Christ All and in All, Sermon 27
CANT. 1. 3.
Chriſt is as an ointment poured forth.XXVIII. SERM. at Mary. Wolnoth. Lon. May 22. 1653.
FOurthly, for the fourth, how Chriſt excels other oyntments; I ſhall open that in theſe five particulars.
1. He excels all other oyntments in worth and value. Some oyntments are of great value, but none ar… comparable to Chriſt. That oyntment which … poured upon t…e head of Chriſt, is ſaid to … …ry coſtly, John 12. 3. and yet it was but … …at three hundred Romane pence, v. 5. but … is oyntment of invaluable worth. All the …ld and ſilver on earth, all the pearles and diamonds in the world are not worth the leaſt drop of this oyntment. He that hath it would not part with one drop of it for ten thouſand rivers of oyle, he that wants it cannot purchaſe it for all the riches of the world; one drop of this oyntment is worth a ſea of other oyntments.
2. He excels all other oyntments in duration. The vertue of other oyntments may be loſt. Take the moſt fragrant oyntment in the world, keep it with never ſo much care, yet it will corrupt in time. Other caſual accidents may fall out which may corrupt it. You know what Solomen ſaith, Eccleſ. 10. 1. Dead flies cauſe the oyntment of the Apothecary to ſend … ſavour. The beſt oyntment … compounded by the art of man; may loſe its … ▪ and be offenſive, but Jeſus Chriſt is incorruptible oyntment; he can never loſe his ſavour, no time can putrifie him, no accident can corrupt him. This oyntment hath continued ever ſince the promiſe made to Adam, Gen. 3. 15. yet the vertue of it in every reſpect, is as precious as it was the very firſt day; his Name is as glorious, as fragrant, as beautiful, as ſhining now as it was when the Ala…aſter box was at firſt poured forth. The Pſalmiſt ſp…ks of this very expreſſely, Pſal. 72. 17. His Name ſhall endure for ever, his Name ſhall be con…nued as long as the Sunne, and daily ſhall he be p…aiſed, all Nations ſhall call him bleſſed.
3. He excels all other oyntments in his fulneſs. Other oyntment is of a waiting nature, take but one dram of oyntment out of the largeſt veſſel, and there is an abatement; take but one drop out of a river of oyntment, and there is a drop leſs, but this oyntment doth not grow leſſe by ſpending. Chriſt hath anointed thouſands of his Elect in all the ages that are paſt, and yet the veſſel is as full, as if one drop had not been taken out of it. This Olive tree hath been emptying it ſelf for many ages into the golden bowle, and yet it continues running with as full a ſtream as it did the very firſt day.
4. He excels all other oyntments in vertue and operation, this may be branched out into ſix particulars.
(1) He anoints the ſoul as well as the body. Other oyntments are poured only upon the outward man; the ſoul, the conſcience is not the better for the multitude of oyntments that are poured upon the body; the face of a perſon may ſhine with oyntment, and yet his ſoul be black and filthy; but this oyntment reacheth to the conſcience and inward man. Yea, this oyntment is principally for the inward man, the heart is the chief place on which this oyntment is poured, 1 John 2. 27. the anointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you. Other oyntments are outward oyntments, that abide upon us, but this is an inward oyntment which abideth in us. 'Tis unctio ſpiritualis.
2. This oyntment hath the good properties of all oyntments. Some oyntments are fragrant to the ſmell, but they are not healing; others are healing, but they are not ſweet: No one kinde of oyntment hath all excellercies in it; but now in Jeſus Chriſt all excellencies meet together, the good properties of every oyntment do all center in Chriſt, he is equally excellent every way. You cannot ſay in what reſpect Chriſt is beſt, he is ſo excellent every way.
3. This oyntment doth charge the very na…ure of the perſon upon whom its poured. Other oyntments cannot change a perſon from what he is. They cannot make a ſinner a Saint, they cannot alter the nature of a perſon. But Jeſus Chriſt changeth the nature of perſons. If this oyntment be poured upon the head of a ſinner, he is preſently turned into a Saint, if it fall upon a dead man, he becomes a living man; if a drop of this oyntment fall upon a weed, it is preſently turned into a flower When this oyntment was poured forth on Soul, he became a Paul, from a Perſecutor of the Goſpel, he was changed into a preacher of the Goſpel. This oyntment turnes a filthy Sepulchre into a curious garden, … an into a Nazarite as white a… ſhow.
4. This oyntment upon whomſoever it is poured▪ doth abide upon him for ever. A perſon may be anointed with material oyntment, and in a ſhort time loſe all the ſent and ſavour of it, as if he had never been anointed; but whoſoever hath been once anointed with this oyntment, will ſmell of it as long as he lives. If Jeſus Chriſt do but drop one drop of this oyntment upon the ſoul of an infant, he carries the ſavour of it with him to his grave, 1 John 2. 27. The unction which ye have received of him, abideth in you. The ſcent of this oyntment may be very weak in the children of God, but it can never quite be loſt. David once by his ſinne had brought ſuch an ill ſavour upon his ſoule, that the ſmell of the holy oyntment was almoſt quite loſt. My wounds ſtink and are corrupt through my fooliſhneſſe, Pſal. 38. 5. yet after a while his old ſavour did return againe, the fragrancy of his oyment did ovecome the ill ſavour of his ſinne. The ſoul and body may be ſeparated, but Chriſt and the ſoul cannot be ſeparated.
5. This oyntment hath a preſent efficacy upon the ſoul. The effects which are wrought by other oyntments are not ſo ſuddenly done. Oyntment heales, but not in a moment; oyntment makes the face ſmooth and cleare, but it muſt have ſome convenient time: the Virgins which were to ſtand before the Perſian King, muſt be anointed ſix moneths before their beauty was perfect, Est. 2. 12. hard ſwellings are mollified by oyntment, but not at one dreſſing. What ever operation the beſt oyntment hath, it requires a convenient time to accompl…ſh it. But whatever i… done upon the ſoul by this oyntment, is done in a moment. … ſooner is this oyntment dropt upon the ſoul, but the ſpots are done away, it cures the moſt feſtred ſore with once dreſſing. Aſſoon as ever the Application is made, the effect follows. One moment is as good as an age for this oyntment.
6. The ſmalleſt quantity of this oyntment is as effectual as the greateſt quantity. A little of other oyntment doth little or no good. A drop will not cure a wound, a ſmall quantity will not perfume a great roome, a drop or two will not ſupple a hard tumour. But now one drop of this ſpiritual oyntment is as effectual for the maine work as a whole ocean. One drop of Chriſt ſoftens the heart. one graine of this oyntment perfumes the ſoul. There is infinite vertue in every drop of Chriſt. He that is made partaker of any part of Chriſt, hath the merit and vertue of whole Chriſt. As our Saviour tels Peter in another caſe, Iohn 13. 10. he that is waſhed needeth not to waſh ſave his feet. He that hath the leaſt meaſure of this oyntment, ſhall as certainly finde all the effects of it, as if he had the whoſe veſſel poured upon him.
5. He excels all other oyntments in the manner of compoſition. All other oyntments are compounded and made by men; they are called the oyntments of the Apothecary, Eccleſ. 10. 1. God created the materials, and he it is that hath given man skil and underſtanding how to make uſe of them, but the compoſition is made by men. But this precious oyntment is not made by men, but by God. It is he that hath compounded this golden box of oyntment. It was God that anointed Chriſt with the holy unction of the Spirit, Pſal. 45. 7. and it is he that hath deſigned him to be oyntment unto others. Yea, the truth is, this oyntment is God himſelf. Though the humanity be a creature, yet the Divinity is the Creator. Chriſt is not only unguentum Dei, the oyntment of God, but unguentum Deus, that oyntment which is God himſelf.
The Uſes. Theſe I ſhall draw
1. From the general Doctrine.
2. From the particular reſemblances.
Firſt, In general. We may take notice of,
1. The excellency of Chriſt. He is compared in Scripture to all things that are neceſſary, and to all things that are pleaſant and delightful. One great piece of the ſtudy of Chriſtians in this life, is to ſearch into the excellency of Chriſt; To know what Chriſt is in himſelf, and what he is to us comprehends a very great part of a Chriſtians ſtudy in this life. Paul deſired to know nothing but Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified, 1 Cor. 2. 2. This one reſemblance ſhews him to be a precious one, he is ſo excellent, that all the choice things in nature are made uſe of to ſhadow out his glory. His Name, ſaith the Prophet, ſhall be called wonderful, Eſay 9 6. how wonderful is that Name which is com… ſed of ſo many excellent things!
2. This ſhould draw our hearts exceedingly towards the Lord Ieſus: It ſhould beget in us deſire after him and delight in him. Precious oyntment; draw the affections of men towards them. The beſt oyntment is but a drug to Jeſus Chriſt. If we be not enamoured with him, we do deſpiſe him. He that looks on him as oyntment, cannot but be greatly delighted in him. It follows in the text, Therefore do the virgins love thee, draw me, we will runne after thee. That man doth not value Chriſt as oyntment, that doth not love him and deſire to be drawn after him.
3. The excellency of grace. 'Tis the graces of the Spirit in Chriſt that makes him compared to ointment; his ſweet oyntments are his meekneſſe, patience, holineſſe and the reſt of thoſe heavenly graces. True grace is a choiſe thing, the Scrip…ure compares it to the choiſeſt things in all the world, Cant. 4 13, 14. Next to God, and Chriſt, and the Spirit; there's nothing in heaven or earth comparable to Chriſt.
4. That the grace of Chriſt is not a thing common to all. His common graces are communicated to all, his ſpecial grace is more confined. His Name is oyntment. The holy oyntment in the Law was poured upon none but upon conſecrated things and perſons. Exod. 30. 2…, 24, 25, 30. It muſt not be poured on mans fl…ſh, v. 32. Chriſt is compared here to this oyntment. A ſelect number, the Elect of God onelyonly, thoſe that are ſpiritual Prieſts, theſe, and theſe onelyonly …e made partakers of Chriſt and his graces. Thu… much for the general doctrine.
Secondly, particularly.
Firſt, from the fragrancy of Chriſt … may learne four thing.
1. How unſavoury they are that want Chriſt. Wicked men have animam pro ſal… their ſoules keep their bodies ſweet, but what have they then to keep their ſoules ſweet? the holy Ghoſt compares men that are in the ſtate of nature to that which is moſt unſavory, Pſal. 14. 3. They are unſavory both in their perſons and in ſervices, that want this oyntment. A heart unanointed caſts the worſt ſmell of any corrupt thing in the world.
2. Acknowledge from whence it is that all your fragrancy proceeds. If there be any good ſmell upon your ſouls, it is becauſe this oyntment hath been poured forth upon you. Jeſus Chriſt mentions the ſweet ſmell of his Spouſe, Cant. 4 10, 11. and indeed every beleever is a ſweet ſavour unto God. The precious oyntment of the graces of Chriſt poured upon your head at your converſion, is the onelyonly reaſon of this good ſavour; 'tis great pride and ingratitude not to own it.
3. This teacheth us all how to make and keep the ſoul ſweet. Satan labours to make it muſty by breathing the ill ayre of ſinne into it, and if you would have it ſmell ſweetly, you muſt anoint it with this oyntment every day. Drop but every day a drop of this oyntment upon it by prayer, meditation, or ſome other holy duty, and it will preſerved ſweet notwithſtanding the thick fogs of ſinne and temptation. Carry Chriſt in your boſome, and you will ſmell very ſweet in every company.
4. When ever you ſmell any ſweet ſavour, think on Chriſt. The beſt uſe which we can make of perfumes and oyntments, is to make them remembrancers to put us in mind of him who perfumes both earth and heaven. And then,
Secondly, from the cheering vertue of this oyntment, learne two things.
1. Whither to go for heart reviving. When you finde your ſpirits dull and melancholy, when your hearts are tired out, and your ſouls languiſh, ſmell to this precious oyntment, and it will revive you. It's Chriſts work to revive the ſpirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite. The ſmell of the oyntment, either of Chriſts ſatisfaction, or of his promiſes, or of his interceſſion is the ſpeedieſt and ſureſt way to be rid from the power of ſpiritual heavineſſe.
2. Let them that have this oyntment, maintaine ſpiritual cheerfulneſſe. God calls for ſpiritual gladneſſe, as well as ſpiritual ſorrow, Phil. 3. 1. A well grounded cheerfulneſſe, honours religion as much as holineſſe. The Scripture was written for conſolation, as well as for converſion, John 15. 11. Rom. 15. 4. The Spirit is a comforter, as well as a ſanctifier, John 15. 26. You that have this oyntment, maintaine a holy light-heartedneſſe. There is a vaine mirth, and there is a ſinful and ſenſual mirth, avoid theſe, but the holy mirth muſt be kept up. Its a diſparagement to the holy oyntment, to ſee anointed ones droop in the blackeſt ſeaſons. And then,
Thirdly, from the mollifying vertue of this oyntment, learn two things,
1. The Scripture remedy against hardneſſe of heart. It's a diſeaſe the beſt are troubled; with leſſe or more; chafe this ſuppling oyntment … to it, and it will grow ſoft. This oyntment was never uſed aright, but it did in time remove the ſpiritu…l hardneſſe of the ſoul.
2. Aſcribe all heart ſoftneſſe to Chriſt. Had not this ſuppling oyntment d…opt upon it, it had been ſtony to this preſent day.
Fourthly, from the beautifying vertue of this oyntment, learn two things,
1. What true beauty is. To be anointed with Chriſt, to be filled with his graces, to be made partaker of the divine nature, this is beauty, this is true beauty, this is laſting beauty, this is beauty that will commend us to God. 'Tis not he that hath the beautiful face, but he that hath the beautiful ſoule, that is accepted of God. And then,
2. He that would be beautiful, let him anoint himſelf with Chriſt. How vaine are perſons in painting their faces? Jezabels daughters abound, 2 Kings 9. 30. as if they would mend Gods workmanſhip, it was formerly whores cuſtomes, Ezek. 23. 40. Anoint your ſelves once with this oyntment, and all others will be unpleaſant. And then,
Fifthly, from the healing quality of this oyntment, learn two things.
1. To acknowledge how their ſores were healed. Thou waſt one full of wounds, now they are bound up and healed. Thou mayeſt bleſſe God for this balſome of heaven, …eſus Chriſt, otherwiſe thou hadſt died of thy wounds.
2. Get this oyntment into … Wiſe men will not be without healing oyntment in their houſe…, eſpecially were they are farre from Chirurgion. All our houſes by reaſon of ſin are no better then ſpiritual hoſpitals. There's no balme in Gilead that can heal one ſore, but this divine balm, Jeſus Chriſt; get your veſſels fill'd with this oyntment, and all will be well; pray that God would poure this oyntment into your wounded children and ſervants, elſe they are but dead men.