The harmony of the Gospels in the holy history of the humiliation and sufferings…

3. John was but a man, a mere man, as other of mankind be, but Jesus Christ was God and man in one person. The second person in Trinity did assume this holy thing, this humane nature, this pure spotless thing, and made it one person with himself, a Mystery eternally to be admired, and herein Jesus did infinitely excel John.

3. John was but a man, a meer man, as other of mankind be, but Jesus Christ was God and man in one person. The second person in Trinity did assume this holy thing, this humane nature, this pure spotless thing, and made it one person with himself, a Mystery eternally to be admired, and herein Jesus did infinitely excell John.

4. The humane nature of Jesus had the Image of God in him in all perfection, whereby he was able to keep the Law of God, under which he was made purely, perfectly and meritoriously. And that, not only as Adam was able to do at his first Creation, but infinitely more excellently, because he is God-man. But it was far otherwise with John, for he had Gods Image but in part, even so much as Jesus Christ by his Spirit through free grace saw meet to dispense unto him, which though it was in greater measure then other men, or Prophets, yet infinitely short of Jesus Christ, and he kept the Law according to the measure of grace and assistance which he received from Jesus Christ, and he needed a pardon from Jesus Christ, of his infirmities and failings in his obedience; and therefore John doth justly diminish himself in respect of Jesus Christ, Math. 3.11. whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, Mark. 1.7. whose shoo-strings I am not worthy to untie.

4. The humane nature of Jesus had the Image of God in him in all perfection, whereby he was able to keep the Law of God, under which he was made purely, perfectly and meritoriously. And that, not only as Adam was able to do at his first Creation, but infinitely more excellently, because he is God-man. But it was far otherwise with John, for he had Gods Image but in part, even so much as Jesus Christ by his Spirit through free grace saw meet to dispence unto him, which though it was in greater measure then other men, or Prophets, yet infinitely short of Jesus Christ, and he kept the Law according to the measure of grace and assistance which he received from Iesus Christ, and he needed a pardon from Iesus Christ, of his infirmityes and failings in his obedience; and therefore Iohn doth justly diminish himself in respect of Iesus Christ,