tInLY' SrIßIT, At:b 1iít WOhle. 2 i halb promised unto all that believe in him; and then that we have these two things by virtue thereof, (1.) Spiritual instructionby saving illumination in the mind of God, and the mysteries of the gospel. (2.) An especial dedication unto God; in t he way of a spiritual privilege. What remains, is to inquire, (l.) What benefit or advantage we have by this unction t (2.) How this belongs unto our consolation, seeing the Holy Spirit is thus bestowed on us, as he is promi- sed to be the Comforter ofthe church: As unto the first head, it is hereon that our stability in believing doth depend. Tor. it is pleaded unto this purpose in a peculiar manner by the apostle, 1 John ii. 20, 27. It was the unction from the Holy One, which then kept believers from being carried from the faith by the craft of seducers. Hereby he makes men, according unto their measure, of quick understanding in the fear of the Lard. Nor will any thing else giveassurance in this case. Temptations may cotne as a storm or tem- pest, which will quickly drive men from their greatest fleshly confidences. Hence oftentimes those who are forwardest tosay, « Though all men should forsakethe a truth, yet would not they so do," are the forwardest upon trials so to do. Neither will men's skill, cunning, or disputing abilities secure them from being at one time or other inveigled with fair pretences; or entangled with the cunning sleights of them who lie in wait to deceive. Nor will the best defences of flesh and blood, stand firmly and unshaken .against powerful allurements on the one hand, or fierce persecutions, on the other, the present artillery of the patrons and promoters of apos Lacy. None of these things doth the apostle prescribe or recommend unto believers, as an effectual means of their preservation, when a trial of their stability in the truth shall bet's'. them. But this unction he assures them, will not fail, neither shall they fail because of it: And to this end we may consider, (1.) The natureof the teaching which we have by this anointing t The a- nointing tcachethyou It is not merely an external doc- trinal instruction, but an internal, effectual operation of the Holy Ghost. Herein doth God giveunto us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in theknowledge of him, that the eyes of our understanding being enlightened, we may know what is the hope of his calling, Eph, i. 17, 18. He maketh use indeed of the outward means of instruction by the word, and teachethnothing but what G is revealed therein: - Bat he gives us an understanding that we may know him that is true, and openeth one eyes, that we may clearly and spiritually' see. the won- drous things that are in his law. And there are no teachings like unto his. None so abiding, none so ef- fectual. When spiritual things through this anointing are discovered in a spiritual manner, then do they take up an immoveable possession in the mind of men. As God will destroyevery oppressive yoke because of the anointing of Christ, Isa. x. 27: so will he break every snareof seduction by the anointing of Christians. So it is promised that under the gospel; wisdom andknow- ledge shall be the stability of the times, -Isar xxxiii. ti. Nothing will givestability in all seasons, but the wis- dom and knowledge which are the effectsof this teach- ing, when God gives us the Spirit of wisdom and reve, lation in the knowledge of him: (2:) What it is that it teachetht and that is all things: The same anointing teachetli you all things. So was the promise that he should Cerrch es all things, and bring all Mingo Co our remembrance that Christ hat) said-unto us, John xiv. 22, and guide us into all truth, chap. xvi. 13. It is not all things absolutely that is intended, for they are restrained unto those of one certain kind, even the things which Christ had spoken, that is, such as belonged unto the kingdom of God, Neither are they all of them absolutely intended, especially as to the degrees of the knowledge of them. For in this life we know but in part, and seeall things darkly as in glass. But it is all things and all truth with respect unto the end of this promise and teaching, In the promise the whole life of faith, with joy and consolation thereon, is the end designed, All things necessary thereunto, this unction teacheth us: And in the other.place of the apostle, it respects the great fundamental truths cif the gospel which the seducers opposed, from whose seduction this unction doth secure believers. Wherefore it teach- eth all that are made partakers of it, all that truth, all those things, all that Christ bath spoken, that are ne- cessary unto these ends that they may live unto God in the consolation of faith, andbe delivered fromall attempts to draw them into error. The degrees of this knowledge which are exceeding various; both with respect unto the dearness and evi, deuce of conception, and the extent of the things known, depend on the Curious measures whereby the Spirit act,. 37
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