't----7714mammosommumemu .11111111111111111111111.11/11111111 9& WORK OP THE HO r by degrees and strengthened, so the Holy Spirit filled them upwith grace for actual obedience. Sect. 3.-2. The human nature of Christ was capable of having new objects proposed to its mind and tender - standing, whereof before it had a simple nesciente. And this is an inseparableadjunct of human nature as such, as it is to be weary or hungry, and no vice or blameable defect. Some have made a great outcry about the as- cribing of ignorance by some Protestant divines unto the human soul of Christ, Bellarm. de Anini. Christi. Take ignorance for that which is a moral defect in any kind, or an unacquaintedness with that which any one ought to know, or is necessary unto hint as to the per- fection of his condition or his duty, and it is false that ever any of them ascribed it unto him. Take it merely for a nescience of some things, and there is no more in it but a denial of infinite omniscience, nothing inconsis- tent with the highest holiness and purity of human na- ture. So the Lord Christ says of himself, that he biers) not the day and hour of the end of all things: and our apostle of him, thathe learned obedience by the things that he suffered, Heb. v. 8. In the representation then of things anew to the human nature of Christ, the wis- dom and knowledge of it was objectively increased, and in new trials and temptations he experimentally learned the new exercise of grace. And this was the constant work of the Holy Spirit in the human nature of Christ. He dwelt in him in fulness; for he received him not by measure. And continually, upon all occasions, he gave out of his unsearchable treasures, grace for exercise in all duties and instances of it. From hence was he ha- bitually holy, and from hence did he exercise holiness entirely and universally in all things. Sect. 4.Fourthly; the Holy Spirit in a peculiar manner, anointed him with all those extraordinary powers and gifts which were necessary for the exercise and discharging of his office on the earth. Isa. lxi. 1. s, The Spirit ofthe Lord God is upon me, because the Lord bath anointed me to preach good tidings unto or the meek; he bath sent me to bind up the broken- i' hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the LY SPIRIT IN AND ON a opening of the prison unto themthat are bound." It is the 'prophetical office of Christ, and his discharge thereof in his ministry on the earth, which is intended. And he applies these words unto himself with respect unto his preaching of the gospel, Luke iv. 18. For this was that office which he principally attended unto here in the world, as that whereby he instructed men in the nature and use of his other offices. For his kingly power in his human nature on the earth he exercised but sparingly. Thereunto, indeed, belonged his send- ing forth of apostles and evangelists to preach with au- thority. And towards the end of his ministry he insti- uted ordinances of gospel-worship, and appointed the order of his church in the foundation and building of it up, which were acts of kingly power. Nor did he per- form any act of his sacerdotal office, but only at his death, when he gave himself for us an offering and if sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour, Ephes. v. 2. wherein God smelt a savour of rest, and was appeas- ed towards us. But the whole course of his life and ministry was the discharge of his prophetical office unto the Jews, Rom. xv. 8. Which hewas to do according to the great promise, Deut. xviii. 18, 19. And on the ac- ceptance or refusal of him herein, depended the life and death of the church of Israel, ver. 19. Acts iii. 23. Heb. i. 1. John viii. 44. Hereunto was he fitted by this unc- tion of the Spirit. And here also is a distinction be- tween the Spirit that was upon him, and his being anointed to preach, which contains the communication of the gifts of that Spirit unto him. As it is said, chap. xi. 3. The Spirit rested on him as a Spirit of wisdom, to make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord. Now, this was in a singular manner, and in a measure inexpressible, whence he is said to be anointed with the oil of gladnessabove his fellows, or those who were partakers of the same Spirit with him, Psal. xlv. 7. Heb. i. 8, 9. Although I acknowledge that there was in that expression a peculiar respect-unto his glorious exaltation which afterwards ensued, as bath been olerla,- ed on that place. And this collation of extraordinary gifts for the discharge of his prophetical office wasat his baptism, Matth. iii. They were notbestowed on the head of the church, nor are any gifts of the same nature in general bestowed on any of his members, but for use, exercise, and improvement. And that they were then collated_appears; For, °'Ei MVO ;) oati ÿ óacrerezn, ro zvt,az,r rAaetea, itsros ár- ?&qarros, TO nor ß7,asnua, To zro no >;s-iss wénos rcr9nca iTOÇ raKßara To 90011. dyeor, &c.Chrysost. Hotr.iL. de Spi. Situ Sancto.
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