs common interest in all mankind as their Creator, and his special interest in his own elect and converted people; he hath also an interest in a visible Church, and they in him, which no other people have, and that by vertue of a visible Covenant, and election to the external priviledges of the Church; for in this respect the body of Israel are his own, or his peculiar people. This interest may give self-condemned sinners a liberty to go to him, as born in his own house, when other priviledges are obscured from them. 6. Christ even before his incarnation, was present in the Church of Israel, and beside his common and general presence, he drew neerer unto them, in his Word and Ordinances, and types pointing him out as Mediator, till at last he came to them in Person; for, even then, he came to his own. See Acts 7.38. 1 Cor. 10.9 7. All the favour and kindnesse that is betwixt Christ and his people, begins at him, and he is at the pains to seek and come to them first, though he stand in no need of them; for, he came to his own. 8. Common relations betwixt Christ and a visible Church are so farre from proving a peoples good condition, as to the particular state of their soul, that such may, and oftentimes do refuse to make Christ and his offer welcome; for, his own received him not 9. The neerer the relation be betwixt Christ and his people, and the greater his offer be, the sin of not making use of it is the greater in it self, and he will take the refusall the worse at their hand, as being a despising of his love; for, whereas the world knew him not, v. 10. their sin was greater, that they received him not, when they knew him, and so sinned of contempt: And Christ takes this ill, and accounts it a great aggravation of this sin, that they did it, who were his own, and they to whom he came. 10. As the great sin without the Church is ignorance, and not acknowledging, and glorifying of God; so the great sin within the Church, is contempt of Christ, and not embracing of him, nor his offer; for, the world knew him not, but, his own received him not.