The Ark of the Covenant Opened, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Of the Mediator's Ʋnction as it relateth to the endowing of him with all requiſite Qualifications for that Work.
THE Second Part of Chriſt's Unction (which is alſo conſequent to his perſonal union) is the furniſhing and fitting of him with ſpecial Requiſites and Furniture for the work of Mediation; and particularly, he is anointed with requiſite qualifications for the diſcharge of theſe three high Offices unto which he was deſigned, to be a King, a Prieſt, and a Prophet to his Church: And this alſo is comprehended in the Anointing from which our Mediator has his name, Meſſiah, or Chriſt, Joh. 1.41. Luke 9.20.
Of this part of his Unction we ſhall ſpeak, 1. More generally, laying open what it is, and the comprehenſive phraſes of Scripture which ſpeak of it. 2. More particularly, pointing at the ſpecial graces which were required, and were found eminently in our Mediator.
And 1. of his Unction in general, whereby the Godhead made the Manhead full of himſelf, and of all the communicable graces and gifts of the Spirit, to fit him for the work of a Mediator.
The Scripture-phraſes concerning this unction, or fitneſs and furniture of Chriſt for his Mediatorſhip, are exceeding large and comprehenſive, Pſal. 45.2, 7, Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips—thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladneſs above thy fellows. There his unction with the Holy Ghoſt, and graces of the Spirit, compared to oyl (which in regard of its nature refreſheth and maketh fit for uſe; and in regard of its uſe, was imployed for figuring and ſignifying mens fitneſs for the calling), is extolled comparatively, comparing it with the unction of believers; a large effuſion of the Spirit was upon him after an extraordinary meaſure and manner, John 3.34, For God giveth not the ſpirit by meaſure unto him: how then? without meaſure: i.e. moſt abundantly: the like phraſe ſee Ezra 7.22, And ſalt, without preſcribing how much. Chriſt did receive the gifts of the Spirit in ſuch abundant meaſure, that he might have an overflowing meaſure in him, that ſhould run over, and fill all his members, Joh. 1.14, 16, full of grace and truth. And of his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace. 1 Joh. 2.27, But the anointing that ye have received of him, abideth in you: and ye need not that any man teach you, &c. Eph. 4.7, But unto every one of us is given grace, according to the meaſure of the gift of Chriſt. And 1.23, The fulneſs of him that filleth all in all. Acts 10.38, He is ſaid to be anointed with the holy Ghoſt and with power, having both foreign and foreign, given to him, both might and authority, Mat. 28.18, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Joh. 17.2, As thou haſt given him power over all fleſh. 1 Cor. 1.24, Chriſt the power of God, and the wiſdom of God. And Col. 1.19, It pleaſed the Father that in him ſhould all fulneſs dwell: that is, admirable perfection of Grace; he hath all worth in his perſon, nothing is wanting in him that may compleat his peoples happineſs: ſome ſhort view of the Graces wherewith he was filled, we have Iſa. 11.2, 3, 4, 5, And the ſpirit of the Lord ſhall reſt upon him, the ſpirit of wiſdom and underſtanding, the ſpirit of counſel and might, the ſpirit of knowledg, and of the fear of the Lord: And ſhall make him of quick underſtanding in the fear of the Lord: and he ſhall not judg after the ſight of his eyes, neither ſhall reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteouſneſs ſhall he judg the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he ſhall ſmite the earth with the rod of his mouth; and with the breath of his lips ſhall he ſlay the wicked. And righteouſneſs ſhall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulneſs the girdle of his reins. Rom. 15.12, And again Eſaias ſaith, There ſhall be a root of Jeſſe; and he that ſhall riſe to reign over the Gentiles, in him ſhall the Gentiles truſt. And Col. 2.3, All the treaſures of wiſdom and knowledg; not abſolutely taken for infinite knowledg, as the words relate to the human nature of Chriſt; but relatively, for a marvellous height of perfection of theſe things, ſuch as was requiſite for his Mediatorſhip in order to our ſalvation. Again, Col. 2.9, it's ſaid of him, The fulneſs of the Godhead dwells in him bodily, i. e. perſonally, by the union of the divine nature with the human, in the unity of his perſon, the perfect Deity of the Son, with all his Attributes (and not only in regard of particular gifts and graces, as he dwelleth in the Prophets and Saints), but as the ſoul dwelleth in the body, perſonally, or ſubſtantially, in oppoſition to the ſhadows of the Old Teſtament.
But mainly, by the anointing of Chriſt with the Holy Ghoſt, we underſtand two things, which we find joined with the Spirit promiſed to him: 1. All the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit in copious and abundant meaſure, and according to the higheſt pitch and degree that the human nature of Chriſt was capable to receive; and ſo the Spirit put upon him, is joined with the variety and eminency of excel-cellent gifts, Iſa. 11.2, &c. 2. The unutterable aſſiſtance and preſence of the Spirit, bearing his Human nature up in all that he was to do as Mediator, that he ſhould not ſerve on his own charges: See Iſa. 42.1, 2, Behold my ſervant whom I have choſen: mine elect, in whom my ſoul delighteth. I have put my ſpirit upon him: he ſhall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles: He ſhall not cry, nor lift up, nor cauſe his voice to be heard in the ſtreet, &c. Pſal. 89.21, With whom my hand ſhall be eſtabliſhed: mine arm alſo ſhall ſtrengthen him. And both theſe the holy Human nature of Chriſt needed, for theſe reaſons: 1. For the things which he was to ſuffer: If Chriſt had nothing to do but active obedience, the ſpirit of Adam, or confirmed Angels, might have done his turn: but he had another work to do (which would have cruſhed thoſe excellent creatures) to ſatisfie juſtice, and lye under the infinite wrath of God, and therefore needed more than they received, Heb. 9.14, He is ſaid to have offered up himſelf, by the power of the eternal ſpirit, which I take to ſignifie, not only the Godhead which gave value to his ſuffering, but the aſſiſtance of the Holy-Ghoſt, whereby he was marvellouſly helped (I mean his humane nature) to go through thoſe ſufferings. 2. Becauſe his anointing was intended to run over to his people, and the off-fallings of it was deſigned to fill them; therefore it behoved to be without meaſure; ſuch a meaſure as cannot be comprehended by any other creature, Joh. 1.16, Of his fulneſs do we receive. Pſal. 133.2, It is like the precious oyntment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aarons beard, that went down to the skirts of his garments. Pſal. 68.18, Thou haſt aſcended on high, thou haſt led captivity captive, thou haſt received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious alſo, that the Lord might dwell among them: with Eph. 4.8, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Joh. 5.26, For as the Father hath life in himſelf, ſo hath he given to the Son to have life in himſelf. 3. Becauſe God hath ſo contrived the buſineſs of Grace, that no created thing can act without the ſpirit: not Adam, not the Angels, not the holy humane nature of Chriſt; that all creatures might be known to have no ſelf-ſufficiency, but to be very depending things upon God, and upon grace, the aſſiſting-grace of his Spirit, that framed them, and gave them being, Mat. 3.15, And Jeſus anſwering, ſaid unto him, Suffer it to be ſo now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteouſneſs. Rom. 11.36, For of him, and through him, and to him are all things, to whom be glory for ever.
For a further clearing of this part of Chriſts Unction, I lay down theſe four Poſitions:
1. Concerning the Nature thereof, that it was the ſame with the Unction of believers; it was not one ſpirit which Chriſt received, and another which believers receive: grace in him, and in them, differ not in kind, but in degrees: See Joh. 1.14, 16, 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. And of his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace. Pſal. 45.7, Thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladneſs above thy fellows. Gal. 4.6, And becauſe ye are ſons, God hath ſent forth the ſpirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father. Rom. 8.9, 11, But ye are not in the fleſh, but in the ſpirit, if ſo be that the ſpirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the ſpirit of Chriſt, he is none of his.—But if the ſpirit of him that raiſed up Jeſus from the dead dwell in you, he that raiſed up Chriſt from the dead, ſhall alſo quicken your mortal bodies, by his ſpirit that dwelleth in you. For, Conſider the Unction of the humane Nature of Chriſt, 1. It was Created-grace wherewith he was anointed: it was grace given upon the one part, and received upon the other: it was grace-poured out and infuſed in the ſame manner as believers receive grace, Pſal. 68.18, Thou haſt received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious alſo, that the Lord might dwell among them. Pſal. 45.2, 7, Grace is poured into thy lips, therefore hath God bleſſed thee for ever. Thou loveſt righteouſneſs, and hateſt wickedneſs, therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with oyl of gladneſs above thy fellows. 2. It was grace, which being finite, did receive encreaſe, Luk. 2.40, 52, And the child grew, and waxed ſtrong in ſpirit, filled with wiſdom, and the grace of God was upon him. And Jeſus encreaſed in wiſdom and ſtature, and in favour with God and man; as all his members do, Eph. 4.13, Till all we come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledg of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt. 3. It muſt needs be of the ſame kind, ſeeing our grace and Unction is part of his fulneſs, Joh. 1.16, And of his fulneſs have all we received and grace for grace. 1 Joh. 2.20, 27, But ye have an unction from the holy one.—But the anointing which you have received of him, abideth in you. Yet ſo, as Chriſt is not degraded from his Soveraignty by his partners exaltation, Col. 1.18, And he is the head of the body, the Church; who is the beginning, the firſt-born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preheminence.
2. Concerning the meaſure of Chriſts Unction: although his Unction differ not in kind from the Unction of believers; yet the meaſure of it ſo far exceeds our meaſure, that in reſpect thereof it is without meaſure, and yet the humane Nature of Chriſt had not infinite grace; for thereof it was not capable: it is as the Ocean compared with the drop of a Bucket; the ſpirit and grace was in him as water in the Fountain; in us, as water in the Ciſtern; communication in regard of Chriſt, is full and immediate; grace is in him as the money in the treaſure, which is disburſed to us according to our need; grace is in him as life and ſenſe is eminently in the heart and head, which is diffuſed into his members, Joh. 5.26, For as the Father hath life in himſelf, ſo hath he given to the Son to have life in himſelf. Chap. 6. v. 57, As the living Father hath ſent me, and I live by the Father: ſo he that eateth me, even he ſhall live by me. Pſal. 45.2, 7, Thou art fairer than the children of men, grace is poured into thy lips.—God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladneſs above thy fellows. Col. 1.18, And he is the head of the body, the Church, who is the beginning, the firſtborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preheminence.
3. Concerning the time of Chriſts Unction: whether he received the ſpirit without meaſure, in that copious abundant effuſion, from the womb, and firſt moment of his conception: We ſay he was anointed even from the firſt union of his two Natures in his perſon; the Godhead did ſanctifie the huname Nature, and make it holy, undefiled; and infuſed all graces, as appears from Luk. 1.35, Therfore alſo that holy thing which ſhall be born of thee, ſhall be called the Son of God. Heb. 7.26, For ſuch an High-prieſt became us, who is holy, harmleſs, undefiled, ſeparate from ſinners, and made higher than the heaven. And from the glorious effects thereof, which did early appear in him, Luk. 2.42, to 49. Yet ſo, as he did more fully receive the anointing, and the ſpirit without meaſure, when he was to appear publickly, in the entire executing of his Offices, which was about the thirtieth year of his age; Luk. 3.23, with 4.1, 22, And Jeſus being full of the Holy-Ghoſt, &c.—And all bare him witneſs, and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Which was typified in Davids being twice anointed, once when he was firſt deſigned King, 1 Sam. 16.13. And again, when he was inveſted in the preſence of the people, 2 Sam. 2.4. Which was alſo held forth in the viſible ſign of the Holy-Ghoſt, his deſcending upon him at his baptiſm, Mat. 3.16. And was intimated to John before-hand, Joh. 1.33, 34, And I knew him not: but he that ſent me to baptize with water, the ſame ſaid unto me, Ʋpon whom thou ſhalt ſee the ſpirit deſcending and remaining on him, the ſame is he which baptizeth with the Holy-Ghoſt. And I ſaw, and bare record, that this is the Son of God, i.e. That he who as man ſhould receive the ſpirit, ſhould alſo as God, yea, as Mediator, give the ſpirit to others.
4. Concerning the extent of his Unction, as it reacheth unto all the parts of his Mediatorſhip, and the furniſhing him for them. 1. He was anointed to be a Prophet, furniſhed with a dexterity to preach the Goſpel, Luk. 4.18, 19, 22, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, becauſe he hath anointed me to preach the Goſpel to the poor, he hath ſent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of ſight to the blind: to ſet at liberty them that are bruiſed: to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.—And all bare him witneſs, and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Iſa. 50.4, The Lord hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I ſhould know how to ſpeak a word in ſeaſon to him that is weary. Mat. 7.28, 29, And it came to paſs when Jeſus had ended theſe ſayings, the people were aſtoniſhed at his doctrine. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the Scribes. Joh. 6.63, The words that I ſpeak unto you, they are ſpirit, and they are life. Yea, he was not only furniſhed with a ſpirit for that calling, but alſo for prompting others, and fitting them for it, Eph. 4.8, 11, And gave gifts unto men.—And he gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors, and ſome Teachers. 2. He was anointed (not only called, but furniſhed) for his Prieſtly Office, for both the parts thereof furniſhed by the Spirit, wherewith he was anointed, both for offering his Sacrifice, and for making his interceſſion, Heb. 9.14, Who through the eternal ſpirit offered himſelf without ſpot to God. Chap. 5. v. 7, Who in the days of his fleſh, when he had offered up prayers and ſupplications, with ſtrong crying and tears, &c. 3. He was anointed, and furniſhed for his Kingly Office, with a ſpirit, and gifts for Government; for conquering his enemies, and for ruling his people, Pſal. 45.3, 4, 5, Gird thy ſword upon thy thigh, O moſt Mighty, with thy glory and thy Majeſty. And in thy Majeſty ride proſperouſly, becauſe of truth, and meekneſs, and righteouſneſs: and thy right hand ſhall teach thee terrible things. Thine arrows are ſharp in the heart of the kings enemies, whereby the people fall under thee. Iſa. 11.2, And the ſpirit of the Lord ſhall reſt upon him, the ſpirit of wiſdom and underſtanding, the ſpirit of counſel and might, the ſpirit of knowledg, and of the fear of the Lord, &c.
Ʋſe 1. Behold, how well furniſhed our Mediator is ſet out for his work: there is a fulneſs in him to meet with all our emptineſs; yea, his fulneſs was given to him for this very end, that ſinners which cannot come where the fulneſs of God lieth, to receive from him immediately, may receive it out of Chriſts fulneſs.
Conſider then, I ſay, 1. What a fulneſs is in him, what a running-over Unction he received; this is a work above us, and matter beyond our expreſſion, wherein we may more eaſily loſe our ſelves, even in this depth, than expreſs our ſelves: by this Unction he is full of God, Col. 2.9, For in him dwelleth all the fulneſs of the Godhead bodily. Full of the ſpirit, the Holy-Ghoſt, Luk. 4.1, And Jeſus being full of the Holy-Ghoſt, full of grace and truth. Joh. 11.4, Full of light and of life. Joh. 1.4, In him was life, and the life was the light of men, &c. Full of ſaving grace, and ſanctified gifts, Iſa. 11.2, And the ſpirit of the Lord ſhall reſt upon him, &c.
2. Conſider for what end all this fulneſs was given unto him: he was full of the ſpirit, that he might fill us with his ſpirit, Joh. 16.7, Nevertheleſs I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will ſend him unto you. Eph. 3.19, That ye might be filled with all the fulneſs of God. He was full of grace, that we might receive of his fulneſs, Joh. 1.16. That his Unction might run down upon us, 1. Joh. 2.27, But the anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you. That his grace might work mightily in us, Col. 1. laſt. He received gifts for our uſe, to give them to men, to the worſt of men, even to the rebellious, gifts to be meaſured out again, Pſal. 68.18, with Chap. 4. v. 8.
Ʋſe 2. Let his fulneſs and compleat Unction be improved, 1. For convincing ſuch as continue ſo empty, when Chriſt is ſo full? Ah, that we ſhould be ſo poor, when Chriſt is ſo rich! when we have ſo full an anointed one, that we ſhould never taſte of his Unction! ſome have nothing, and ſome have little; but very few are filled with the fulneſs of Chriſt, and made to run over-with his Unction: the fault is in us that he is ſo wet, and we are ſo dry, John 5.40, And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
2. For alluring and gaining the hearts of empty creatures. Things allure, as there is much of precious furniture in them: but this is ſad, when God hath anointed Chriſt with the Spirit above meaſure: that empty creatures care nothing for him, that his fulneſs and furniture is propounded and offered every day in the Goſpel, and we are not allured by it. Song. 1.3, Becauſe of the ſavour of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore the virgins love thee.
3. For comforting believers: all this fulneſs of the Spirit, of gifts and graces wherewith Chriſt was anointed, it is yours: it was not only for your uſe, but it is your property. 1 Cor. 3.22, 23, All are yours, and ye are Chriſts, and Chriſt is Gods: You may uſe it as your own; you may come to the Fountain, to the Treaſure, to the ſtore-houſe of Chriſts fulneſs, when-you will: you may comfortably and confidently hold up your Ciſterns, till they be filled and run over, Iſa. 12.3, Therefore with joy ſhall ye draw water out of the wells of Salvation. Phil. 4.18, 19, But I have all, and abound: I am full—But my God ſhall ſupply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Jeſus Chriſt.