A Key to Open Scripture Metaphors, Book 2 · Part 3 · Subpart 4
The Oil of Gladness.
Psal. 45.7.
Therefore God, thy God hath anointed thee with the Oil of Gladness above thy Fellows.
1 Joh. 2.20, and 27.
But ye have an Ʋnction from the holy One, and ye know all things. But the Anointing which ye have received from him, abideth in you; and ye need not that any Man teach you: but, as the same Anointing teacheth you all things, &c.
BY a Metaphor called an Anthropopathy, Oil or Anointing is attributed to God, Psal. 45.7. Heb. 1.9. Cant. 1.3. where the Holy Spirit with his Gifts are understood. Which appears by comparing this Place with Isa. 61.1. Acts 10.38. Joh. 3.34. where the Unction of Christ as King and Priest, is treated of. Hence comes the Derivation of the Name of our Saviour, who is called foreign Ʋnctus, anointed, Joh. 1.25. and 4.25. foreign, by way of Eminency. Believers in a measure, are made Partakers of this Unction; who by true Faith, adhere to Christ the chief Head.
METAPHOR.
OIL is of a softning and mollifying nature, a sovereign good for all hard Tumours in the Body. The Prophet complains,Plin. lib. 23. p. 160. that the Sores of Judah were not mollified with Ointment.Isa. 1.6.
II. Oil is of an healing nature, the Samaritan poured Oil and Wine into the Man's Wounds who fell among Thieves. Luk. 10.34Oil searcheth into the bottom of Wounds.
III. Oil, Pliny saith, is contrary to Scorpions, and in a wonderful manner expels dangerous Venom and Poison, that may accidentally be taken into the Body; it secures the Vitals from the penetrating Insinuations thereof, which else would seize upon and destroy them.
IV. Oil will hardly, if at all, mingle or incorporate with other liquid things; 'tis observed, put it into what you please,Vening. it will not be kept under, but will get uppermost.
V. Oil warmeth, comforteth, and refresheth the Body,Plin. p. 432. it being anointed and bathed therewith.
VI. Oil cannot be dried up by the heat of Summer, as Water and other liquid things will, it will conserve and maintain its being against the scorching heat of the Sun.
VII. Oil according to Pliny, cleareth the Eye-sight mightily, and disperseth Mists and Clouds that cause Dimness in the same.
VIII. Oil is excellent good to open Obstructions,Plin. lib. 23. p. 162. and help them who cannot breath freely.
IX. Oil is fat a and feeding Substance, 'tis a very nourishing thing ('tis thought) there is nothing more wholsome to the Body of Man.
X. Oil eaten with some other things (that have some hurtful Quality,) maketh them very good and nourishing, whilst others who eat them without Oil are surfeited thereby.
XI. Oil, Naturalists tells us, is good against Shakings, Tremblings, and Convulsions, which many are troubled with,Plin. lib. 23. p. 162. so that on a sudden sometimes they fall down, and foam at Mouth.
XII. Oil was made use of under the Law, in cleansing him who had the Plague of the Leprosy. The Priest was to put Oil on the top of his Right Ear, Levit. 14.17, 18.and upon the Thumb of his Right-hand; and the Remnant of it upon his Head.
XIII. Oil is used for Lamps, whereby they burn long, and give light to them that are in the House, the use whereof is very well known to all.
XIV. Oil hath a beautifying Virtue; the Virgins that were prepared for the Persian King, used Ointments to make them fair, for six Months space they used sweet Odours, and six Months Oil of Myrth. This Oil, Naturalists say, hath a beautifying Quality, and fetcheth Wrinkles out of the Skin. David, speaks of Oil, saying, it makes the Face to shine.
XV. There are some Men that cannot endure Oil, they love it not, will not be perswaded to put a little into their Mouths, they are naturally averse to it.
XVI. The Joynts and Limbs being anointed with some sort of Oil, 'twill very much strengthen them, and make a Man more agile, nimble and fit for Motion.
XVII. The Priests, Kings and Prophets under the Law, were anointed with Oil.
Parallel.
THE Spirit softens a hard Heart, asswageth and brings down those obdurate and hard Swellings of Pride and vain Glory, which naturally are in the Souls of Men and Women, making them willing and pliable to the Will of God.
II. The Spirit opens the Heart, and searcheth into every Corner thereof; 'tis said to search all things: There is no Sin nor secret Corruption, but it will find it out; and when it hath softned and mollified the Heart and Conscience, it doth in a gracious manner heal it.
III. The Spirit is contrary to Satan that old Serpent, and all the cursed and killing Venom and Poison of Sin, and doth wonderfully expel and purge it out of the Soul, when God is pleased to give a suitable measure thereof; it secureth from the Insinuations of Sin, and 'twill cause a Man to vomit it up by unfeigned Repentance, by which means, the Life of the Soul is preserved: for if by the Operation of the Spirit, Sin is not vomited up, Death will certainly follow. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luk. 13.3. For the Flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the Flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other. Gal. 5.17.
IV. The Spirit of God will never mingle, nor become one with the Flesh; the Spirit is from above, and ever endeavours to be uppermost, in what Heart soever it is, 'twill not be under the command of Sin nor Satan. Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh.
V. The Spirit wonderfully revives, comforteth,Acts 2.3. 1 Thes. 5.19. and infuseth Spiritual Warmth and Heat into the Soul of a Believer, when he is anointed with it; and indeed nothing else will refresh,Rev. 11.11 Joh. 14.19. enliven and warm the inward Man: hence 'tis compared to Fire, and called the Spirit of Life, and blessed Comforter.
VI. the Spirit cannot be dried up by the heat of Persecution, nor the scorching beams of Satan's Temptations, that will live and abide the same in the Souls of sincere Converts, losing none of its gracious Influences and Operations. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that shall abide with you for ever. Joh. 14.16. See Comforter.
VII. The Spirit cleareth the Eyes of the Understanding, 'tis call'd Eye-salve; and from hence the Apostle prayeth for the Ephesians, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, Eph. 1.17.18.would grant them the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation in the Knowledg of him, That the Eyes of their Ʋnderstanding being enlightned, they might know what was the hope of his calling, &c. Clouds and Mists of Darkness are upon the Eyes of all that have not received the Spirit, so that they cannot behold things a far off.
VIII. The Spirit of God is the only Remedy for all Obstructions of the inward Man, those that scarce breath or pray at all, by receiving a measure of the Spirit, breath out freely their desire to Almighty God: Likewise the Spirit helpeth our Infirmities: Rom. 8.26.for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit maketh Intercession, &c. No Man can say Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 12.3.
IX. The Spirit feeds the Soul, yea it makes it fat and well liking; nothing nourishes comparable to the Spirit; the Word and Ordnances of God, are but dry Bread to it:Isa. 25.6. this is the chief of those fat things full of Marrow, by which God feasts,Isa. 58.11. and makes fat the Bones of his Saints.
X. The Spirit of God being received and lived upon, the Abundance of the things of this World, that have in them by means of Sin, some hurtful and surfeiting Quality, are made hereby very good and profitable to Believers; but for want of the Spirit's seasoning and sanctifying, they become deadly and destructive to wicked Men, their Table, Bed, and all they enjoy, are made Snares to them. Take heed to your selves, lest at any time your Hearts be over-charged with surfeiting, and Drunkenness, and the Cares of this World, &c. Luk. 21.34.
XI. The Holy Spirit is of exceeding great use against all Tremblings and Convulsions of the Soul in evil Times, it frees the Godly from all slavish Fears, which shake some Men for want of it, out of their Faith, Honesty, and Religion; and it keeps sincere ones stedfast, and imovable, from being shaken by false Doctrine and lying Spirits; which have troubled many with strange Convulsions, Shakings and Tremblings in this Nation; so that (as my Author saith) they have even foamed at the Mouth, when Quakerism first came up amongst us.
XII. The Holy Spirit is made use of by the Lord Jesus Christ, our Heavenly High-Priest, in cleansing the Leprosy of Sin, he puts it into, (or upon) every Faculty of the Inward Man, the Will, the Affection, the Understanding, the Conscience, the Head, the Hand, the Heart, the whole Soul is anointed therewith, before it is pronounced clean by the Lord. I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall be clean from all your Filthiness. Ezek. 36.25, 26, 27. Joh. 6.63. Joh. 15.3.Now are you clean through the Word that I have spoken to you; the Words that I have spoken to you, they are the Spirit and the Life.
XIII. The Spirit of God is that spiritual Oil, that the Wise Virgins took in their Vessels and in their Lamps, by which means they were accepted by the Bridegroom, and the Foolish for want of it,Mat. 25.8, 10. their Lamps of Profession went out, and they not suffered to go into the Wedding-Chamber.
XIV. The Holy Spirit hath an excellent beautifying Quality, there is no scar, spot nor deformity in the Soul, but the Spirit can purge and cleanse it, they that are anointed with this Oil, shine in the Eyes of God and good Men; 'twill make a Blackmore white and beautifful, fetches out those Wrinkles and foul-Staines and Spots,Ezek. 16.14. that naturally are in the Souls of Men and Women; it takes of Christ's Beauty, and puts it upon the Soul, and so places a shining Lustre upon the Inward Man. Thy Beauty, Ezek. 16.14.for it was perfect through my Comliness, which I had put upon thee, &c. How glorious and beautiful to be hereby? And all that sat in the Councel, looking stedfastly on him, saw his Face as did Stephen appear if it had been the Face of an Angel. Acts 6.15.
XV. There are some, nay many Men in the World, that love, not like not the Spirit, they are naturally so averse to it, that they will not be perswaded to make trial of it; they can't believe there is any Sweetness, Benefit, or Savour in it. The Natural Man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are Foolishness unto him; neither can be know them, because they are spiritually discern'd. 1 Cor. 2.14.
XVI. The Spirit is good to strengthen the weak and decayed Hands and Knees of a poor Saint; and thereby makes the Soul more fit for Motion Godwards, lively, quick, agile, and fit for Heavenly Service.
XVII. The Lord Jesus was anointed with the Spirit, that Oil of Gladness, above his Fellows. Heb. 1.9.Moreover every Minister of the Gospel must be anointed therewith, or he is not accepted of God.
METAPHOR.
OTher Oil is of an earthly Extract, and several sorts of it are prepared and made fit for use by the Art and Wisdom of Man being extracted from earthly things.
II. There is not one sort of Oil, that hath all kind of excellent Qualities in it; that which may be good to beautify and of a dulciferous Scent, may not be medicinable.
III. Oil will not last long, its Virtue is soon gone, it quickly decays and becomes unsavoury.
Disparity.
THe Spirit is from above, and without beginning, Flowing from the Throne of God and the Lamb. But the Comforter, Rev. 22.1. Joh. 15.26even the Spirit of Truth which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.
II. The Spirit hath all excellent Qualities in it; 'twill not only beautify and perfume, but 'tis also soveraign good for healing all Distempers of the Soul; what rare Property is there in any sort of Oil, but the Spirit in an heavenly manner far excels it?
III. The Spirit ever abides the same, never corrupts, nor loseth its Virtue, it lasteth from everlasting to everlasting.
Inferences.
FRom hence we may see the excellent Nature, Properties and Usefulness of the Spirit.
2. It may move and stir us up to pray to the Father for fresh Anointings.
3. Let us ascribe all tenderness and brokeness of Heart, to the mollifying Virtue of this Precious Oil.
4. When ye see choice and excellent Oil, think seriously on the Holy Spirit?
5. Labour to get much of it in your Vessels, lest your Lamps go out, and you go to buy when 'tis too late.