110 An Expoßtton ofthe C 14 A P. L Now though I acknowledge the Lord Chrift to have been thus anointed, and thát the communication of the Gifts and Graces of theSpirit unto him in fulnefs, is called his Vnúion; yet I cannot grant that any of them arehere diredtly intended. But that which theApoftle feems here to exprefswith the !Jaime, is the Glorious Exaltati- on ofjefus Chrift, whenhe was folemnly enttated in his Kingdom : This is that which is called the makingofhim both Lord and Chrift, Aâsz. 36. When God'raifed him from the dead, and gavehimglory, t Pet. I. 21. He is called Cbri(i from thetlnëtiou of the Spirit ; andyet here in his Exaltation, he is faid in clpecial manner to be made Chrift that is, taken glorioutly into the Poffeffion of all the Offices and their full Adminiftration, whereunto he was anointed and fitted by the communicationof-the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit unto him. It is I fay, the joyful glorious Un hion of his Exaltation, when he was fignally made Lord and Chritt, and declared to be the anointedone of Gad that is here intended : Se, Phil. z. 9, II. which alfo appears, t. From theAdjunli of this Undiion ; be is anointedwith the Oyle of gladnefl; which denotes Triumph and Exaltation, freedomfrom troubleand difirefs : Whereas, after thole Antecedentcommunications of the Spirit unto the Lord Chrift, he was a man of forrows, acquaintedwith grief, and expofed toinnumerable evils and troubles. 2. The Relation of this Priviledge granted unto the LordChrift unto what went before, He loved righteoufnefi, and bated iniquity, expreffid by 17411), and ¿ne 7îi7,, ( the third thing confiderable in this laut claufe of the Teftimony ) doth plainly de- clare it. The Lord Chrifis Love to Righteoufnee and Hatred to Iniquity,proceeded from hisVnllion with theGracesand Gifts of the Spirit ; and yet they are plainly in- timated here to go before this anointingwith the Ode of gladnefl; which is therefore mentioned, as the Confequent of his difcharge of his Office in this world, in like manner as his Exaltation everywhere is, Phil. a. 9, I. Rom. td.. 9. And if this an- ointing denote thefirtfVnliion of Chrift, then mull hebe fuppofed to havethe Love to Righteoufnefsmentioned, fromelfewhere, as antecedent thereun a Wtfich is not fo. Wherefore thefe words, ?i-tilt', and d'1á 7970, do declare as haft a Relation of Con- gruencyand Conveniency unto an antecedent difcharge of Office in the Lord Chrifl, andare ofthe fame importance with 81t, Pfal. a. 9. and fo can refpeetnothing buthis glorious Exaltation, which is that expreffed. The laft thingconfiderable in thewords, is the Prerogative of the Lord Chrift in this Priviledge ; He it anointed above his fellows. Now thefe Fellows, Companions, or Affociates of the Lord Chrift, maybe confidered either generally, for all thofe that par- take with him in this ilnótion, which are all Believers, who areCo-beirr with hire, and thereby heirs ofGod, Rom. 8. 17. or moreefpecially for thofe who were employed by God, in the Service Building andRule of his Church in their fubordination unto him ; fuch as were theProphets of old, and afterwards theApoflles, Epbef. s. 20. In re- fpeá unto both forts the Lord Chrift is anointed with the Oyle of gladnefe above them but the latter fort are efpecially intended ; concerning whom the Apoftle gives an tfpecial inflameinMofes,Cb.3. affirming the Lord Chrift in his work about theChurch to be made partaker ofmore Glory than he. In aword, he is incomprehenfibly exalted above Angelsand Men. And this is thefirli Teffimony whereby theAponte confirms his Affertion ofthe pre- heminence of the LordChrift above Angels, in that comparifon which he makes be tween them ; which alfowill afford the enfuing Obfervations. I. The conferring and comparing ofScriptures is an excellent meant of coming to anAc- quaintance with the Mind and Will of God in them. Thus dealeth theApoftle in this place; hecomparethwhat is 1pokenofAngels in one place, and what of the Son in another, and from thence manifefteth what is themind ofGod concerning them. This duty lyes in the command wehave to fearch the Scriptures, John 5.39. itturale 7,4 yfavas.s, make a diligent Inveltigation of the Mind of God in them, comparingfpiritual things with ¡primal. What God hathdeclared of themind of the Spirit in one place, withwhat in likemanner he hath manifelled in another. God to try our Obedi- ence, and to exercifeour Diligence, unto a Rudy in his Word day and night, Pfal.t.z. andour continual Meditation thereon, s Tim. 4. 15. (saure freaiva by 7(17015 1,35, Me- ditateonthefe things, be wholly in them) bath planted his Truths with great Variety up and down his Word; yea, hereone part, and there another of the fame Truth, which cannot be throughly learned, unlefs we gather them together intoone view. For inftance, Inone place, God commands us to cireumcifi our Hearts, and to make unto
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