A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 2 · Subpart 24
The Name of Christ like to Precious Ointment.
Cant. 1.3.
Thy Name is as Ointment poured forth, &c.
THe Spouse knows not how to set out the Transcendent Excellencies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Before she saith, His Love is better than Wine; and here she compares his Name to Ointment poured forth, &c.
The Words are a Proposition, in which you have two Parts.
1. The Subject.
2. The Predicate.
1. By the Name of Christ, some understand the Doctrine of Christ declared in the Gospel; others by his Name, his Person, Illyricus in locum, Ye shall be hated of all Nations for my Name-sake; I will shew him how great things he shall suffer for my Name; that is, for my Sake.
2. Christ hath several sweet Names or Appellations given him in the Holy Scripture, that may be compared to Precious Ointment; as first, his Name Jesus, Emanuel, the Lord our Righteousness, Prince of Peace, &c.
Simile.
I. OIntment is of a fragrant and odoriferous Scent. Precious Ointment yields a very sweet Smell: the Box of Ointment which was poured upon Christ, the Text says, the whole House was fill'd with the Odour thereof.
II. Ointment hath an exhilarating Virtue, it chears, elevates, and makes the Heart glad.Prov. 27.9. Ointment and Perfume rejoyce the Heart; hence the Antients in their Banquetings and joyful Feastings,Amos 6.6. used choice and precious Ointments.
III. Oil hath a drawing and cleansing Quality in it; it is powerful in attracting, or drawing Pollution or noxious Matter, out of Wounds or Sores in the Body.
IV. Ointment hath a mollifying and suppling Virtue, it will soften any hard Tumor or Swelling in the Body; the Lord alludes to this: They have not been mollified with Ointment.Isa. 1.6.
V. Ointment is of a beautifying Nature;Psal. 104.15. David tells us, it makes the Face to shine, (Naturalists says) there is a sort of Ointment that will fetch out Wrinkles.
VI. Some Ointments are of great Worth and Value, as appears not only by Historians, but by what is said of that Box Mary bestowed upon our blessed Saviour.Mat. 26 7.
VII. Ointments are of a healing Nature.
VIII. Some Ointments are of a strengthening Nature; the Joynts being weak and benum'd, or parts of the Body anointed therewith, it recovers their Strength.
IX. Ointment being poured forth, denotes the use of it; 'tis of little Profit whilst it is kept close shut up in the Box, nor doth it yield that fragrant Smell till poured forth.
X. Ointment poured forth, denotes Plenty; as one observes upon the place; as also a free Communication of it.
Parallel.
I. THe Lord Jesus is very sweet and of a fragrant Smell to Believers, as hath been shewed upon divers Metaphors; nay, he makes their Persons, Prayers, and all their Performances as sweet Odours in the Nostrils of God. Christ perfumes as it were all Persons and Places where he cometh; the Person, Example, Passion,Rev. 8.3, 4. Intercession, Word, Promises, Ordinances of Christ, are of a sweet Savour.
II. Jesus Christ, and the Spirit that flows or proceeds from him, is of a glading refreshing and comforting Nature;Heb. 1.9. he anoints his Saints, gives the Sorrowful the Oil of Gladness for the Spirit of Heaviness, Thou hast put Gladness in my Heart, Isa. 61.3. Psal. 4.7▪more than in the time when their Corn and their Wine increased.
III. Christ draws the Soul (when his Name is poured out so, that the Soul feels the nature of his Sovereign Love and Grace) out of the World, and the Kingdom of Satan, and from all Uncleanness of the Heart and Life to himself. Saith Christ, And if I be lifted up from the Earth, I will draw all Men unto me; Cant. 1.4. Joh. 12.32 Jer. 31.3▪With loving Kindness have I drawn thee; Draw me, and I will run after thee. Christ draws the Soul from Sin, and Sin from the Soul; and so cleanseth it thereby.
IV. Christ's Name poured forth, viz. his Perfections and Excellencies made known to a Sinner, presently softens his hard Adamant-like Heart: all the Hearts of Sinners that have been broken and made tender, it hath been done by the Virtue of this precious mollifying Ointment.
V. This Spiritual Ointment will fetch out all the Stains and Spots of Sin; all those Blemishes and Wrinkles of the Soul; of which the Apostle speaks, that so we may be presented amiable in the sight of God.Eph. 5.27. Believers have no Beauty but what they have from Christ.
VI. The Lord Jesus Christ is of an inestimable Worth; who is able to account the value of this Box of precious Ointment? Wisdom is the principal thing, (Christ is the Wisdome) of God, 1 Cor. 1.24. Prov. 3.…5.its price is above Rubies,
VII. Christ heales the Soul; he is not only the Physician, but his Blood▪ and the precious Graces of his Spirit, is the Balm or Ointment that cures all our Sores.
VIII. All Spiritual Strength is from Christ; 'tis he only that confirms and strengthens the Feebleness,Eph 6 …0. Heb. 12.…2 and the Hands that hang down; 'tis he that strengthens our Hearts in the day of Trouble, and weakens the Hands of our Enemies.Psal. 31.24
IX. The Name of Christ hath not that fragrant Smell, nor appears of that great Worth and Excellency, till poured forth in the Ministry of the Word by the Spirit and in his Ordinances: that is the way of opening this precious Alabaster Box,2 Cor. 2… 14, 15. 2 Cor. 2.14. which like Pipes, convey the golden Oil to the Lamps; thus Christ manifested the Savour of his Knowledg by the Apostles in several places.
X, The Lord Jesus hath a great plenty of all good and sweet Perfumes,Col. 2 3. and precious things in him, and he is free to part with them,Jo…. 1.14, 16. or communicate of his Fulness unto us.
Simile.
I. ALL natural Ointments are of humane Composition, they are compounded by Men, hence called, the Ointment of the Apothecary;Eccles. 10.1. God created the Materials, Man learned the Skil of using them.
II. Natural Ointments are of great Value, but their Worth is known and may be computed: Mary's Box of Precious Ointment was valued, but at, or little more than three hundred Pence.
III. Natural Ointments will not keep their Vertue; the most fragrant of them in the World, will, tho kept never so closly and carefully, in time corrupt and lose its Savour: Dead Flies make the Ointment of the Apothecary to send forth a stinking Smell.
IV. Other Ointment is of a wasting Nature; take but one Dram out, and there is an Abatement, and so by little and little it will diminish, and shrink till it comes to nothing.
V. Other Ointments are only good for the Body; one sort pleaseth the sensual part, and another makes the Face and Skin of a Man to shine.
VI. No one kind of natural Ointments hath all excellent Qualities in it: some may be of a fragrant Smell, but not healing, others may be good for healing, but not of a fragrant Smell.
VII. A Person may be anointed with precious Ointment, and in a little time lose all the Scent and Savour of it.
VIII. The Effects which are wrought by other Ointments, are not quick and sudden, cannot heal, cleanse, nor make the Face smooth and beautiful in a moment: The Virgins that were to delight the Persian King, must be anointed six Months, before their Beauty was perfect.Esth. 2.12.
IX. A very small Quantity of other Ointment doth but little Good, nor worketh but small Effects,See Roberson. whether for healing, beautifying, or perfuming; one Drop will not perfume a whole Room, &c.
Disparity.
I. BUt this spiritual Ointment was not made by Man; the Divinity of Christ is from everlasting, not made, nor created; and his humane Nature was filled with the Spirit, he was anointed with the Oil of Gladness above his Fellows that so he might pour forth this sweet and sacred Unction to his Saints.Heb. 1 ….
II. The Lord Christ is of inestimable Worth, and invaluable; all the Pearls and Diamonds in the World are not worth the least drop or dram of this good and pretious Ointmen… those that have it, would not part with it for ten Thousands of Rivers of Oil; one drop of it infinitely excels all the choicest Ointments in the World.
III. The duration of this holy Ointment is such, that it will never decay. Jesus, and the Grace of Jesus is incorruptible, he is as sweet as Fragrant, and of the same Vertue he was in Abrahams and Abels time; and so will abide for ever; for he is without beginning or end of Days:Heb. 7.3. & cap. 13.8. nothing can get into this pretious Ointment to make it unsavoury to a grievous Soul; the Cross it self is sweet in him.
IV. Jesus Christ hath anointed thousands of the Godly in all Ages since the Beginning, and yet the Vessel is as full as ever; 'tis always pouring forth, it ever runs, yea and that freely too, yet the Ointment doth not diminish; there is not in him one Dram less than there was at the beginning.
V. The Spiritual Ointment is for the suppling, cleansing,1 Pet. 3.4. Ezek. 16.13, 14. and healing of the Soul, it causes an internal Beauty, and puts a Lustre on the inward Man; which God and holy Angels delight in.
VI. All Excellencies meet together in Christ, there is nothing that is of Use, Profit, Pleasure, nor Delight, but it is to be found in him, yea and that in the highest Degree.
VII. He that is anointed with this Ointment, will smell of it as long as he lives; there will be some Savour of Jesus Christ remaining, though his Lips and Life may not be always alike, sweet and fragrant.
VIII. Such are the Effects and powerful Operations of the Lord Jesus Christ, (this spiritual Ointment that no sooner he touches the blind with his Finger but they see; and the Leopards are cleansed at a word of his Mouth; as soon as ever one drop of this Ointment is applyed,Mat. 8.2. by Faith to the Soul, the Effect follows; one moment is sufficient for Christ to accomplish his Work, tho he doth not always work so speedily.
IX. A very small Quantity of this spiritual Ointment doth wonderful things; the least measure of true Grace, hath glorious and marvellous Effects, as it is spoken of Faith, tho it be as small as a grain of Mustard Seed, yet, Mat. 13.31.&c. a little of this Ointment perfumes the whole Soul, House and Family of a Saint.
Application.
FRom hence you may further take notice of, and admire the Excellencies of Jesus Christ, in that he is compared to all things that are good, pleasant and delightful; well may he be call'd wonderful: O! how wonderful, and pleasant is that precious and good Name,Isa. 9.6. that is composed of so many excellent things.
2. This should draw our Hearts towards him, make us love him and delight in him, and long, and desire after him; His Name being as Ointment poured forth; it follows, therefore do the Virgins love thee. Cant. 1.3.
3. This also demonstrates the Excellencies of his Grace; 'tis the Graces of Christ, that make him be compared to Ointment poured forth; his sweet Ointments are, as one observes, his Meekness, Patience, and Holiness, &c.
4. The special Graces of Christ, as appears from hence, are not communicated to all, the holy Ointment under the Law, was only for consecrated Things and Persons, the Elect and holy Priesthood of God, only have the Name of Christ, like precious Ointment, poured out; Christ empties himself only to those golden Vessels,Zech. 4.12. though common Graces are communicated to all.
5. We may from hence infer, how unsavory all Wicked Men are in their Persons and Services that have not this good Ointment upon them, their Hearts,Prov. 15.8. Prov. 21.27. Lives, and Prayers, and all they do, stinks in the Nostrils of the Lord, being not perfum'd by Jesus Christ: The Sacrifice of the wicked, is an Abomination to the Lord.
6. This teacheth us, how to keep our Souls sweet; Sin, the World, and the Devil strives to make them lose their savour. Therefore pray every day for a drop or two of this Ointment to sweeten your Prayers, Meditations, and all your holy Dutys; and be sure carry Christ in your Hearts, Lips and Lives, and this will make you lovely, and cause you to shine where ever you come.
7. When you smell of any Perfume, think of this precious Ointment, that perfumes Heaven and Earth.
8. If you are sad and disconsolate, you may know whither to go, 'tis this Ointment that cheers, revives, and maketh glad every drooping Christian.
9. Are you troubled with hardness of Heart, or any swelling Tumour; why then with speed, get some of this mollifying Ointment.
10. Be sure to ascribe all true, softness and brokenness of Spirit to Christ and his good Ointment.
11. He that would be beautiful, must not be without this Ointment.
12. Get store of it, to perfume your Houses, and pray that your Wives and Children may have store of it poured upon them.
13. What a Mercy is it, to have of this good Ointment, by us, and laid up for us, seeing we are so subject to be unsavoury, subject to Wounds and Sores, and other Diseases, which this Ointment cures effectually.