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JESUS COMPLETELY QUALIFIED

FOR HIS WORK.

SERMON XLII.

ISA. Ixi. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,. because the Lord hath anointed me

UNDER

'NDER this part of the text, we propofe to. confider the neceffity of the fulness of the Spirit being lodged in Chrift. It was neceffary, because the Lord had anointed him unto, and fent him forth upon the Mediatory work. The greatnefs of that work required it. Here I obferve the following DOCTRINES.

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DocT. I. That our Lord Jefus Chrift was by the Father anointed to, and fent forth 'upon, the Mediatory work.-Or, in other words,

That our Mediator, the Lord Jefus, was anointed by the Father unto this office, and fent forth by him to this work.

1 DOCT

Docr. II. That the work upon which Jefus the Mediator was fent forth, neceffarily required

the fulness of the Spirit to be lodged in him.— We begin with

DOCT. I. That our Lord Jefus Chrift was by the Father anointed to, and fent forth upon, the Mediatory work. Or, in other words,

That our Mediator, the Lord Jefus, was anointed by the Father unto this office, and fent forth by him to this work. In illuftrating this doctrine, I fhall,

I. CONSIDER the anointing here mentioned. II. Speak of the fending which flowed from and followed upon it.

III. Make fome practical improvement.

I. I AM to confider the anointing here mentioned. In attending to this, I fhall, first, fhew what is meant by this anointing. Secondly, Wherewith Chrift was anointed.

Firf, We are to fhew what is meant by this anointing. Under the Old Teftament, anointing was a ceremony used for confecrating kings, priests, and prophets: thus David was anointed king, Aaron was anointed priest, Elifha anointed a prophet. This ceremony fignified two things:-The defignation of the perfon to the office. It being a fign, by the divine appointment, that this was the perfon whom God had called to this work; it was alfo a discovery of the divine purpose, as thereby the perfon was confecrated to the office; though fometimes it was long after that he got his orders to proceed to the actual exercise of it. Thus Samuel, by the command of the Lord, anointed David king long before he affumed the government, 1 Sam.

xvi.

xvi. 13.-Again, this ceremony alfo fignified the endowment of the perfon with abilities and qualifications neceffary to fit him for the work. Thus, when Saul was anointed king, God gave him another heart, 1 Sam. x. 13. "And when David was anointed king, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day forward," 1 Sam. xvi. 13. Accordingly, Chrift's anointing fignifies two things.

I

1. His defignation to the Mediatory office. The Father pitched upon his Son, and fet him apart for this grand work, to recover a ruined world. He made choice of him to be the repairer of the great breach, and put the breach under his hand. Hence he is called God's elect or chofen one: Ifa. xlii. 1. "Behold (fays God) my fervant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my foul delighteth." Chrift's anointing fignifies;

2. His being fitted and furnished for that office to which he was defigned and fet apart: John, iii. 31. "For he whom God hath fent, fpeaketh the words of God, for God giveth not the Spirit by meafure unto him." Hence it is faid of him, that he is able to fave them to the uttermoft that come un, to God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make interceffion for them." It was an unparalleled work, and fo unparalleled qualifications were neceflary for it. He was pitched upon to be the Father's fervant in the great work of recovering an elect world. He was infinitely wife who made the choice, and therefore could not but pitch on a fuitable perfon: He was alfo infinitely powerful, and all fufficient, and therefore could fully qualify him for it. We have both the choice and the furniture together: Ifa. xlii. 1. " Behold my fervant whom I uphold, mine elect in whom my foul delighteth: I have put my fpirit upon him; he fhall

bring

bring forth judgement to the Gentiles." And this is the import of the anointing. But let us view it more particularly,

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In the defignation or choice made by the Father. Infinite wisdom appeared in it most confpicuously, with infinite love to an elect world. When the divine decree and purpose of man's redemption was laid down by the Trinity, the great thing next to be confidered was, who fhould undertake the work, and be the Redeemer. No mere man could be chofen, for none could have a back to bear fuch a burden. All were guilty, and could not fatisfy for their own fin, far lefs purchafe falvation for others. No angel could be chofen, for even they, with their ftock, could not have been able to have discharged the debt, in regard it was infinite; wherefore the Father made choice of his own Son, as a person who could undertake it: Pfal. lxxxix. 19 20. "Then thou fpakeft in vifion to thy hely One, and faidft, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chofen out of the people; I havefound David my fervant, and with my holy oil have I anointed him." He being the Son of God, it doubtless became the divine perfections to pitch on him, as one who was to purchafe for us the adoption of fons, and to bring many children to glory. Let us view this anointing,

In qualifying him for the work, in which the fame love and wildom appears. Our Mediator had to die, for "without fhedding of blood, there could be no remiffion of fin." The divine nature was not capable of dying, therefore he prepared him a body: Heb. x. 5." Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he faith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldst not, but a body haft thou prepared me." The fame nature which finned had to fuffer; therefore he did not create him a body out of nothing, but prepa

red

red him one of the feed of Adam. He was chofen out of the people: Gal. iv. 4. " God fent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law." But farther, our nature was corrupted, and our flesh finful flesh; therefore it could not be immediately united to the divine nature; wherefore he fanctified the substance of which that precious body was formed, and made him a holy human nature: Heb. vii. 26. "For fuch an High-prieft became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, feperate from finners, and made higher than the heavens." While what the human nature could do or fuffer, would not have poffeffed fufficient virtue, if separated from the divine; therefore he unites it with it, John, i. 14. " And the word was made flefh, and dwelt among us." And hence the human nature was filled with all gifts and graces neceffary to it, for that part which it was to act in the great work. -Let us now,

Secondly, Inquire wherewith Christ was anointed. Not with material oil, but with the Spirit, fignified by it: Pfal. xlv. 7. " God thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness, above thy fellows." And while the defignation of the person was from eternity, the Spirit's defcending upon him like a dove at his baptifm, was the difcovery of that eternal choice, and ferved for the visible defignation of him to the world: Matth. iii. 16. 17. « And Jefus, when he was baptifed, went up straight way out of the water: and, lo! the heavens were opened unto him, and he faw the Spirit of God defcending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And, lo! a voice from heaven, faying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And by the fame Spirit it was that he was qualified and fitted for the Mediatory work, his holy human nature being with it. If it be inquired, how his having

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