Christ All and in All, Sermon 26
CANT. 1. 3.
Thy Name is as ointment poured XXVII. SERM. at Mary Wolnoth. Lon. May 15. 1653.forth.
THe ſcope of the Holy Ghoſt in this ſong is to diſcover the exceeding great love that is between Jeſus Chriſt and his Church. We may ſee here Chriſt and his Church as it were ſtriving who ſhould expreſſe their love to each other moſt. At the ſecond verſe in this Chapter, the Church doth paſſionately deſire to be made partaker of further Communion with Chriſt, Let him kiſſe me with the kiſſes of his mouth. Thoſe who have once taſted of the ſweetneſſe of Chriſts love are exceedingly carried out after a further degree of his love. The reaſon of this paſſionate deſire is ver. 2, 3. namely, from the ſweetneſſe of his love. This is ſet out by a double compariſon.
1. His love is better then wine. v. 2.
2. Its more deſireable then precious ointments. This is mentioned in the beginning of the third ver. Becauſe of the ſavour of thy good ointments, and amplified further in the text, Thy name is as ointment poured forth. The words are a propoſition in which we have,
1. The ſubject. Thy Name.
2. The predicate. Oyntment poured forth.
By the name of Christ, ſome would underſtand the Doctrine of the Goſpel. So Ainſworth, by his name (ſaith he) is meant the Doctrine of grace, the Law of faith. His Doctrine is ſometimes in Scripture called his Name, as the Iles ſhall wait for his Law, Eſay 42. 4. Which is expounded, in his Name ſhall the Gentiles truſt, Mat. 12. 21. And it is moſt certain that his Law is far more ſweet then the moſt precious oyntment. But yet by his Name in this place we are better to underſtand his perſon as it is ſet forth in the Goſpel, his perſon is often called his Name, as Mat. 10. 22. Ye ſhall be hated of all men for my Names ſake, and Act, 9. 16. I will ſhew him how great things be muſt ſuffer for my names ſake, that is, for my ſake.
The Obſervation is this.
Doct. That Jeſus Chriſt is like ointment poured forth.
Jeſus Chriſt is ſpiritual ointment. His Name both in the Hebrew and Greek ſignifies anointing, or anointed. He is called in Dan. 9. 26. Meſſiah, which the Septuagint render foreign, anointing. The Prophet Eſay, chap. 10. 27. calls him the anointing. It is reported by Hiſtorians, that at the birth of Chriſt in Rome, a ſudden fountaine of Oyle ſprung up and flowed for a day and a night together, our Annotatours mention it in their Expoſition of this text. The Oyles or Ointments uſed in ſundry caſes under the ceremonial Law were ſome way or other typical of Chriſt the true ointment.
In the handling of this Doctrine I ſhall open theſe foure things by way of Explication.
1. In what reſpects Chriſt is compared to ointment.
2. Why he is compared to ointment poured forth.
3. How this ointment is poured forth.
4. How Chriſt excels all other ointments.
1. For the firſt.
1. Chriſt is ointment in regard of that divine unction wherewith he was anointed by God. The Scripture makes mention of Chriſts being anointed with the graces of the Spirit as our Mediator. This was typified by the anointing of the Prieſts under the Law, eſpecially of the high-Prieſt; you may read at large of the holy ointment, and of the anointing of Aaron and his ſons with it, Exod. 30. 23, 24, 25, 30. It was alſo typified by the anointing of Kings and Prophets; ye may read much in Scripture of the anointing of theſe. Eliſha was anointed to the office of a Prophet, 1 Kings 19. 16. and Kings were alſo anointed. We read of Davids anointing, 1 Sam. 16. 1. of Solomons anointing, 1 King. 1. 34. 39. All theſe were types of Chriſt, the great King, Prophet, and Prieſt of his Church, the anointing Oyle did typifie the graces of the Spirit, the anointing of Aaron with that Oyle did typifie Chriſts anointing with the Holy Ghoſt. Our Saviour was anointed with the Holy Ghoſt, Eſay 61. 1. This Peter mentions in his Sermon, Act. 10. 38. God anointed Jeſus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghoſt and with power. Now this ointment was ſhed upon the Lord Jeſus in ſuch great plenty, that he may well be called by the name of ointment, Pſal. 45. 7. he had more of this ſpirituall ointment poured upon his humane nature, then all the Saints, put them altogether. The Spirit was not given him by meaſure, but above meaſure, Joh. 3. 34. He was from his conception filled with the holy Ghoſt; He was full of grace and truth, Joh. 1. 14. He had not only drops, but whole rivers of Oyle poured upon his head; He may be denominated ointment from that abundance of ſpiritual ointment wherewith he was filled; his God-head anointed the manhood with an unſpeakable fulneſſe, Col. 1. 19. And,
2. Chriſt is ointment in regard of the excellent vertues which are in him. He hath all the good properties of ointment. I name five, As
1. Oyntment is very fragrant and odoriferous. Precious oyntment yeilds a very ſweet ſmall. When the woman in the Goſpel had poured her box of oyntment upon the head of Chriſt, the text ſaith, the whole houſe was filled with the odour of it, John 12. 3. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is very odoriferous, he is ſweet in himſelf, and he is exceeding ſweet in the noſtrils of his Saints; the perfume in the Law was type of him, Exod. 30 34. He doth perfume all perſons and places where ever he comes. If there be but one drop of Chriſt poured upon the ſoul, the whole ſoul is perfumed with the ſmell of it. When Chriſt had but put his finger into the hole of the door, how was the hand of the Spouſe perfumed as with ſweet ſmelling myrrh! Cant. 5. 5. That ſoul wants its ſpiritual ſmelling which doth not finde a ſweetneſſe in Jeſus Chriſt. Every thing in Jeſus Chriſt is very fragrant.
(1) There is a fragrancy in his perſon. He is a bundle of precious myrrh, Cant. 1. 13. His life and holy converſation yeilded a ſweet ſmell in the world, Pſal. 45. 8. All thy garments ſmell of myrrh, aloes and caſſia. The graces of the Spirit, of which his life was full: His righteouſneſſe, meekneſſe, piety, patience, what a ſweet ſmell do they caſt abroad in the Goſpel to this very day!
(2.) There is fragrancy in his death. His death was a ſweet favour unto God, Eph. 5. 2. His dead body was enbalmed with ſweet ſpices, John 19. 39. not that he had need of any ſuch; His body did never ſee corruption, Pſal. 16. 10. So fragrant was the death of Chriſt, that he hath perfumed the grave, and made it as a bed of roſes to all the Saints.
(3) There is a ſweet fragrancy in his interceſſion The interceſſion of Chriſt is ſo ſweet, that it perfumes heaven it ſelf. See how it was typified under the Law, Lev. 16. 12, 13. The odours of the ſweeteſt incenſe are not ſo fragrant to the noſtrils of men, as the odours of Chriſts interceſſion are to God. So fragrant is his interceſſion, that the ſervices of his people, which are unſavory in themſelves, come up as a cloud of incenſe before the Lord. See this Cant. 3. 6. It's ſpoken of the Church becauſe it's the feminine gender, Quae iſta? All this ſweetneſſe which is upon the Church and in her ſervices, is, becauſe they are perfumed with the incenſe of Chriſts mediation.
(4) There is a fragrancy in the word of Chriſt. The breath of Chriſts mouth is ſweeter then any perfume in the world: this is that which the Church mentions. Cant. 5. 16. His mouth or palate is foreign from foreign ſweetneſſes, ſo it is in the original; all his promiſes, all his precepts are very favoury.
5. There is a fragrancy in all his Ordinances, Prayer, Sacraments, Preaching, ſinging of Pſalmes are in themſelves, and to a gracious heart, like ſweet ſmelling oyntment. The Church mentions this, Cant. 2. 3. No ſuch ſweet aire bloweth under heaven as doth in the Church of God, where the Ordinances of Chriſt are diſpenſed in power and purity. In one word, there is nothing of Chriſt but is more ſweet then the beſt oyntment that ever was compounded by man. This is the firſt property of oyntment, it's very ſweet.
2. Oyntment hath an exhilarating vertue. It cheeres the ſpirits, and makes the heart glad. This is obſerved by Solomon, Prov. 27. 9. Oyntment and perfume rejoyce the heart. When Solomon exhorts men to a cheerful life, he makes mention of oyntment, let thy head want no ointment, alluding to the cuſtome of the ancients, who in their banquettings and feaſtings uſed ſuch ſignes of joy. And the Prophet expreſſing the jovialty of thoſe Epicures, Amos 6. 6. ſaith, they anoint themſelves with the chief oyntments. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath a cheering vertue. The heart of a ſinner is never truly merry, till it be anointed with the graces of Chriſt, and the comforts of Chriſt; Chriſt is the onelyonly remover of ſpiritual heavineſſe. The oyntment is the onelyonly cure for ſpiritual melancholy, Mat. 11. 28. All ſpiritual refreſhing is from Jeſus Chriſt. He was anointed with the oyle of gladneſſe, that he might work gladneſſe in the hearts of others. This work is committed to him by God the Father, Eſay 61. 3. There's not one drop of the oyle of joy, but what comes out of this great olive tree, the Lord Jeſus; that gladneſſe which doth not proceed from Chriſt, and which is not bottom'd on Chriſt, is worldly madneſſe, not true joy. He is called the conſolation of Iſrael, Luke 2. 25. He hath laid the foundation of Iſraels comfort, and he it is that doth convey to them all their comfort.
3 Oyntment hath a mollifying and ſuppling vertue If there be any hard tumour or ſwelling upon the body, we uſe oyntment to ſoften it. The holy Ghoſt alludes to this, Eſay 1, 6. Where ſpeaking of the ſtate diſeaſes, he ſaith, they have not been mollified with oyntments. Jeſus Chriſt hath a mollifying vertue, let a heart of Adamant be but once anointed with this oyntment, and it becomes an heart of fleſh. It was by this oyntment that the hard heart of Manaſſeh was ſoftned. God by his Spirit chafed this oyntment into it, and it became tender. And it is by the Application of this unction through the warm hands of the Spirit of God that the ſtony hearts of ſinners are ſoftened from day to day. Thou that haſt now a tender heart, wouldeſt have carried thy ſtony heart with thee to thy grave, if this precious oyntment had not been ſpread upon it.
4. Oyntment is of a ſhining nature. It hath a brightning and beautifying vertue. Thoſe Virgins that were prepared for the Perſian King, did uſe divers oyntments to make themſelves beautiful. Eſt. 2. 12. they uſed ſix moneths ſweet odours, and ſix moneths oyle of myrrh. This oyle, as thoſe that write of it ſay, had an abſterſive vertue; it did help to get wrinkles out of the skin, and ſo to beautifie the face and make it bright; Naomi therefore bids Ruth, when ſhe ſends her to Boaz to anoint her ſelf, Ruth 3. 3. And David, ſpeaking of oyle, ſaith, it makes the face to ſhine, Pſal. 104. 15. Warriors of old, that they might make their armour gliſter, and ſo render themſelves formidable to their enemies, uſed to anoint them with oyle; the Prophet alludes to this, Eſay 21. 5. Ariſe ye Princes and anoint the ſhield. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath a brightning vertue. As he is bright and beautiful in his own perſon, Pſal. 45. …. ſo he makes his people beauti…ul. Chriſt is very bright in his own perſon. There is no ſcar, no ſpot, no deformity in him. That which was ſaid of Abſolom, is much more true of Chriſt, 2 S…m. 14. 25. Though men that are blinde ſee no beauty in him, as the Prophet complain'd long ſince, Eſay 53 2. yet in the eyes of God, in the eyes of the Angels, in the eyes of the Saints he is ſingularly beautiful; And as he is bright in himſelf, ſo doth he beautifie others. All the wrinkles of ſinne, all the ſpots of the ſoul are done away by means of this oyntment. This oyntment, if it …e ſpread upon the ſoul, turnes black…mores into Nazarites. All the brightneſs of the Saints is from hence, Ezek. 16. 14. Thou waſt comely through my comelineſſe which I put upon thee. Hereby the old wrinkles of original ſin, which are as ſo many deep furrowes … the ſoul, hereby the latter ſpots of actual ſin are taken away as if they had not been: you may read much of the brightneſſe and beauty of the Saints, Cant. 4. init. Cant. 7. init. All this beauty i… acquired by the application of this beautifying ointment. Jeſus Chriſt is the Churches Golden anointing-pot; he that would have his ſpots removed, muſt daily drop this ointment upon his ſoul. This ointment if it be applyed by faith will fetch off the red ſpots of cruelty, the black ſpots of diſcontent, the blew ſpots of envy, the heat ſpots of paſſion; it will put a ſhining luſter upon the ſoul.
5. Ointment hath a healing vertue, the Samaritan poured into the wounded man wine and oile, Luk. 10. 34. Wine for cleanſing and Oile for healing; your Chyrurgions make much uſe of ointment ſearch the Diſpenſatory for the truth of this; Jeſus Chriſt hath a healing vertue. If the ſpiritual wounds of the ſoul, though they have been of long continuance, be anointed with this ointment, they are in a ſhort time finely healed. Chriſt himſelf was that Samaritan, his blood was the wine that cleanſed, and the Oile that healed thoſe deſperate wounds. There is no other balme in Gilead beſides this ointment that can cure the leaſt ſore upon the inward man, without the application of this ointment you will certainly dye in your ſins.
2. For the ſecond. Chriſt is compared to ointment poured forth, in three reſpects.
1. To ſhew his communicativeneſſe, Jeſus Chriſt is ready to make diſtributions unto his people of all that grace and goodneſſe which is in him, he doth not keep his grace and vertue within himſelf, but lets it drop down upon his members; the …o… of ointment ſtands continually open that his Elect may take out of it according as they ſtand in need; the ointment which was poured upon the head of Aaron at his Conſecration, ran down to the very skirts of his cloathing, Pſal. 133. 2. This was to typifie the communicativeneſſe of Chriſt. Jeſus Chriſt hath received the ointment of the Spirit, not for himſelf, but that he might anoint al his members; and he is very mindful of the truſt repoſed in h…m; he received for his members, and he is willing they ſhould receive from him, Joh. 1. 6. Many are willing to have the patrimony of others poured into their treaſury, but they care not to poure out againe; but Chriſt, as he was willing God ſhould poure out grace into him, ſo is he as willing to poure it out upon us.
2. To ſhew his exceeding fulneſſe. Chriſt hath ſo much that he can ſpare for others. 'Tis poured out and yet it doth not decay, there is in Chriſt an undecayable fulneſſe; he is like the widowes cruſe of oile, 2 Kings 4. 6. never leaves running till the ſoul want a veſſel to receive him.
3. He is compared to ointment poured forth, becauſe the fragrancy and other excellent vertues of ointment are beſt diſcovered in the pouring of it forth. Ointment in the veſſel doth neither ſmell nor ſhine ſo as when its poured out; the excellency of Chriſt lies in the uſing of him, when we come to poure out his graces, then, and not till then do we finde the ſweetneſſe of them. Taſte and ſee that the Lord is gracious, Pſal. 34. 8. the graciouſneſs of Chriſt is not apprehended till it come to be caſted.
3. For the third, how Chriſt is … The great and ordinary way of … this name of Chriſt, which is … ointment. … Ordinances which he hath appoi…ted, Preach…g, Prayer, Sacraments, theſe are the means …f … ing forth Chriſt; the Ordinances are as the … blaſter Box wherein this precious ointment is kept; you read in Zech. 4. Of a golden Candleſtick with two Olive-trees ſtanding by it, &c. the Olive-tree is Chriſt, the Candleſtick is the Church, the Lamps are the ſeveral members of Chriſt, the pipes which convey the Oyle to the Lamps are the Ordinances of grace, Chriſt fills the pipes, and the pipes carry the Oyle to the Lamps. The Ordinances are the Golden Cruſe in which the Oyle is kept, and by which it is defuſed to every particular Saint as he hath need. The preaching of the Goſpel is called the bearing of his Name before the Gentiles, Acts 9. 15. When the Goſpel is preached and the Ordinances diſpenſed, then is the ointment poured forth. The Apoſtle gives teſtimony to this, 2 Cor. 2. 14. Thanks be unto God which maketh manifeſt the ſavour of his knowledge by us in every place. He that would ſmell the ſavour of Chriſts ointment, muſt wait conſcionably upon the Ordinances. The Ordinances are the conſecrated pipes through which the Oyl runs. 'Tis true, the Spirit of Chriſt fills theſe pipes, and makes them effectuall to them that are ſaved; but yet the Ordinances are the inſtrumental. Every Prayer; every Sermon, every Sacrament conveys a drop of this ointment to the ſoul. He that turnes away his face from the Ordinances, makes himſelf uncapable of taſting the ointments of Chriſt.