491. The same things are signified by “sons” and “daughters” in this chapter (verses 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 26, 30), but such as is the church, such are the “sons and daughters” that is, such are the goods and truths; the truths and goods here spoken of are such as were distinctly perceived, because they are predicated of the Most Ancient Church, the principal and parent of all the other and succeeding churches.
John 1:19-30
19
This is John's testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
20
He declared, and didn't deny, but he declared, "I am not the Christ."
21
They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No."
22
They said therefore to him, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23
He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said."
24
The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
25
They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
26
John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know.
27
He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen."
28
These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30
This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.'
