Serm.4. 44 SERMONS upon only to know his Perfon, but his Office. John t. 41. We have found the Meas, which is, being interpreted, the Chrift, or , Anointed. This is often expreffed in Scripture : Pfal. 45. 8. He it anointed with the-Oil of Gladnefs above his Fellows. ICi. 6 t. t. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, becau¡é the Lord bath anointed me to preach good Tidings un- to the Meek So, At7r4. 27. lgainft thy Holy Child Jefus, whom those haft anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the People of Ifrael were gathered together. So, Ails to. 38. How God anointed yefns of Nazareth, with the Holy Ghofl, and with Power. Out of all which places we fee, that Chrift's anointing is not to be underftood properly, but,by a Trope; the Sign is put for the Thing fignified. 1. Who was anointed ? Among the Gentiles, the Wrefilers were anointed. Which may be applied to Chrift, who was now to wreftle and confli& with all the Prejudices and Difficulties of Man's Salvation. But it is rather taken from the Cuftoms of the Ceremonial Law. Three forts of Perfous we find to he anointed among the Jews. Kings, as Said, David, Solomon 9 1 Sam. 9. 16. Thor Ault anoint him to be Captain over my People Ilìael : Therefore they were called, the Lord's Anointed, I Sam. 26. i r' Priefts, All the Prielts that miniftred in the Tabernacle or Temple, chiefly the High Prieft, who was a fpecial Figure of Chrift ; Exod. 29. 29. Ind the Holy Garments of Aaron Add be his Sons after him, to be anointed therein, and to be confecrated in them. Prophets; I Kings 19.16. Elilha the Son of Shaphat, fha/t thou anoint to be Prophet in thy room. As Oil ftrengthneth and fuppleththe Joints, and maketh them agile and fit for Exercife ; fo it noteth a defignatjon and fitnefs for the Fun &ions to which they were appointed. So Chrift, becaufe he was not to be a Typical Prieft, or Prophet, or King, therefore he was noxxypically, but:fpiritually anointed ; not with a Sacra- mental, but real. Ünaion 5 not of Men, but of God immediatly. Therefore we (hall inquire how Chrifi"was anointed. It implyeth two things. (1.) The giving of Power and Authority : Heb.5.5. Chrift glorified nothimfelf to be made an High Priefl 5. but he that faid unto hint Thou art my Son, this day have 1 begotten thee. Therefore though Chrift be of the fame Power and Authority with the Father, . yet as Mediator he mutt be appointed. Chrift took not on him the honour of a Me- diator, but received it of his Father. God . needeth not to appoint a Mediator, it was his free Grace. To fave Sinners, is not proprietas Divine Nature, but Opus liberi Concilii. This Council had its rife from the Mercy and free Grace of the Father, be might have required this punifhment of our felves : If any had interpoted to mediate for us without God's Will and Calling, his Mediation would have been of no value; a Pledg whereof we have in Mofes, Exod. 32.32, 33. Tet now, if thou wilt, forgive. their Sins; and if not; blot me, 1 pray thee, out of the Book of Life.And the Lord Paid unto Mofes, Whofeever bath finned againfl me, him will I blot out of my Book. And befides, where (bould we have found a fufficient Mediator, unlefs he Ihould have given us one ? Therefore there is much in the Father's anointing or appointment ; therefore is the Mediation of Chrift fo effeflual; it is made by his own Will. John 8. 42. I proceeded firth, and came from God neither came I of my felf, but he fent me. John 6. 27. Him bath God the Father fealed; as a Magiftrate hath the King's Broad Seal. Which is a greattomfort, when we go to God, we may offer him Chrift, as authorized by himfelf; thou haft Cent thy own Son to be a Mediator for me. And we may plead it to our felves in Faith : God the Supream Judg, the wronged Party, hath appointed Chrift to take up the Controverfy between him and me. (2.) The bellowing on him the Holy Ghofi,who might make the humane Nature fit for the Work. So, Ails no. 38. Him bath God anointed with the Holy Ghofi, and with Power. The hutnane Nature of. Chrift was fitted for the Employment; for though it . were exalted to great Privileges, yet it could not all beyond its Sphere; and Sata&i& cation is 'the perfonal Operation of the third Perfon. Now the Work of the Holy Ghofl was in the Womb of the Virgin, to preferve the Humane Nature of Chrift from the infeion of Sin. From a Sinner, nothing could be born, but what was unclean and fistful; by this Anointing, Chrift was made perfe&ly jult, ftrengthned to all Offices, efpecially to offer up himfelf Reb..q. 14. Who through the Eternal Spirit offered himfelf without pot to God. To overcome all Difficulties and Temptations. Ifa. 42. 1. Behold ray Servant whom I uphold, my Elell in whom my Soul delighteth, I have put my Spirit upon him. The Work of Redemption was a weighty Work; Chrift had to do with God, Devil, and Man, to bear the Wrath of God for, the wholeWorld. 2. To
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