John 1:5

A further proof of Christs Godhead, and of his subsistence and manifestation of himself before his incarnation, is taken from his dealing with man after the fall. He who is light in himself, and the fountain of light in man, did by divers means shine in mans understanding, and before man, now darkned by his fall; but was not entertained nor taken up as becometh: This is chiefly to be understood of the sparkles of the light of nature shining in the darkened minde of man, Rom. 2.15. And of Christs shining in the view of all men in the works of creation, holding forth his eternal power and Godhead with the Father, Rom. 1.20. though natures light could not by these meanes take him up, nor acknowledge him: Not secluding also (as is cleared from ver. 10, 11. where this subject is enlarged) his shining in the Church in all ages, after the fall of man to his incarnation, (as well as after it) as God and Mediatour, by Divine revelation, types and shadows, and other means: In which respect though some did acknowledge him as God and Mediatour, yet no man was able so to do (as at no time else) by the strength or light of nature, and very few did acknowledge him at all (considering their natural darknesse) in the predictions and types pointing him out. Doct. 1. Man is fallen from that life of light and comfort whereinto he was created, and is become a dark masse of sin and misery, darkened in his minde with ignorance and abominable errours and mistakes, and in his will and affections, with vices and lusts, and liable to a dark estate of discomfort, and sorrow; for, so is supposed here, that he is not only dark, but darknesse, being wholly deprived of that light of the image of God, and over clouded with thick darknesse. 2 The Son of God did not cease in all ages, by sundry rayes and beames, and means, and instruments, to communicate himself to fallen man; But did manifest himself unto all mankind by the light of nature, holding out some sparkles of light concerning a Deity, and some principles of justice and moral vertue; and by the works of creation and providence: And to his Church, by Divine revelation did hold forth his person and office: All which do prove him to be God subsisting before his incarnation, and do manifest his self-sufficiency that doth communicate himself to man now fallen from him: As also his love and pity to his own, that would thus follow them; And do prove that he exercised his office of Mediator before his incarnation; for it is a proof of Christs Godhead, and manifestation to the world in former ages, that the light, or, Christ the enlightner of mankind, shineth in darknesse; And he saith, shineth, in the present time, because Christs manifestation of himself doth not cease in all ages and times, though the way of it to his Church be changed by his incarnation; And because his manifestations under the Gospel are but the same continued thing that was formerly, though in a different way. 3. What ever light men have by nature, or may gather from the book of creation; Yet such is the power of darknesse in mans nature, that all who are left to these means do not receive that light, so as to let it shine through them to direct their actions, but do captivate it in unrighteousnesse, Rom. 1.18, Nor do they take up that light which they have and use, to be from God, but become proud of it, as if it were their own; nor do they take up God as manifesting himself in the works of creation, but became vain in their imaginations, and darken their own foolish heart more and more; far lesse do they discerne the Son of God equal with the Father, nor can they discerne him as the true remedy of sin thereby; for, the darknesse comprehended not the light that shineth in darknesse. 4. No man at any time, by the light and strength of nature, can take up, or savingly embrace Christ as God, and Mediator, whatever outward means he have: And particularly, before his incarnation; many to whom he was revealed in promises, and types, did not look so far as to him who was to be incarnate; but did rest upon these shadows, as if they had been the mean appointed for remedy of their misery; which fault is not to be attributed to his dimnesse, who was clearly revealed, though under a vaile, but to mens own darknesse; for, of these also it was true, the light shineth in darknesse, and the darknesse comprehendeth it not. And the point is of general verity in all ages where this light shineth at any time, though the order of the Narration (it being spoken before the sending of John the Baptist) lead us to understand it of the Church before his Incarnation.