The Intercourses of Divine Love Betwixt Christ and His Church, Sermon 14
Sermon XIV.
Canticles 1. 3.
At the ſavour of thy good Ointments: Thy name is an Ointment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love thee.
I Have opened theſe words, and from them handled already one Propoſition of Doctrine.
I now proceed to the ſecond from thoſe words, Thy name is an Ointment poured forth.
The name of Chriſt is an Oil, or Ointment poured out.
Prop. 12.When I opened the words, I told you a Name, is either a word or words expreſſive of the eſſence of a thing, or ſerving to diſtinguiſh one thing from another. In the firſt ſenſe God hath no name. No word ſufficiently expreſſeth the eſſence of God; what is his name? What is his Sons name? It is ſecret it is wonderful. But ſo far forth as God, or Jeſus Chriſt is by any terms made known to us, ſo far he is ſaid to have a name. More eſpecially I told you, that Chriſt as Emanuel, or God with us, hath ſeveral names: Jeſus, Chriſt, Meſſias, Emanuel; theſe are all his names. 2. Whatſoever Chriſt is made known by to his People, or to any Soul by, that is his name, but that I may yet ſpeak a little more fully, and diſtinctly, I will ſhew you; 1. What I mean by the name of Chriſt in the Propoſition. 2. In what ſenſe this name of his, is like an Oil, or Ointment poured out. 3. I ſhall prove it to you, and ſhew you whence it is ſo. Laſtly, I ſhall apply it.
Q…. 1. What in the Doctrine is meant by the name of Chriſt?
I have told you in the general, thoſe proper names, whether relating to his Perſon or Offices, which the Scripture gives him. Let me inſtance in ſome of them.
1. Emanuel (or it may be more properly Immanuel.) When that Ahaz, Iſ. 7. 14. refuſed to ask a ſign, the Lord graciouſly promiſeth him one. A Virgin (ſaith the Prophet) ſhall conceive, and bear a Son, and thou ſhalt call his name Immanuel. The Angel gives him this name, Mat. 1. 23. The name it ſelf is Originally Hebrew, made up of three Hebrew words. foreign El. ſignifieth God, foreign ſignifieth us, foreign ſignifies with, and thus the Angel interpreteth it. Mat. 1. 23. This is one of the names of Chriſt, and ſignifieth the Hypoſtatical Ʋnion of the two Natures, in the One Perſon of the Redeemer, and therefore Piſcator (I think) ſaith right that it ought not to be given to any Creature; Cheitomeus tells us it was given to Chriſt. 1. In reſpect of his Perſon, in which God was united with our Nature; and 2. In reſpect of his Office, we have an advocate with the Father (ſaith St. John) 1 Joh. 2. 1. even Chriſt the righteous. So he is God with us; that is, on our ſide, in that ſenſe, as the phraſe is taken, Num. 14. 9. The Lord is with us, ſear them not, and Judg. 6. 13. If the Lord be with us, whence is all this?
2. I will join two other names together, indeed they are the ſame, only one is of an Hebrew extract, the other Greek; Meſſiah and Chriſt: the one cometh from the Hebrew Verb foreign he hath anointed with Oil, and the Noun properly ſignifieth one that is anointed; foreign in Greek ſignifieth one that is anointed: you have the ſignification of Meſſias warranted, Joh. 1. 41. we have, ſ…y they, found the Meſſias, that is, the Chriſt, and thus even the Samaritans underſtood it, as appears from the language of the Woman, Joh. 4. 25. I know that when the Meſſias comes, who is called Chriſt. The Jews were wont to anoint both their High Prieſts, and Kings, and Prophets, as you ſhall find in that one inſtance, 1 Kings 19. 16. compared with the known Text for the anointing the High Prieſt in the Book of Exodus; thoſe that were thus anointed, were in the Hebrew called Meſſiahs. The High Prieſt is ſo called, Levit. 4. 3. If the High Prieſt that is anointed do ſin; the word is there the Meſſiah. The ſame name is applied to Saul, the King of Iſra…l, 1 Sam. 24. 6. The Lord forbid (ſaith David, when his men would have had him killed Saul) that I ſhould do this thing to my Maſter the Lords anointed. In the Hebrew it is the Lords Meſſiah, yea, and the People of God who have received the Ʋnction of the bleſſed Spirit, of which the legal Unctions were a Type, have this name applyed to them, Pſal. 105. 15, Touch not mine anointed, in the Hebrew it is, touch not my Meſſiahs, but look, as though there be many Antichriſts (that is many that are enemies to Chriſt) as St. John tells us, 1 Joh. 2. 18. yet there is an foreign, one ſpecial Antichriſt to whom that Name belongs, & to whom that Name is as a proper Name; whereas, as to others, it is rather an Appellative. So though there be many Meſſiahs many Anointed ones, to whom the Name agrees as a kind of an Appellative Name; ſuch were the Jewiſh High Prieſts, & ſome, if not all their Kings and Prophets; yea and all the Lord's People, yet there was one to whom this Name eminently & moſt properly did belong, who was The Meſſiah: This was Chriſt. Daniel calleth him Meſſiah the Prince, Dan. 9. 25. From the going forth of the Commandment, to reſtore Hieruſalem, and to build it, unto Meſſiah the Prince ſhall be ſeven weeks. And although the ſecond Pſalm literally reſpects David, an eminent Type, as well as Progenitor of Chriſt, yet by the Application of it to Chriſt in the New Teſtament, it appeareth that he was intended in it. There Chriſt is called the Lord's Meſſiah, againſt the Lord and his Anointed, &c. It is a Name which agreeth to Chriſt as he was Anointed with the Oil of gladneſs above his fellows, Pſal. 45. 8. That is, with the Holy Ghoſt, and with Power, as it is expounded, Act. 10. 38. The Spirit not being given unto him by meaſure, Joh. 3. 34. He was Anointed to Preach glad Tydings to the meek, Iſa. 61. 1. By this Name ſome think both Natures in Chriſt are expreſſed, as well the Divine Nature Anointing, as the Humane Nature Anointed. Juſtin Martyr thinks he was called the Meſſiah, not only becauſe he himſelf was Anointed but becauſe he Anointeth. This is now a ſecond Name given to the Lord Jeſus, and is (as I ſhall ſhew you) as Oil poured forth.
3. A third peculiar Name of Chriſt you have, Gen. 49. 10. where he is called Shiloh. Jacob in his laſt bleſſing of his Sons ſaith, The Scepter ſhall not depart from Judah, nor the Lawgiver from his feet, V. Pagn.till Shiloh come. There is a d…ſpute amongſt Etymol…g ſts, for the Original of that word, ſome will have it to be derived from foreign which ſignifies a Son. Until Shiloh come, that is, until the Son of God cometh; or till Judah's Son come, which muſt be underſtood either of David, or of Chriſt: But I do rather agree with thoſe who derive it from the Hebrew Verb foreign, which ſignifies to be a Peacemaker, a name very proper to Chriſt, who made Peace between God and Man, betwixt Jew and Gentile, and is therefore called Our Peace. This Name of Chriſt is alſo an Oil poured forth.
4. A fourth peculiar Name of Chriſt is the Name Jeſus. TheMat. 1. 22. Luke 1. 30. Angel you know gave him that Name, Matth. 1. and gave alſo the reaſon of it, becauſe he was to ſave his People from their ſins; he therefore came into the world, that we might be ſaved from our Enemies, and from the hands of all that hated us. When old Simeon had him in his Arms, he called him The Lord's Salvation. Jeſus ſignifies a Saviour. Theſe are ſome of his perſonal Names, every one of which is to the Soul as a ſweet Oil, or Ointment poured forth.
2. But he hath a ſecond ſort of Names, which are the Names of Office given to Chriſt upon the account of ſeveral Offices which he was to bear; and thus he is called Our Mediator, Our Advocate, Our King, Our High Prieſt, The Prophet, &c.
Firſt, He is called Mediator. It is a name you will find in the New Teſtament given to our bleſſed Lord four times. One Mediator between God and Man, even the Man Chriſt Jeſus (ſaith the Apoſtle to Timothy) 1 Tim. 2. 15. The Apoſtle to the Hebrews calls him, The Mediator of a better Covenant, Heb 9. 15. Of the New Covenant, Heb. 12. 24. The Law was ordained in the hands of a Mediator, Gal. 3. 19, 20. Socinus tells us, that this word in Scripture ſignifieth no more than God's Interpreter; but the Word in the Greek is derived from foreign, me…ius, and ſignifieth a middle perſon, one who ſtands in the midſt betwixt two offended parties, and appeaſeth them. Su…das interprets it by foreign, one that maketh Peace. A name excellently agreeing to Chriſt, who was God-Man: God with us: Neither God only (after his Incarnation) nor meer man. 2. Becauſe being thus God-Man, he interpoſeth himſelf betwixt the Offended Creator, and the Offending Creature, and taketh up the difference between God and Man. This Name of Chriſt is as an Ointment, or Oil poured forth.
Secondly; He is called our Intereeſſor, and Advocate, Heb. 7. 25. He ever liveth to make Interceſſion for us, Rom. 8. 34. He maketh Interceſſion for us, 1 Joh. 2. 1. If we ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, even Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous. The Office of an Advocate is in a Court to appear, ingage and plead for his Client. Chriſt as an Advocate appears in the Court of Heaven for Believers, pleadeth their Cauſe, anſwereth the Accuſations which Satan brings againſt them, interceedeth for them, &c. This is a ſweet Name. This is as an Oil poured forth to a Soul conſcious to it ſelf of its manifold failings, and the imperfections of its beſt performances.
Thirdly, He is called a King. Pilate called him ſo in mockery to the Jews, and refuſed to alter the Superſcription of the Croſs which had ſo expreſſed him. God calls him his King; I will ſet my King upon my holy Hill of Sion. He is called ſo not only with regard to his Eſſential Kingdom, which he hath as God over all, bleſſed for ever, nor only with reſpect to his Political Government of his Church, which is, or ſhould be every where executed according to his Laws and Preſcripts, but with reſpect to that ſpecial Dominion which he hath over his Saints, by which he doth both ſurpriſe their Enemies, bruiſing Satan under their feet, ſtrengthening them againſt their luſts and corruptions, commanding them into a conformity to his Will, and to the practice and exerciſes of thoſe habits of grace which he hath beſtowed upon them.
Fourthly, He is called our Prieſt, our High Prieſt. The Apoſtle to the Hebrews calls him the High Prieſt over the Houſe of God. The High Prieſt of our Profeſſion, a great High Prieſt. The Office of the Prieſt was to enter into the Holieſt, to offer Sacrifice for the People, to pray for them, to bleſs them. Chriſt did all this: He once offered up himſelf for us; he entred into the Holieſt, whither our forerunner is entred (ſaith the Apoſtle;) we are bleſſed with all ſpiritual bleſſings in him. He was (ſaith the Apoſtle to the Galatians,) made a Curſe for us, that the bleſſing of Abraham might come down upon us.
Fifthly; He is called a Prophet; that is alſo his Name: That Prophet (by way of Eminency) Deut. 13. 3. Joh. 1. 21. Act. 3. 23. The woman of Samaria perceived that he was a Prophet, Joh. 4. 19. He is a Prophet not only as he could, and did foretel many things to come, but as he teacheth and inſtructeth his People. This he did while he was here upon the Earth, going about, and Preaching in the Temple, in the Synagogues, in the Streets, upon Mountains, &c. but when he aſcended up on high, he gave gifts unto men; he made ſome Apoſtles, ſome Evangeliſts, others Paſtors and Teachers; for the continual building up of his Church; and not only ſo, but by his Spirit inſtructing them in, and revealing to them the deep things of God, the things which Eye hath not ſeen, nor hath Ear heard, nor can it enter into the heart of man to conceive. Now all theſe pieces of Chriſt's Name are to the believing Soul as Oil poured forth.
But beſides theſe perſonal Names of Chriſt, and his Names of Office. Whatever elſe Chriſt is made known by is his Name. I will mention but three things.
Firſt, His Word is his Name. The Goſpel of Chriſt is his Name, that expreſſeth to us what Chriſt is. Chriſt ſaith, that he had manifeſted his Father's Name unto the men whom he had given him out of the world, Joh. 17. 6. that is his Fathers Truths, the Doctrine of his Goſpel. The Lord Jeſus is made known by his Goſpel. That doth the ſame thing for Chriſt, that our Name doth for us; it lets the World know whoſe Son Chriſt is, what he is, what he hath done and ſuffered for Sinners, and this is to the Soul exceeding ſweet, as an Oil that is poured forth.
Secondly, His Mercy is his Name. All thoſe declarations of his love and good will towards his Peoples Souls, of which his Goſpel is full. All the Emanations of his Love. When the Lord telleth Moſes his Name, he thus proclaimeth it; The Lord, The Lord merciful, ſlow to anger. As God gets him a great Name upon Pharaoh, and the wicked of the Earth, by executing Juſtice and Judgment; ſo he gets himſelf a great Name amongſt his Saints, by ſhewing me…cy. His Name is, I, even I am he that blotteth out tranſgreſſions for my own Names ſake: I will heal your backſlidings, and love you freely.
Laſtly, His Truth is his Name. By Truth I mean his Faithfulneſs in fulfilling his Word. Thy Truth reacheth unto the Clouds, ſaith David, Pſal. 108. 4. David, Pſal. 138. 2. reſolveth to praiſe God's Name, for his Loving-kindneſs and for his Truth. Jeſus Chriſt is much known to us by his Truth and Faithfulneſs to his Promiſes, making good to his Peoples Souls, what he hath ſaid; hence he is called the Amen, the Faithful; and the true Witneſs, Rev. 3. 14. Pareus (upon that Text) ſaith, that Chriſt is called the Amen for that reaſon which the Apoſtle giveth, 2 Cor. 1. 19, 20. becauſe he is not Yea and Nay, but he is Yea; and becauſe all the Promiſes of God in him are Yea and Amen. Thus I have opened to you what that Name of Chriſt is, which the Spouſe compareth to an Oil, or to an Ointment poured forth.
2 Qu. But why to an Oil poured forth?
Certainly for the uſefulneſs of it under that circumſtance. Ointment in the Box, Oil incloſed and kept up in the Veſſel, is no way ſo uſeful as when it is poured out. If we uſe it for food, it muſt be poured out, if for Medicine, if for Ornament, which way ſoever we uſe Oil or Ointment, it muſt be poured out, then it becomes uſeful to us. But that which I take to be what is principally intended, is, Thy Name is exceedingly, infinitely ſweet. Oil is ſweet in the Veſſel where it is kept; it is ſweet, if but dropped out by drops. But ſaith the Spouſe of Chriſt, Thy Name is as an Oil or Ointment poured forth. Thou haſt not only a ſweetneſs and excellency in thy ſelf, but all the grace and mercy in thee is communicated, and that not in drops, or little meaſures, but as Oil poured forth, that hath ſcope of Air enough to diffuſe it ſelf in and by. If Chriſt had No Name by which he could be made known to us, yet there would be in him (as God bleſſed for ever) infinite goodneſs, as well as Majeſty and Glory; the fulneſs of the God-Head would be in him, he would be full of Grace and Truth; but now his Name makes him to be as an Oil poured forth; by that we behold his glory, the glory as of the begotten of the Father, full of Grace, and Truth, Joh. 1. 14. When the inviſible, incomprehenſible excellency, love, and grace of Chriſt is made known unto us, either by the Goſpel, or by the emanations of his grace and mercy, or the demonſtrations of his truth, and faithfulneſs, by any of his perſonal names, or names of Office, w…ich are given to him, then like Oil, or Ointment poured out, he appears to the Soul tranſcendently, incomparably ſweet. This now appears both from Scripture, and from experience.
1. From Scripture; how ſweet are thy words unto my taſt, faith David, Pſal. 119. 103. More to be deſired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, ſweeter alſo than Honey, and the Hony-comb, Pſal. 19. 10. In his name ſhall the Gentiles truſt, Mat. 12. 21. Adam had a little of Chriſt made known unto him: One promiſe (we read of no more) The Seed of the Woman ſhall break the Serpents head, Gen. 3. 15. It was like Oil poured forth, and kept him from a deliquium, in the ſenſe of the firſt ſin, and his being turned out of Paradiſe; Abraham heard a little of Chriſts name, it was to him like Oil poured forth, he ſaw my day, and rejoiced (ſaith Chriſt, John 8. he ſaw the day ſtar ariſe afar off; he ſaw but the morning, the dawning of the morning too, of Chriſts day, and at a great diſtance how ſweet was it to him? He ſaw my day (ſaith Chriſt) and he rejoiced. I might give you very many inſtances of the ſweetneſs which the Saints of God perceived upon the ſeveral diſcoveries of Chriſt made to them. But what needs any further demonſtration, than what ariſeth from the conſideration of the thing, and from the experience of any Child of God to whom Chriſt is, or hath been made known! how ſweet muſt reſt be to one that is weary! eaſe to one that is heavy laden? both theſe are promiſed from Chriſt. Mat. 11. 29. how ſweet muſt the name of a Saviour be to one that is loſt and undone, the name of Redeeme…, to one that is a Captive! The name of a Mediator to one that hath offended a potent adverſary, able to cruſh him every moment?
2. I appeal further▪ to the experience of every Child of God, even every Soul who hath taſted any thing of Chriſt, and who hath heard any thing of his Name, when a Soul is troubled to think, how often, how heinouſly it hath offended God; how ſweet is the name of a Mediator, when it is brought to a ſenſe of its ſin, and apprehends itſelf loſt and undone, how ſweet is it to remember the name of Jeſus, given unto Chriſt, becauſe he was to ſave his People from their ſins? when a Soul conſidereth, that without Blood, without a Sacrifice; there is no remiſſion of Sin, how ſweet then is the name of an High Prieſt over the Houſe of God; who offered up himſelf once for our Sins, and having done ſo, aſcended up into Heaven, and ever ſitteth at the Right Hand of God to make interceſſion for the Sins of his People. How ſweet to the Soul that is afraid leſt its luſts ſhould have dominion over him, is the name of Chriſt as a King, given unto him, becauſe he is to rule in the hearts of thoſe who are once ſubjected and ſubdued unto him. How ſweet are his mercy, his truth, his promiſes, when at any time the latter are applied to the Soul, and the former any way made known in the Soul?
Doth any one ask whence it is that the name of Chriſt is ſo ſweet to the Soul? I anſwer,
1. Becauſe it ſignifieth him, to be the fountain of the greateſt ſpiritual good to us; his name Meſſiah and Chriſt ſignify him to be ſeparated, and ſet apart of God for the accompliſhment of the great buſineſs of our Salvation; his name Emanuel ſignifies him to have Hypoſtatically united in one Perſon, the Divine, and Humane Nature, that he might be a fit Mediator, that he might die, and merit ſalvation for us by dying; his name Jeſus ſignifies that he is a Saviour; his name Shiloh ſpeaketh him to be a Peacemaker, his name of an Advocate, ſignifies him to tranſact our buſineſs in Heaven for us, his name of High Prieſt ſignifies him to have offered for us a propitiatory Sacrifice, to have made an atonement for us, to bleſs us, to interceed for us; the like I might ſay of his other names. Now if the name of a friend, who hath done ſome great kindneſs for us, be oft-times ſweet, like an Oil poured forth unto us, how much ſweeter muſt be his name, by whom we are bleſſed with all Spiritual bleſſings?
Secondly. Becauſe by his Name, or in his name, our greateſt bleſſings are obtained. How ſweet muſt that name be to the begger upon the uſe of which, all its wants are ſupplied. Is ſalvation worth any thing? There is no other name under Heaven by which we can be ſaved, but only the name of Jeſus; do our Souls want any thing? Whatſoever you ſhall ask in my Name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son, John 14. 13. Whatſoever you ſhall ask the Father in my Name, he will give it you, ch. 16. v. 23. Is the Soul trembling under the ſenſe of its guilt, doth horrour ſurprize it? do the terrors of the Lord diſtract it: a wounded Spirit who can bear? by the diſcovery of the Lord Chriſts name to it, in the Goſpel, promiſes, in the mercy, truth, and faithfulneſs of Chriſt, it is freed from theſe. The diſcovery, the leaſt diſcovery of Chriſt to the troubled Soul, is like the Sun beam to the weather beaten and be-wildered Traveller, like the ſhadow to him whom the heat maketh faint, like light to him that fitteth in darkneſs, like life to him that fitteth in the ſhadow of death. How ſweet is the diſcovery of Chriſts truth in his promiſes, the ſealing of a promiſe to a poor doubting Soul? Every Soul that hath experienced it will ſay. It is like Oil poured forth.
Uſe 1.I come to the application of this diſcourſe, Is the name of the Lord Jeſus ſo exceeding ſweet, like an Oil poured forth. Oh thenOrigen. in Homil. in loc. what is Chriſt himſelf? It is Origens application; Si ſolo nomine—Quid ejus faciet ſubſtantia? How ſweet is the Oil upon the Crown of the head, when that which runs down to the skirts of the garment, is ſo ſweet? Open all created boxes, admit that all their ſweet qualities would unite, and conſpire to make one compounded fragrant ſmell, diſtill all the odoriferous herbs that the Earth bringeth forth, mix all the ſweet gums, and odoriferous ſpices of Arabia, and the whole Eaſtern part of the world: let them all make one body, and contribute all their delicious qualities, to the compoſition of one Oil or Ointment to pleaſe the wanton ſenſe of a Creature, what would they all ſignify to one Chriſt? Oh bleſſed Jeſus; thou that art altogether delights, clear the Noſtrils of vain Creatures, ſtopt with their own luſts, and the vanities of pitiful creature ſatisfactions, and contentments, that they may take the air of thy delicious names, and follow thee in the ſavour of thy moſt precious Ointments.
Br. 2.Secondly, Is the name of Chriſt in this life ſo exceeding ſweet. Oh what will the enjoyment of Chriſt in Heaven be? When the Saints ſhall ſee him as he is, when they ſhall be ever with the Lord, beholding his face, rejoycing in his preſence, when they ſhall be at his right hand, where are, and ſhall be Pleaſures, and fulneſs of Pleaſures, and that for evermore; here we know in part, and ſee in part, and the greateſt part of that we know of Chriſt, amounteth not to the leaſt part of what we do not know; then the Saint ſhall ſee him face to face, and know him, as he is known by him. Surely we ſhould cry out with the Pſalmiſt, Bleſſed is the man whom thou chuſeſt, and cauſeſt to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy Courts. Here we ſit but under the ſhadow of the Apple tree; yet it is with great delight, and his fruit is pleaſant unto our taſt; how ſweet will it be to be within the arms of it? If a Garden of Flowers, or a Bed of Spices caſteth a…ſweet ſmell at a 1000 miles diſtance, what will it do when we come near it? O you! to whom the name of Chriſt is as an Ointment poured forth, follow the ſavour of it, it will bring you to that place of delights, where your Souls ſhall be ever ſatiated, but never nauſeated.
Br. 3.Thirdly, Obſerve from hence the difference betwixt a natural carnal man, and a ſpiritual man. The name of Chriſt is publiſhed in all our parts of the world. The Goſpel is publiſhed, that is Chriſts name (ſaith Gencbrard upon my Text) but the natural man diſcerneth no ſweetneſs in it, he can ſmell ſweetneſs in a perfume, but in the name of Chriſt he can ſmell nothing ſweet. Nay what is more unpleaſing to a carnal heart than the name of Chriſt? and there is reaſon for it, for to him Chriſts name is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, his name is a Judge, an Enemy, &c.
Uſe 2.In the ſecond place, what an argument is here to perſuade thoſe that hear it to labour for a diſcovery of Chriſts name to their Souls. To perſuade ſick and fainting Souls to make application of Chriſts name to themſelves: To all to ſtudy Chriſts name more, to wear it upon their hearts, to meditate of it, &c.
1. To perſuade thoſe who know little or nothing of Chriſt as yet, to get a knowledge of Chriſts name; ſweetneſs naturally enticeth the ſenſe, and attracts the Soul, ſhall the incomparable ſweetneſs of Chriſt draw no Souls unto him? ſhall the air of Solomons name bring the Q of the South from the furtheſt parts of the Earth, and ſhall Chriſts name draw never a Sinner, invite never a Soul, to come and taſt, and ſee how ſweet, how good the Lord is? You that are enticed with the ſmell of a flower, that lay out your mony for perſumes of no value; will you have no value for theſe ſweet Ointments; Alexander the great was ſaid to have had ſuch a rare temper of his body that it caſt forth a natural ſweetneſs. I am ſure there is an infinite, a tranſcendent ſweetneſs in the Lord Jeſus. O let the Virgins love him! Men and Women that are in a ſtate of Nature, are in one ſenſe Virgins, not for purity, but as not married to Chriſt. O do you love Chriſt for the ſavour of his good Ointments! Conſider what a difference there is betwixt this Object of your Loves, and thoſe pitiful Objects which your Souls are ſo hot in the purſuit of. One man's heart is after his Wine, another's after his Riches, a third after the Pride of Life. The Name of theſe things is like the opening of a Dunghill, which ſendeth forth a ſtench; they bring up an ill report upon your Souls. Chriſt's Name is like an Ointment poured out.
2. What an Argument doth this afford to perſuade troubled, fainting Souls, in their ſpiritual Swoonings, and Deliquiums, to apply themſelves to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Ludovicus De Ponte upon my Text telleth us; Oil is a ſign of Peace, it healeth wounds, it nouriſheth the weak, it feedeth the Candle with light; It exceedeth all Liquors. Chriſt's Name is as Oil, as Oil poured forth; it brings Peace to a diſturbed Soul; it healeth the wounds of a wounded Spirit; it nouriſheth the weak Soul; it exceedeth all created Oil. O meditate upon this excellent Name. There is ſomething healing and refreſhing almoſt in every Name of Chriſt.
3. Finally, Let thoſe who have taſted how good the Lord is, ſtudy Chriſt's Name more; meditate upon his Name, his Promiſes, his Mercy, Truth and Faithfulneſs more; wear his Name upon your hearts. There is no Chriſtian but is ſubject to its faintings. David's Soul fainted for the Lord's Salvation, Pſal. 119 81. But he hopes in the Lord's Word. He had multitudes of perplexing thoughts, but in the midſt of all the comforts of God refreſhed his Soul. You that have experienced the ſweetneſs of his Name, ſtudy yet a farther knowledge of him, and acquaintance with him.