(2.) And then he had fit endowments ; he came to be loaded with graces and blessings, and with all kind of qualities to do men good : John X. 36, 'Him hath the Father sanctified, and sent into the world;' that is God's sending, his anointing of Christ as our head, ' with the oil of gladness above his fellows.' As the head of the high priest was anointed, and thence the oil dropped down to all the members : Ps. cxxxiii. 3, ' It is 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 ; ' so our head is anointed with the oil of gladness for our sakes. Christ received the Spirit without measure in our nature, as holiness, pity, and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Look, as when an ambassador is sent forth, there is not only a designation of his person, but he is furnished for his employment and work ; so is Jesus Christ sent forth, that is, his person not only designed and chosen in grace, and yet in wisdom, but also furnished with all manner of
VeR, 18.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 467
endowments in our nature, grace and strength for his work as our head.
[3.] This sending imphes authority, and noteth a commission sealed to him, so tliat he was an authorised mediator, or an ambassador with letters-patent from heaven. This is the principal thing intended in this sending, the call and authority Christ had to do his office : Heb. V. 4, 5, ' No man taketh this honour to himself, but he that was called of God, as was Aaron. So also 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.' He was designed in the council of the Trinity ; and as every ambassador hath letters of credence under the hand and seal of him from whom he is sent, that he may be acknowledged as his deputy to act for him, so Christ is sent as God's deputy into the world, to act and deal for him ; and the apostles they are thus sent from Christ, to act and deal for Christ. Here the comparison chiefly holds : ' As thou hast sent me into the world,' that is, given me autho- rity to execute the office of a mediator, ' so have I sent them ; ' I have given them authority to preach in my name, and to deliver the gospel to others. This sending of Christ, it maketli all that Christ doth in the Father's name to be valid, which is much for the comfort of our faith. Christ is not a mediator by the right, or merely by the desire of the creature, or by his own interposition ; but he is sent and authorised ; you may plead it with God, he hath sent him to save sinners. You know Moses, when he interposed on his own accord : Exod. xxxii. 32, ' Forgive their sin ; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.' Though it was a high act of zeal in Moses, yet God refused it : ver. 33, ' And the Lord said to Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.' So if Christ had been set up as mediator by the right and desire of the creature only, he might have been refused ; but he was authorised by God ; he did not glorify himself by invasion of the mediatory office, but had a patent from the council of the Trinity, indited by the Father, accepted by himself, sealed by the Holy Ghost, evidenced to the world by his personal endowments, and by his miracles. Thus you see what this sending is ; it implies the designation of the Father, the qualification of his person for the work, and his authority to execute it in his name.
3. To what purpose was he sent into the world ? I answer — To perform the whole duty of the mediator, but principally to redeem and instruct the world ; those two offices of prophet and priest Christ per- formed upon earth. The apostle toucheth upon them: Heb. iii. 1, ' Consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Jesus Christ.' Mark, the apostle mentioneth but two offices, but they were the highest in both the churches : the high priest was the highest officer in the Jewish church, therefore he saith he was the * high priest of our pro- fession;' and an apostle was the highest officer in the christian church, therefore he saith he was ' the apostle of our profession.' And he men- tions but these two, because these were the two offices Christ chiefly performed on earth. He came to preach the gospel which we profess, so he is ' the apostle of our profession ; ' and he came to ratify it with his blood, so he is ' the high priest of our profession.' In short, he
468 SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [Ser. XXX.