HOLY SPIRIT, thereby, we shall follow the conduct of the scripture in the investigation of the true nature of it. And to this end we may observe, 1. That all persons and things that were dedicated or consecrated unto God, under the Old Testament, were anointed with material oil; so were the kings of the people of God, so were the priests and prophets: in like manner the sanctuary, the altar, and all the holy utensils of divine worship were anointed. And it is confessed, that among all the restof the Mossiest institutions, those also concerning unction were typical and figurative of what was to come. 2. That all these types had their first, proper, and full signification and accomplishment in the parson of Jesus Christ. And because every person and thing that was made holy to God, was so anointed, he who was tobe the most holy, the only spring and causeof holi ness in and unto others, had his name and denomina- tion from thence. Both the Messiah in the Old Testa- ment, and Christ, in the New, are as much as the a- nointed one. For he was not only in his person typifi- ed in the anointed kings, priests, and prophets, but al- so in his mediation by the tabernacle, sanctuary, altar, and temple. Hence his unction is expressed in those words, n'a, 10 u' , neIs , Dan. ix. 21. Toanoint the Holy I ofHolies, who was prefigured byall the Holy anointed ones before. This became his name, as he was the hope of the church under the Old Testament, The Messiah, and the immediate object of the faith of the saints under the New, 'The Christ. Here, therefore, in the first place, we must inquire into the nature of this unction; that of believers being an emanation from thence, and to be interpreted by analogy thereunto. For (as it is usually expressed by way of allusion) it is as the oil,' which being poured on the head of Aaron, went down to the skirts of his garments. 3. That the Lord Christ was anointed, and hdw, is declared, Isa lxi. I. The Spirit of the Lord God-is up- on me, because the Lord hath anointed me. His unction consisted principally in the communication of the Spirit unto him. For he proves that the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, because he was anointed. And this gives us a general rule, that the anointing with material oil under the Old Testament, did prefigure and represent the effusion of the Spirit under the New, which now answers all the endsof those typical institutions. Hence AND HIS WORK. 23 the gospel, in opposition unto them all in the letter, outwardly, visibly, and materially, is called the minis- tration of the Spirit, 2 Cor. iii. 6, 8. So is the unction of Christ expressed, Isle. xi. 2. « The Spirit of the « Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." 4. Whereas theunction of Christ did consist in the full communication of the Spirit unto him, not by measure; in all his graces and gifts, needful unto his human na- ture or his work, tho' it be essentially one entire work, yet was it carried on by several degrees and distinctions of time. For, (1.) He was anointed by the Spirit in his incarnation in the womb, Luke i. 35. the nature of which work we have at large before explained. (2.) He was so at his baptism, and entrance into his public ministry, when he was anointed to preach the gospel, as Isa. lxi. I. And the Holy Ghost descended on him in the shape ofa dove, Matth. iii. 17. The first part of his unction more peculiarly respected a fulness of the gracè, the latter of the gifts of the Spirit. (3.) He was peculiarly anointed unto his death and sacrifice, in that divine act ofhis, whereby he sanctifiedhimself thereun- to, John xvii. 19. which bath also been before declared. (4.) He was at his ascension when he received of the Father the promise of the Spirit, pouring him forth on his disciples, Acts ii. 23. And in this latter instance he was anointed with the oil of gladness, which includes his glorious exaltation also. For this was absolutely peculiar unto him, whence he is said to be so anointed above his fellows. For although in some other parts of this anointing, he bath them who partake of them by and from him in their measure, yet in this of receiving the Spirit with a power ofcommunicating him unto o- thers, herein he is singular, nor was ever any other person sharer with him therein in the least degree. See the Exposition on Heb. i. 8, 9. Now, although there be an inconceivable difference and distance between the unction of Christ and that of believers, yet is his the only rule of the interpretation of theirs, as to the kind thereof. And, 5. Believers have their unction immediately from Christ. So is it in the text: Ye have anunctionfrom the Holy One. So is he called, Acts iii. 14. Rev. iii. 7. These things saith he that is holy. He himself was a- nointed as the most holy, Dan. ix. 24. Andit is his Spi-
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