22 DISCOURS the present discourses of them, and waving things corn- mealy known and received, .shall endeavour to state right conceptions of them, and to add further light unto what bath been already received. The first of this sort which we shall mention, be- cause, as I think, the first in order of nature, is the unction,, or anointing which believers have by him. So are they said to be anointed, 2 Cor. i. 21. and 1 John ii. 20. Ye have TO xg,,oa, an unction, anunguent from the holy One, ver. 27. The anointing which ye have received abideth in you. And Me same anointing teach- ethyou of all things. What this xgo-ua is which we do receive, and wherein this anointing doth consist, we must, in the first place, inquire. For a distinct com- prehension and knowledge of that which is so great a privilege, and of so much use unto us, is our duty and advantage. It is so the more, because by the most these things are neglected. That is an empty sound unto them, which bath in itself the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. Some things there are which pretend unto this unction or which some would have it to consist in, that we must re- move out of our way to render the truth more evi- dent. Some think that by this unction, the doctrine of the gospel, or the truth itself, is intended. This Episco- pius pleads for in his Exposition of the place. That doctrine of the gospel which they had received, was that which would preserve them from the seducers, which in that place of the apostle, I John ii. 20. be- lievers are warned to beware of. But neither the con- text nor the text will admit of this interpretation. For, (1.) The thing itself in question, was, the doctrine of the gospel. This the seducers pretended to be on their side, which the apostle denies. Now, although the doctrine itself was that whereby this difference was to be determined; yet is not the doctrine itself, but the advantage they had for the right understanding of it, that which is proposed for their relief and comfort. (2.) This unction is said to abide in them who have received it, whereas we are said to abide in the doc- trine or the truth, and not that in us properly. (3.) This unction is said to teach us all things; but the doc- trine of the truth is that which we are taught, and there most be a difference between that which teacheth, and that which is taught thereby. (M.) Whereasin all ES ON TOE other places ofthe scripture, either the Holy Ghost him- self, or some especial operation of his, is hereby intended, there is no reason nor pretence of any to be taken from the words or context, why another signification should be here imposed on that expression. (5.) For the rea- son which he adds, that there is no mention in any o- ther place of scripture of any peculiar, internal act or work towards any persons, in their teaching or recep- tion of the truth, it is so' extremely remote from the truth, and is so directly opposite unto express testimo- nies almost innumerable, that I wonder how any man could be so forgetful as to affirm it. Letthe reader sa- tisfy himself in what path been discoursed on the head of spiritual illumination. Secondly, The testimony given by the Holy Ghost unto the truth of the gospel imparted unto them, is the exposition of this unction in the paraphrase of another. This testimony was his by his miraculous operations, at his first effusion on the apostles. But neither can this be the mind of the Holy Ghost herein: for this unction which believers had, is the same with their being anointed of God, 2 Cor. i. 21. And that was a privi- lege whereof they were all personally made partakers. Soalso is that which is here mentioned, namely, that which was in them, which abode with them, and taught them. Neither is this a tolerable exposition of these words, you have an unction from the holy One, abid- ing in you, teaching of you, that is, you have heard of the miraculous operations of the Holy Ghost in the confirmation of the gospel, giving testimony unto the truth. Thirdly, It is to no purpose toexamine the pretences of some of the Itomsnists, that respect is had herein to the chrysme or unguent that they use in baptism, con- firmation, and in their fictitious sacraments of orders and extreme unction. For, besides that all their unc- tions are inventions of their own, no institution of Christ, nor of any efficacy unto the ends for which this unction is granted unto believers, the more sober of their expositors take no notice of them on this occasion. Thosewho would know what respect they have thereunto, may find it in the commentaries of A- Lapide on this place. . These apprehensions being removed, as no way suit- ing the mind of the Holy Ghost, nor expressing the privilege intended, nor the advantage which we have
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