m Ps. Ixxiii. 3—14, 16—20.
Christ's qualifications for his office.
Isai. xj. 2, 3. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and of the fear of the Lord ; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord.
THE richest promises which God has given to the Church, are generally introduced after some awful threatening denounced against his enemies. The prophet has been predicting the utter ruin of the
Assyrians, as of a tree cut down to the very stump. He then contrasts the state of the Church, to which the Messiah should come, springing hke a tender sucker from the root of Jesse, after that his family should have been reduced to the lowest state of de- gradation. He then, in reference perhaps to what he had before spoken respecting '^ the anointing %" shews who this anointed person shovdd be, and what was that unction with which he should be consecrated to his office.
From the words of the text, which beyond all doubt refer to Christ, the Son of David, we shall be led to consider,
I. His qualifications for his office —
The same Spirit that formed Christ's body in the virgin's womb'', endowed also his soul with all the faculties requisite for the discharge of his high office —
[Jesus Christ, as a man, needed to liave his mind enlight- ened, and his heart sanctified, even as other men : nor could he have been qualified for his mediatorial work, if he had not been anointed in a superabundant measure, by the Holy Ghost". God therefore anointed him*^, and caused the Spirit to rest upon him^, not merely for a time, and for a limited purpose, as he had done to others^, but in an immeasurable ful- ness^, and for every end for which he could possibly need it'^.
The Spirit came upon him as a " Spirit of ivisdom and understanding^." He gave to Jesus a full and comprehensive view of all the mysteries which from eternity had been hid in the bosom of the Father'^ ; and enabled him also to discern the most secret recesses of men's hearts': so that nothing, either in heaven or in earth, was concealed from him™.
The Spirit, as " a spirit of counsel and might" instructed him how to conduct himself in all those situations of difficulty and danger into which he was continually brought ; and endued him with such undaunted courage, unwearied activity, and
a Isai. X. 27. ^ Matt. i. 18, 20. = Ps. xlv. 7.
d Acts X. 38. « John i. 32. f Numb. xi. 25, 2G.
g John iii. 34. '' Luke iv. 18, 19.
' Vitringa thinks that the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit are here enumerated. See Rev. i. 4, and v. 6. but we rather suppose that each couplet (not each expression) is to be taken separately, as declar- ing, in a comprehensive manner, the operations of the Holy Spirit.
•^ John vin. 28. ' Matt. ix. 4. ^ John xxi. 17.
875.] Christ's qualifications for pus office. 541
invincible patience, that through the whole course of his minis- try he never yielded to discouragement, or erred by inadver- tence ".
The Spirit further eni'iched his soul with " the knowledge (or rather, with the love°) and fear of God." Through his inces- sant operations, he was enabled to maintain a continual sense of the divine presence p, and to act in all things with a view to his Father's glory i. Under the influence of this divine prin- ciple He was carried on in one steady course, like the sun in its orbit, causing its light to shine with unclouded splendour through the whole period of his sojourning on earth''.]
By these means Jesus attained the most consmn- mate holiness —
[The terms whereby the prophet expresses the quickness of Christ's spiritual perceptions, are taken from that power of smelling, which some animals possess, and which admirably represents the exquisite sensibility which ovir Lord possessed with respect to every thing that was right and fitting to be said or done. His enemies of every description, Herodians, Phari- sees, and Sadducees, endeavoured to ensnare him. Sometimes they tempted him with questions, which, in whatever way they should be answered, would give them occasion against him : but he invariably replied with such consummate wisdom as defeated their purposes, and filled them with admiration^. Sometimes they sought opportunity to entrap him by means of his actions : but still he was proof against their malice, and always turned their efforts to their own confusion'. He knew on all occasions how to vary his conduct, so as ultimately to answer best the purposes of his mission. And so nice was his discernment, so unsearchable his skill, that, whether he de- nounced judgments or proclaimed mercy, whether he maintained silence or " witnessed a good confession," he invariably com- bined majesty with meekness, and fidelity with love.