George Hutcheson
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 onely 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 onely 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 onely 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 onely 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.
