SERBION UPON 1 JOHN II. 20. 101
displease the flesh ; thougli yet good men, in some cases, may be misled with error.
2. Why this anointing doth confirm us in the truths of the gospel.
[1.] From the Spirit, who is the anointing which we have from the Holy One. And his effects suit with the nature of God. The conceptions which we have of God maybe reduced to these heads — Wisdom, power, and goodness : these are the most obvious notions. Now the regenera- ting Spirit giveth us the effect of all these : 2 Tim. i. 7, ' God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind/
(1.) Wisdom, in making wise the simple by the doctrine of the gospel, Ps, xix. 7, as teaching the way to true happiness and salvation, and enabling them to walk in it. The wise men of the world cannot but applaud this course ; and the dying are all of this mind, and acknowledge their own folly in doing otlierwise.
(2.) Power: Phil. iv. 13, ' I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.' In overcoming those appetites and desires by which the rest of the world are mastered and captivated. To be con- tented with their portion ; to animate them against all the terrors of the world, and subdue the delights of the flesh, that they may mind the things of another world, and so have comfort in life and death.
(3.) Goodness. It discovereth the greatest love to mankind that possibly can be conceived, both in the way and the end ; redemption by Christ, and the glory prepared for believers. Love becometh the very constitution of our souls : 1 John iv. 7, 8, ' Let us love one another : for love is of God ; and every one that lovetli is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God,' &c. And moral goodness in the way we are to walk in, which is the way of holiness, without any respect to fleshly pleasure or interest, and through obedi- ence to God: 1 Peter iv. 2, 'That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh, to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.' Now the soul thus formed by the Spirit, where shall he find such a discovery of God ? What profession is there that can possess us with a new spirit, and such a spirit as the christian religion doth ? This begets a spirit that beareth the lively image and impress of God, where it hath its natural effects on the souls of men. Half christians go beyond others in such gifts as God giveth not to the heathen world ; but especially through christians, therefore rejecteth other ways.
[2.] From the nature of this enlightening or knowledge of the truth which the Spirit worketh in us. It is not a bare conjecture, but a cer- tain establishing knowledge : John vi. 69, ' We believe, and are sure, that thou art Christ, the Son of the living God; ' John xvii. 8, ' They have known surely that I came out from thee.' So that the soul is willing to adhere to it with the loss of all. A slight perfunctory appre- hension is soon shaken, either by subtlety or violence ; but this is firm and strong.
[3.] Those who are anointed are sanctified and consecrated to God, and so under the care and protection of his special providence. Anointing hath the notion of consecrating, and setting apart for some holy use, for God's special service. As Christ as mediator ; and so christians in their proportion, as his servants, and instruments of his
102 SERMON UPON 1 JOHN II. 20.
glory in tlie world ; they are qualified for it hy the gifts and graces of his Spirit : 2 Peter ii. 9, ' Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priest- hood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into light.' Now God is very chary and tender of such : Ps. cv. 15, ' Touch not mine anointed,' They are particularly owned by God, that none might dare to do them the least injury. Now as it is so in God's outward govern- ment by his providence, so in his internal government by his Spirit ; God looketh after them more than others, that they may take no hurt nor annoyance.
[4.] This anointing giveth them familiar acquaintance with God, Christ, and the Spirit. Christ's sheep will hear his voice, and will not hear the voice of strangers, John x. 5. They have a spirit of discern- ing : John xiv. 17, ' Ye know him ; for he dwelleth in you, and shall be in you.' The })oor infant knoweth his mother's milk, puketh if suckled by a strange nurse, 1 Peter ii. 2, aSoXov yaka. Hominem diet homo, the man in it : ' The world heareth them,' 1 John iv. 5. Besides literal instruction, they have the advantage of knowledge and experience.
JJse 1. To persuade us to get this anointing. If we pretend to Christianity, where is our unction, the virtue and efficacy of it, for the renewing and sanctifying of our hearts ?