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8 He was not that light, but was fent to bear witness of 9 that light. That was the true light, which lighteth 10 every man that cometh into the world. He was in

the world, and the world was made by him, and the I world know him not (d). He came unto his own, 12 and his own received him not (e). But as many as

received him, to them gave he power to become the fons of God (f), even to them that believe on his 13 name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the

will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.

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John bare witness of him, and cried, faying, This was he of whom I fpake, He that cometh after me, 16 is preferred before me; for he was before me (g). And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for 17 grace. For the law was given by Mofes, but grace 18 and truth came by Jefus Chrift (b). No man hath feen God

(d) Acknowledged him not, but rejected him. (e) His own people of Ifrael, that very people whom he had all along defended and directed, before he took our nature upon him, and now appeared as their Meffiah and Redeemer, of whole coming they had at this very time the moft earnest expectation, according to what they found foretold by their own prophets in the fcriptures of the Old Teftament.

(f) Sons of God, not by a natural, but a fpiritual birth; not as the Jews, who claimed the fpecial favour of God, by being defcended from Abraham, (John viii. 33.) but in confequence of their taking upon themselves the gospel covenant; which is called in the foregoing verfe, believing on the name of Christ.

(g) He was before me in his divine nature.

(h) To Mofes and the prophets God gave his Spirit in a certain degree and proportion: but to Chrift without bounds or measure; John iii. 34. and instead of the limited difpenfation of Moses, which, gracious as it was, was but a type and fhadow of the Chriftian revefation, he now gives us that which is the true and real fubftance of

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God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews fent priefts and Levites from Jerufalem, to ask him, 20 Who art thou? And he confeffed, and denied not; 21 but confeffed, I am not the Chrift. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias (i)? And he faith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, 22 No. Then faid they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that fent us: 23 What fayeft thou of thyfelf? He faid (k), I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as faid the prophet Efaias. 24 And they which were fent, were of the Pharifees. 25 And they afked him, and said unto him, Why bap

tizeft thou then, if thou be not that Chrift, nor Eli26 as, neither that Prophet? John answered them, faying, I baptize with water (1): but there ftandeth 27 one among you, whom ye know not; He it is who coming after me, is preferred before, me, whofe 28 fhoes-latchet I am not worthy to unloofe (m). Thefe things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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The next day John feeth Jefus coming unto him, and faith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh 30 away the fin of the world. This is he, of whom I

religion, and deferves to be diftinguifhed by the name of grace or favour, health or firength, in the moft eminent and fuperlative fenfe.

(i) Art thou Elias, who, we expect, is to appear again in the world before the coming of Chrift; or, art, thou Jeremiah, or another of the prophets, reftored to life?

(k) Though I am not Elias in perfon, yet I have the very fame office, as it is described by Isaiah xl. 3.

(4) I baptize, not to eftablifh my own authority, but to make difciples for the Meffiah, who will very foon appear, and is infinitely fuperior to me; more fo than the greateft perfon in the world is to the meaneft fervant in his family.

(m) See Matt. iii. 11. Note.

faid, After me cometh a man, which is preferred be31 fore me: for he was before me (n). And I knew him

not: but that he should be made manifeft to Ifrael, 32 therefore am I come baptizing with water. And John bare record, faying, I faw the Spirit defcending from 33 heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. And I knew him not: but he that fent me to baptize with water, the fame faid unto me (o), Upon whom thou fhalt fee the Spirit defcending, and remaining on him, the fame is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost. 34 And I faw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. 35

Again the next day after, John stood, and two of 36 his difciples: And looking upon Jefus as he walked, 37 he faith, Behold the Lamb of God. And the two

difciples heard him speak, and they followed Jefus. 38 Then Jefus turned, and faw them following, and faith unto them, What feek ye? They faid unto him, Rabbi, (which is to fay, being interpreted, Mafter) 39 where dwelleft thou? He faid unto them, Come and fee. They came and faw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was (p) about the tenth 40 hour. One of the two which heard John Speak, and

followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and faith unto him, We have found the Meffias (9), which is, be42 ing interpreted, the Chrift. And he brought him to Jefus. And when Jefus beheld him, he faid,

(n) I am to be confidered but as his forerunner and fervant; whereas his dignity is fupreme, and his exiftence from eternity. Verse 1.

(0) Though I knew that the Meffiah was about to appear, yet I had not a perfect knowledge that Jefus was he, until it was revealed to me that he should be declared by the defcent of the Spirit. See Matt. iii. 14.

(p) Two hours before fun-fet.

(9) Meffiah, or Chrift, fignifies anointed; that is, fet apart for the high office of Saviour of the world.

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Thou art Simon the fon of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone (r). 43 The day following, Jefus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and faith unto him, Follow 44 me. Now Philip was of Bethfaida, the city of An45 drew and Peter. Philip findeth Nathanael, and faith unto him, We have found him of whom Mofes in the law, and the prophets did write, Jefus of Naza46 reth, the fon of Jofeph. And Nathanael faid unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Naza47 reth () Philip faith unto him, Come, and fee. Jefus faw Nathanael coming to him, and faith of him, Behold an Ifraelite indeed, in whom is no guile (t). 48 Nathanael faith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jefus anfwered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou waft under the fig49 tree, I faw thee (u). Nathanael answered and faith

unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art 50 the King of Ifrael. Jefus anfwered and faid unto him, Because I faid unto thee, I faw thee under the fig-tree, believeft thou? thou fhalt fee greater things 51 than thefe. And he faith unto him, Verily, verily I fay unto you, Hereafter you fhall fee heaven open, and the angels of God (w) afcending and defcending upon the Son of man.

(r) Cephas is the fame as Peter, and fignifies a Rock. (s) See Chap. vii. 41. 52.

(4) A fincere upright man, fuch as every one that professeth the true religion ought to be.

(u) I saw thy actions, and thy heart.

(w) The angels of God were always obedient to his orders, and Sometimes vifibly attended on him, particularly at his refurrection and afcenfion.

CHAP.

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CHA P. II.

AND the third day (a) there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jefus was there. 2 And both Jefus was called, and his difciples, to the 3 marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother 4 of Jefus faith unto him, They have no wine. Jefus faith unto her, Woman (b), what have I to do with 5 thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother faithunto the fervants, Whatfoever he faith unto you, do 6 it. And there were fet there fix (c) water-pots of ftone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, 7 containing two or three firkins a piece. Jefus faith unto them, Fill the water-pots with water. 8 they filled them up to the brim. And he faith unto. them, Draw out (d) now, and bear unto the gover9 nor of the feaft. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feaft had tafted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the fervants which drew the water knew), the governor of the feast 10 called the bridegroom, And faith unto him, Every

And

(a) The third day after his difcourfe with Nathanael; or perhaps the third day of the marriage feaft, which ufually continued eight days.

(b) The expreffion of woman, in the antient languages, conveys no idea of difrefpect, but is used to ladies of the first rank, and even to queens.

This is an affair in which you are no way concerned; leave it therefore to me, and I will choofe a proper time for it.

(c) The water-pots were fet there, that the guests might wash their hands before they made their meal, which is fill the conftant practice of the Jews.

The Syrian firkin held fomewhat more than feven pints of our meafure.

(d) Thus did our Lord graciously provide wine fufficient for a large company (the rest of the eight days.)

But in thofe countries, It is to be obferved, wine was not only a liquor used for pleasure, but the common drink, as beer is with us.

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