Nor (to carry on the metaphor) was he less earnest in follow- ing, than he was acute in discerning, the path of duty. If he had spent the night in prayer, he still prosecuted by day his labours of love, till he was exhausted with fatigue, and his friends declared that his zeal transported him beyond the bounds of reason^: so fully was that prophecy accomplished in him, " The zeal of thine house hath even consumed me^."]
" Isai. xlii. 2, 4, G. and 1, 4, 7. ° See Vitringa in loc.
P John viii. 29. i John vii. 18. and viii. 50.
>■ John viii. 46. and xvii. 4.
s Matt. xxii. IG— 21, 23-33, 34—40.
t John viii. 3—9. Luke vi. G— 11. " IMark iii. 21.
'^ John ii. 17.
Such being his quahfications, let us consider, II. Our interest in them —
This is by no means a speculative subject, since it serves to shew us,
1. Christ's sufficiency for his work —
[The work which Christ had to do for us, was exceeding arduous. He was to obey the law without deviating from it in the smallest point, in thought, word, or deed. If therefore he had been turned aside by any obstacle, or had erred through any inadvertence, or fallen short through any weakness, or exceeded through any temptation, he would have been a violator of the law ; and, instead of being a Saviour to us, would have needed a saviour for himself. But by these rich endowments which were communicated to him by the Holy Ghost he was enabled to maintain an unspotted purity even to the last : and, having fulfilled the law in its utmost extent, he has " brought in an everlasting righteousness," which " shall be unto all and upon all them that believe."
Besides this, he has a work to do in us. He is exalted to be " head over all things to the church y," in order that he may instruct his people in divine knowledge, and counsel them in their difficulties, and strengthen them in their trials, and main- tain in them a superlative regard for God. And how should he effect all this, if he himself did not possess an inexhaustible treasure, out of which he might impart to every needy sup- pliant? But we need not fear, since we are assured, that in him all fulness dwells^, and that out of his fulness we may all receive, even grace for grace ^. We may therefore safely glory in him as made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanc- tification, and complete redemption^.]
2. The blessings we expect at his hands —
That holy oil which was poured upon the head of our great High-priest, was to descend to the skirts of his clothing, and to the very meanest of his members ''. Nor are his people called Christians merely as being followers of him, but also as being partakers of the same divine unction^. As soon as he was seated on his thi'one of glory he poured out his Spirit upon his waiting disciples for the very ends and purposes for which he himself had received it''. Instantly they were filled with a " wisdom and understanding," which exceeded that of the greatest philosophers. They were endued with such " counsel and might," that none could withstand their words, or shake
y Eph. i. 22, 23 ^ Col. i. 19. ^ John i. 16.
^ 1 Cor. i. 30. <= Ps. cxxxiii. 2. ^ 1 John ii. 20, 27.
" Acts ii. 33. Gal. v. 22.