From hence we see, I. The distinguishing privilege of true Christians —
They "have an unction from the Holy One" —
[The Lord Jesus Christ is undoubtedly that " Holy One " from whom the unction proceeds. By this name he is fre- quently designated, both in the Old Testament'1 and the Newe: and, in order to the execution of his mediatorial office, he himself was " anointed with the Holy Ghost*," and iitted for the discharge of all that he had undertaken^. It was foretold that he should be so anointed11; and the prediction was visibly fulfilled at the time of his public consecration to his high office'. Of this Spirit he received "without measurek:" and the holy oil, poured out upon his sacred head, " descends to the skirts of his garments1." But at his ascension to heaven this divine unction was committed to him in a more particular manner, in order that he might pour it out upon his people, who were to be anointed to some of the same offices which he himself sustained. This was foretold by David : and the ac- complishment of it is declared by the Apostle Paul : but there is a difference between the passage as uttered by the prophet, and as cited by the Apostle ; a difference worthy of particular observation. David says, " Thou hast ascended on high ; thou hast led captivity captive ; thou hast received gifts for men111:" but St. Paul, in quoting it, says, " When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men11." The truth is, that Jesus received this gift, on purpose that he might give it : and he does give it, according to the promise which he made to his people0, and according to the promise which the Father himself made to them in Abraham two thousand years before1'.]
This is their distinctive privilege —
[" Sensual or natural men have not the Spirit :" and it is in consequence of their not having it, that " they separate themselves," precisely as those did who are spoken of in the text'1. But every true believer has this divine unction abiding in himr : and it is from the very circumstance of his having received this unction, that the believer is emboldened to claim, as it were, a relation to his Gods. Without this, he would not be able to perform any part of his duty aright : he could
d Ps. xvi. 10. Dan. ix. 24. e Acts iii. 14. Rev. iii. 7.
f Acts x. 38. e Isai. lxi. 1. with Luke iv. 18.
h Isai. xi. 1—3. ' Matt. iii. 1G, 17. k John iii. 34.
1 Ps. exxxiii. 2. m Ps. lxviii. 18. " Eph. iv. 8.
0 John xvi. 7. p Gal. iii. 13, 14. fi Jude, ver. 19.
r Johnxiv. 1G, 17. s 1 John iii. 21. and iv. 13.