(1.) Fro)n tlie near union Ix'tivccn the human nature and the divine. They are one person. Therefore there is more Spirit in Christ than in all crea- tures put them together ; than in all the angels, and all men, because the divine nature is nearer to Christ than it is to the angels or to any creature.
(2.) Christ hath the Spirit without measure, both in rcrjanl of extension and intension, as we say. He hath all graces in all degrees, even next to an infinite. All others have it in their measure and proportion.]
(3.) The Spirit doth rest vpon Christ invariahhj. In other men that have the Spirit, it ebbs and flows ; it is sometimes more and sometimes less. Thete be spiritual desertions, not only in regard of comfort, but in regard of grace, though not totally. But the Spirit rests on Christ eternally in a full measure ; and therefore you have it thus in Isa. xi. 2, ' The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might,' &c.
(4.) By reason of his place or offices in relation to the church, as head, husband, king, priest, prophet, &c. The head is made by nature the seat of the more noble faculties, as of seeing, hearing, understanding, judging, and is furnished accordingly with greater plenty of spirits for the ruling and governing the whole body. So Christ is the Head of the church, and the government of all the world is laid upon him, and all excellencies are derived from him unto all his members, as from the root life is derived-''- unto all the branches. And therefore he must needs have the Spirit in greatest abundance. His fulness of the Spirit is as the fulness of the fountain ; ours is but as the fulness of the cistern. He hath grace in the spring ; we have it but in the conduit. His graces are primitive ; ours derivative. We have nothing but what we have received. Therefore it is said, ' He hath the oil of gladness poured upon him above his fellows,' Ps. xlv. 7.
He hath his name from anointing, ' Christ. 'f He was anointed; that is, separated and ordained to the office of mediatorship, by anointing, not properly,! that is, with any material oil, but with the Spirit. This was in regard of his human nature only, but it was above his fellow^s ; that is, above all kings and priests, for they are his fellows in regard of titles. He was above them all, for all have their anointing from him. Therefore he is the King of kings, and the Prophet of prophets, &c. Also above all his fellows. As we take his fellows for Christians, they are his fellows ; * I go to my God and your God,' &c., John xx. 17. He is the 'first-born' amongst them, and in all things he hath the pre-eminence.
(5.) He is to he as the pattern, we are to follow him. We are 'predesti- nated to be conformed to him,' Rom. viii. 29, and to grow up to that ful- ness which is in him. And in this respect there is cause why he should have the Spirit and all the graces of it in greater abundance, that he might
* That is, communicated. — G. f That is, Xg/OTo's (/f/w) anointed. — G.
X That is, = hterally.— G.
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exceed all, even Christians of greatest growth and perfection. He is to be a pattern and example to all : to the strongest as well as to the weak. Even Paul himself, who was a leader to others, for the excellency of the grace of Christ that was in him, was jet a follower of Christ. ' Be you followers of me, as I am of Christ,' 1 Cor. iv. 16.
Quest. When did this fulness of the Spirit come upon Christ ? When had he it ?
Ans. 1. There was a fulness of the Spirit poured out upon Christ in the union of the human nature uith the divine. Union and unction went to- gether. There was anointing of the Spirit, together with the union of the Spirit.
Ans. 2. There was a more full manifestation of the Spirit in his baptism.. When the Holy Ghost fell on him in the shape of a dove, then he received the Spirit. He was to enter into the ministry of the gospel. ' The Spirit of the Lord God was upon him,' because he had anointed him to preach good tidings unto the meek, &c., Isa. Ixi. 1.
Ans. 3. But the fullest degree of declaration and manifestation of the Spirit upon Christ was after his resurrection ; after he had satisfied fully for our salvation. Then the stop of his glory was taken away. For to work our salvation, there was a keeping back of the glory of Christ from his human nature, that he might be abased to suffer for us. When he had fully suffered for us, that stay of his glory, his abasement, was taken away, and then nothing appeared but all glor}' and Spirit in Christ. All things were put under his feet, and he was set upon his throne as a glorious king. His priestly office appeared in his death, his prophetical office before his death. But then he appeared to be King and Lord of all in the resurrection. Thus we see how Christ is that Spirit ; that is, he is full of the Spirit in regard of himself.