John 3:31

A fourth difference wherein Christ is not onely above John, but all men, is taken from the excellency of his person; In respect of the divine original of his person, he is above all men, and all creatures. And men whose original is of the earth, do resemble it, and favour of it in their speech, whereas he not onely in his person, but in that also is above all, as is cleared in the next verse. Doctrine 1. Christ did not begin to be when he manifested himself on earth, but had his perfect and glorious being before; for, he cometh from above, and consequently was there before. 2. It is Christs prerogative to be matchlesse and singular above all creatures, in glory, excellencie, efficacie of operation, and every perfection. He is above Angels, above principalities and powers, above Pastors in the visible Church, above all the members in the mystical body, and all things in the world are under his feet; for he is above all. 3. It is not possible for created conceptions to take up Christs excellencie as it is in its self, but must point it out, by setting it above all created excellencie, further then which they cannot follow it; Therefore doth John say no more to it, but he is above all. 4. What ever may be the perverse or blinded judgments of men, yet in due time, that which is most eminent before God will carry the preheminence even before men, above what they otherwayes doated on; for, so much doth this verse, with the former, teach, he must increase, for he is indeed above all. 5. Christs excellencie is indeed founded upon real worth, being above all, because his original is divine, and from heaven; Not onely is he incomparable in his descent as God, but in his humanity, his conception and sanctification of his nature, and the union thereof with the person of the Sonne of God, are from above; for, he cometh from above, or, from heaven (as it is in the end of the verse) who is above all. 6. It pleased this excellent and matchlesse Lord to stoop so low, as to commend his love to sinners, by coming unto them, to seek and purchase them and their affection; for, be cometh from above. 7. Albeit Christ, by coming on earth, did put a veile upon his glory, yet his stooping did derogate nothing from his sovereignty and highnesse; for, he that cometh from above, is above all. 8. Mans original is so low and base, and men do so much resemble it, that it is high presumption to enter in any comparison to Christ; for, in opposition to what was said of Christ that be cometh from above, and is above al, it is added, he that is of the earth, is earthly, or, of the earth. Not onely is man of the earth in respect of the original of his body, and the union of the soul with it, and so infinitely inferiour to him who is also God over all, and but dust and ashes before him, Gen. 18.27. But every man is of the earth, in regard of the corrupt qualities he hath by ordinary generation, of which he favoureth, save in so farre as he is renewed by Christ; and yet that is but imperfect here, and farre beneath the divine condition and state of Christ even as man; And thus to be earthly, or, of the earth, or world, is to be understood of mens corrupt estate and condition, John 8.23. James 3.15. See 1 Cor. 15.47, 48, 49. 9. As man in his person is inferiour to Christ; so also in his office and doctrine, his way of it, and his authority in it, is farre beneath Christs; for, he that is of the earth, speaketh of the earth; Whereby we are not to understand that their doctrine according to the Word, is earthly, or endited by the wisdome of the flesh, (though indeed they be subject to errour;) Nor yet that their calling and authority to preach it, is from the earth, or men; for in both these respects Johns Baptisme and Ministry was from heaven: But, 1. In respect of mens natural condition, they favour and can speak onely of things of the earth, and what they can do beside that, is by gift. 2. Those who are enabled and endowed with authority to speak the things of God; Yea, suppose they be regenerate also; yet their renovation and gifts are so imperfect, that their way of preaching favoureth of their original, and putteth them farre beneath Christ; and therefore the best have need of touched lips dayly, Isa. 6.5, 6, 7. 3. Their authority in preaching is from Christ, and as farre inferiour to his, as the earth, or the footstool, from off which (as the word signifieth) they speak, is to heaven, or the throne from which he speaketh; and thus the comparison seemeth to be instituted, Heb. 12.25. Doctrine 10. It is our part to dwell much on the thoughts of the excellencie and sovereignty of Christ, and to see it shining in every step of his dispensations toward us; Therefore it is repeated, he that cometh from heaven, is above all, partly to inculcate this point, and partly, to point him out as excellent in doctrine above man who speaketh of the earth, which is further insisted on in the next verse. For albeit he stooped to our weaknesse in speaking heavenly things under earthly similitudes, verse 12. yet his way and authority even in that, was altogether heavenly, John 7.46.