168 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. IV.
[1.] The giving of power and authority : Heb. v. 5, ' Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest ; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son ; this day have I begotten thee.' Therefore though Christ be of the same power and authority with the Father, yet as mediator he must be appointed. Christ took not on him the honour of a mediator, but received it of his Father. God needeth not to appoint a mediator ; it was his free grace. To save sinnners is not proprietas divince naturce, but opns liberi consilii. Tliis counsel had its rise from the mercy and free grace of the Father ; he might have required this punishment of ourselves. If any had interposed to mediate for us without God's will and calling, his mediation would have been of no value ; a pledge whereof we have in Moses : Exod. xxxii. 32, 33, ' Yet now, if thou wilt, forgive their sins ; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of the book of life. And the Lord said unto Moses, Whoso- ever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.' And besides, where should we have found a sufficient mediator, unless he should have given us one ? Therefore there is much in the Father's anointing or appointment ; therefore is the mediation of Christ so effectual ; it is made by his own will : John viii. 42, ' I proceeded forth, and came from God ; neither came I of myself, but he sent me ;' John vi. 27, ' Him hath God the Father sealed ; ' as a magistrate hath the king's broad seal. Which is a great comfort ; when we go to God, we may offer him Christ, as authorised by himself: Thou hast sent thy own Son to be a mediator for me. And we may plead it to our- selves in faith : God the supreme judge, the wronged party, hath appointed Christ to take up the controversy between him and me.
[2.] The bestowing on him the Holy Ghost, who might make the human nature fit for the work. So Acts x. 38, 'Him hath God anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power.' The human nature of Christ was fitted for the employment ; for though it were exalted to great privileges, yet it could not act beyond its sphere ; and sanctifi- cation is the personal operation of the third person. Now the work of the Holy Ghost was in the womb of the virgin, to preserve the human nature of Christ from the infection of sin. From a sinner nothing could be born but what was unclean and sinful ; by this anointing Christ was made perfectly just, strengthened to all offices, especially to offer up himself : Heb. ix. 14, ' Who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God.' To overcome all difficulties and tempta- tions : Isa. xlii. 1 , ' Behold my servant whom I uphold, my elect in whom my soul delighteth ; I have put my Spirit upon him.' The work of redemption was a weighty work : Christ had to do with God, devil, and man, to bear the wrath of God for the whole world.
2. To what was Christ anointed ? To the office of a mediator in general ; particularly to be king, priest, and prophet of the church. To be a prophet, to teach us by his word and Spirit : Mat. xvii. .5, ' This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased ; hear ye him.' God bespeaketh audience. To be a priest, to intercede and die for us. To be a king, to rule*us by his Spirit, and to give grace and glory to us.
Use 1. Let us receive Christ as an anointed saviour. Christ is set over us by authority ; let us come to him as a prophet, denying our
VeR. 4.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 169
own reason and wisdom ; as a priest, seeking all our acceptance with God through his merit. Let us plead, Lord, thou hast anointed Christ to offer himself a sacrifice for me. As a king, let us give up ourselves to the authority and discipline of his Spirit. God's anointing is the true reason and cause why we should come to Christ.
Use 2. Comfort ; we are anointed too. Christ's ointment is shared amongst his fellows ; he was anointed more than we, but we have our part : Ps. cxxxiii. 2, ' Like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirts of his garment ; ' 1 John ii. 27, ' The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you.' We are made prophets, priests, and kings ; prophets meet to declare his praises, priests fit for holy minis- tering, kings to reign over our corruptions here, and with Christ for ever in glory, as the queen is crowned with the king.
SERMON V.
I have glorified thee on the earth : I have finished the worh which thou cjavest me to do. — John XVII. 4.
In this verse there is another argument to inforce the main request of his being glorified; it is taken from the faithful discharge of his duty, and his integrity in it ; it was all finished, and finished to God's glory ; there- fore it was not unjust that he should now desire to be glorified. When our work is ended, then we look to receive our wages. Now, saith Christ, ' I have finished the work ; ' and besides (which giveth weight to the argument), ' I have glorified thee.' The reason of Christ's request seems to be taken from the eternal covenant. Do your work, and you shall see your seed ; and from those promises, 1 Sam. ii. 30, ' Them that honour me, I will honour ; ' Prov. iv. 8, ' Exalt her, and she shall promote thee ; she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.' Well, Christ showeth that his request is not unequal. Though this be the general relation of the context, yet it is good to note the particular dependence between this and the former verse. Christ said that it was eternal life to know him that was sent ; now he showeth he had discharged that work for which he was sent.