Christ is certainly " the Holy One and the Just," to whom the character of " The Most Holy" eminently belongs. It is certain also that he was anointed with the Spirit from his very first designation to preach the glad tidings of salvation m ; and that he received a further unction when the Spirit descended upon him in a bodily shape like a dove". But these do not appear to be the seasons alluded to in the text : the unction there spoken of seems to follow the other ends of his mission ; and consequently to relate to something which took place after his ascension to heaven. The Psalmist speaks of Christ after his ascension, and consequent inauguration, when he says, "Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness,; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows0." In another psalm he declares the same truth in still plainer terms ; " Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive ; thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them p." By consulting the Apostle Paul, we shall find that this gift which Jesus then received, was the Holy Spirit; and
m Isai. lxi. 1. n Matt. iii. 16.
0 Ps. xlv. 7. p Ps. lxviii. 18.
that he received it in order that he might communicate it to his Church ; for, quoting this very passage, he alters one word in it, and says, " he gave gifts unto men ; " and then adds, that he gave these " for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ q." But the testimony of another Apostle is absolutely decisive on this point : while St. Peter was preaching on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Ghost came down upon all the Apostles, and abode on each of them in the shape of cloven tongues of fire : the Apostle then declared that this was an accomplishment of Joel's prophecy respecting " the pouring out of God's Spirit ; " and referred them to Jesus as the author of it, and as having received, at this time, the gift of the Spirit for this very end ; " therefore," says he, " being exalted by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the pro- mise of the Holy Ghost, Jesus hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear1." Thus was this holy oil poured out upon the head of our great High Priest, that it might flow down to the skirts of his garments, and reach to the meanest of his members8.]
The ends of the Messiah's advent being so clearly and so fully declared, I wish you to observe —
1. What abundant provision God has made for our salvation —
[What can we conceive either as necessary or desirable beyond what our blessed Redeemer has done for us ? What could the most guilty and abandoned sinner upon earth desire more of Christ, than that he should " finish transgression, make an end of sin, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in for him an everlasting righteousness, and anoint him" with that same Spirit wherewith he himself is " anointed without mea- sure1?" Or what evidence of his ability and willingness to do these things would any man have, beyond what the accom- plishment of so many types and prophecies affords him ? And shall God freely offer us this glorious salvation, and we not deign to receive it? O let us open our eyes, and behold our truest interest : let us not perish in the midst of mercy ; let us not be famished when so rich a feast is set before usu; but let us comply with the Saviour's invitation, " Eat, O friends, drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved x."]
2. How deeply we are interested in obtaining the knowledge of Christ —
<i Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12, r Acts ii. 3, 16, 3.3. s Ps. cxxxiii. 2. 1 John iii. 34. u Isai. xxv. G. x Song v. 1.