Likewise this anointing hath relation to the persons anointed : kingSj priests, and prophets. Christ is primarily anointed, and all our grace is derived from him. He teacheth us divine things by a divine light. The poorest Christian in the world, whose heart is right with God, sees good things with such convincing love, that he embraces them, and ill things with such a convincing hatred, that he abhors them. A man that lives without God in the world may talk, but he cannot do ; he may speak of death, but he dares not die ; he trembles to think of the last tribunal, and of resigning his soul into the hands of his Maker. Such an one may discourse of sufier- ing, but when it comes to the point, his heart fails him. Oh ! how he shrinks when danger approacheth. What indirect courses will he take to save his skin ! How hardly is corrupt self brought under ! How heavily do men come off in this point of doing and suffering for Christ, laying down all at his feet, and resolving to be disposed of at his pleasure in everything. Men speak much of patience and self-denial, but they do not practise them. These virtues shine not forth in their conversation,, which is the shame of religion,. Only a true Christian bath the right knowledge of the doing of things, and is able to speak a word ' in due season,' Isa. 1. 4, to reprove, to admonish, to comfort. Every member in the communion of saints hath some qualification for the good of the whole body.
A faithful man is likewise spiritually anointed a priest to stand before God Almighty. He pours out his soul for himself and for others,, having God's ear open at all times to his suits. E.very sincere Christian is a favourite in heaven. He hath much credit there, which he improves for the welfare of the church here below. And he keeps himself as a priest, unspotted of the world. A true Christian is taught of God, and knows the meaning of that law of his, which prohibiteth priests so much as to touch defiled things. Therefoi'e he studies innoeency ; he runs not after the course of the multi- tude, neither is carried away with the streams of the times. He will not converse familiarly with those that may stain him but so far as his calling leads him, lest he should thereby contaminate his spirit. A Christian priest ^ath his heart always to the ' holy of holies, ' that so he may offer up thanks and praise to God, and offer himself a sacrifice to him. His endeavour is to kill and slay those beasts, those lusts, that lurk in his heart, contrary to the Almighty.
Lastly, He that is anointed by the Spirit is a king in regard of his great possessions, for all are ours. ' Things present, and things to come, life and death, prosperity and adversity,' all help us to heaven, Eom. viii. 38.. Evil things are ours in advantage and success, though in disposition they be not ours, but have a hostile disposition in them. God overpowers the evil of things, and gives a Christian a living principle of grace, to suck sweet out
182 TEA AND AMEN ; OR,
of Bonr, and draw good out of evil. Wliat a king is lliis, that even the most terrible things arc at his command, and work for the best unto him ! He conquers and brings under hie greatest enemies, and fears neither death or judgment, nor the vengeance to come. Knowing God in Christ to be his reconciled Father, he rests assured all things else will be at peace with him. Others have kingdoms out of themselves, but in themselves they are slaves. Every lust leads them away captive. A Christian is such a king as hath a kingdom within himself. He hath peace and joy and rest from base allure- ments, and teiTors of conscience. He walks by rule, and therefore knows how to govern all. The glory of his Maker is the chief thing he eyes, and to that he refers every action.
* Who hath anointed us, and sealed us.'
Anointing and sealing go together. The same God anoints us doth also seal us. Both are to secure us of our happy condition. Now Christ is the first sealed : John vi. 27, ' Him hath the father sealed.' God hath set Christ apart from others, hath distinguished him, and set a stamp upon him to be the Messiah by the graces of the Spirit, whereof he was richly beautified, and by many miracles, whereby he shewed that he was the Son of God ; by his resurrection from the dead, by his calling of the Gentiles, and many other things.
Christ being sealed himself, he sealed all that he did for our redemption with his blood, and hath added for the strengthening of our faith outward seals, the sacraments, to secure his love more firmly to us.
But in this place another manner of sealing is to be understood. For here is not meant the sealing of Christ, but the sealing of us that have com- munion with him. The same Spirit that seals the Redeemer seals the redeemed.
Quest. What is the manner of our sealing by the Spirit ?