you be ignorant of Gods Wiâ—l of your duty you are inexcusâ—blâ— becauâ—e the Sunne of light is risen upon you 〈◊〉 â— 1. Ephesians 4 17 18 19 20 2. Gâ—â— and keep 〈◊〉 warmth in your hearts The Sunâ—e hath an heating vertue Câ—ldnessâ— of spâ—â—â—t is a temper unbefitting a childe of God If a man be cold in winter when the Sunne is at a great distance 't is more excusablâ— but to be cold when the Summer Sunne shines hot upon him argues great distemper To be luke-warme when Christ is risen upon you is inexcusable Christ expects heat and fervency from you in all your duties hot love hot devotion fervency of spirit in the service of God is expected from you Râ—m 12. 11. you will shame the beames of Christ if you have not a holy warmth in all your services My heart saith David was hot within me Psal 39. 3. Ex omni parte caluit igne Dei i. e. a-more Coelestium A cold-hearted Christian shames the Sun 3. Be very fruitfull The Sunne hath a fructifying vertue it ripens every thing Christians must be carefull that their graces be ripened raw lean weak graces shame the beames of Christ you must be sure to grow in grace to perfect holinesse 2 Cor. 7. 1. 4. Keep your soules sweet The Sunne hath a sweetning vertue A mouldy musty heart disparageth Christ you must be as the smell of a field which God hath blessed 5. Be raised up in affection to heavenly things The Sunne hath an exhaling vertue Christians must be higher then others Revel 12. 1. 6. Nourish spirituall softnesse The Sunne hath a molifying vertue A hard frozen heart is a shame to Christ Davids heart was like melting wax Psalme 22. 14. Josiahs heart was tender 2 Kings 22. 19. A frown from God an angry word from God must melt a Christians heart If your hearts be hard Christ may justly draw his beams from you if the Sunne of righteousnesse doth not melt you it is because you are clay not wax 3. For consolation Great comfort ariseth hence to godly men 1. Against spiritual darknesses Sometimes Gods people see neither Sunne nor Starres Esay 50. 10. Well be comforted Christ is the Sunne of righteousnesse he will arise and scatter all those black mists that trouble you your Sun is not set it is only eclipsed the light of it will shine again 2. Against all your own unrighteousnesse The servants of God finde much unrighteousnesse and guilt in themselves because of it they are cast down and go heavily Well remember Christ is a Sun of righteousness he is as full of righteousness as the Sun is of light and his righteousnesse is for thy benefit 'T is as much thine as if it were thine own 3. Against the want of sublunary comforts Gods people have often but little of these things Well yet the Sun is up what folly is it to complaine for want of Moon-light or Star-light when the Sunne shines If God hath cloathed you with the Sunne the want of Moon and Starres may well be endured CANT 1. 3. Thy Name is as ointment poured XXVII SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. May 15. 1653. forth THe scope of the Holy Ghost in this song is to discover the exceeding great love that is between Jesus Christ and his Church We may see here Christ and his Church as it were striving who should expresse their love to each other most At the second verse in this Chapter the Church doth passionately desire to be made partaker of further Communion with Christ Let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth Those who have once tasted of the sweetnesse of Christs love are exceedingly carried out after a further degree of his love The reason of this passionate desire is ver 2 3. namely from the sweetnesse of his love This is set out by a double comparison 1. His love is better then wine v. 2. 2. It s more desireable then precious ointments This is mentioned in the beginning of the third ver Because of the savour of thy good ointments and amplified further in the text Thy name is as ointment poured forth The words are a proposition in which we have 1. The subject Thy Name 2. The predicate Oyntment poured forth By the name of Christ some would understand the Doctrine of the Gospel So Ainsworth by his name saith he is meant the Doctrine of grace the Law of faith His Doctrine is sometimes in Scripture called his Name as the Iles shall wait for his Law Esay 42. 4. Which is expounded in his Name shall the Gentiles trust Mat. 12. 21. And it is most certain that his Law is far more sweet then the most precious oyntment But yet by his Name in this place we are better to understand his person as it is set forth in the Gospel his person is often called his Name as Mat. 10. 22. Ye shall be hated of all men for my Names sake and Act 9. 16. I will shew him how great things be must suffer for my names sake that is for my sake The Observation is this Doct. That Jesus Christ is like ointment poured forth Jesus Christ is spiritual ointment His Name both in the Hebrew and Greek signifies anointing or anointed He is called in Dan. 9. 26. Messiah which the Septuagint render 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 anointing The Prophet Esay chap. 10. 27. calls him the anointing It is reported by Historians that at the birth of Christ in Rome a sudden fountaine of Oyle sprung up and flowed for a day and a night together our Annotatours mention it in their Exposition of this text The Oyles or Ointments used in sundry cases under the ceremonial Law were some way or other typical of Christ the true ointment In the handling of this Doctrine I shall open these foure things by way of Explication 1. In what respects Christ is compared to ointment 2. Why he is compared to ointment poured forth 3. How this ointment is poured forth 4. How Christ excels all other ointments 1. For the first 1. Christ is ointment in regard of that divine unction wherewith he was anointed by God The Scripture makes mention of Christs being anointed with the graces of the Spirit as our Mediator This was typified by the anointing of the Priests under the Law especially of the high-Priest you may read at large of the holy ointment and of the anointing of Aaron and his sons with it Exod. 30. 23 24 25 30. It was also typified by the anointing of Kings and Prophets ye may read much in Scripture of the anointing of these Elisha was anointed to the office of a Prophet 1 Kings 19. 16. and Kings were also anointed We read of Davids anointing 1 Sam. 16. 1. of Solomons anointing 1 King 1. 34. 39. All these were types of Christ the great King Prophet and Priest of his Church the anointing Oyle did typifie the graces of the Spirit the anointing of Aaron with that Oyle did typifie Christs anointing with
the Holy Ghost Our Saviour was anointed with the Holy Ghost Esay 61. 1. This Peter mentions in his Sermon Act. 10. 38. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power Now this ointment was shed upon the Lord Jesus in such great plenty that he may well be called by the name of ointment Psal 45. 7. he had more of this spirituall ointment poured upon his humane nature then all the Saints put them altogether The Spirit was not given him by measure but above measure Joh. 3. 34. He was from his conception filled with the holy Ghost He was full of grace and truth Joh. 1. 14. He had not only drops but whole rivers of Oyle poured upon his head He may be denominated ointment from that abundance of spiritual ointment wherewith he was filled his God-head anointed the manhood with an unspeakable fulnesse Col. 1. 19. And 2. Christ is ointment in regard of the excellent vertues which are in him He hath all the good properties of ointment I name five As 1. Oyntment is very fragrant and odoriferous Precious oyntment yeilds a very sweet small When the woman in the Gospel had poured her box of oyntment upon the head of Christ the text saith the whole house was filled with the odour of it John 12. 3. The Lord Jesus Christ is very odoriferous he is sweet in himself and he is exceeding sweet in the nostrils of his Saints the perfume in the Law was type of him Exod. 30 34. He doth perfume all persons and places where ever he comes If there be but one drop of Christ poured upon the soul the whole soul is perfumed with the smell of it When Christ had but put his finger into the hole of the door how was the hand of the Spouse perfumed as with sweet smelling myrrh Cant. 5. 5. That soul wants its spiritual smelling which doth not finde a sweetnesse in Jesus Christ Every thing in Jesus Christ is very fragrant 1 There is a fragrancy in his person He is a bundle of precious myrrh Cant. 1. 13. His life and holy conversation yeilded a sweet smell in the world Psal 45. 8. All thy garments smell of myrrh aloes and cassia The graces of the Spirit of which his life was full His righteousnesse meeknesse piety patience what a sweet smell do they cast abroad in the Gospel to this very day 2. There is fragrancy in his death His death was a sweet favour unto God Eph. 5. 2. His dead body was enbalmed with sweet spices John 19. 39. not that he had need of any such His body did never see corruption Psal 16. 10. So fragrant was the death of Christ that he hath perfumed the grave and made it as a bed of roses to all the Saints 3 There is a sweet fragrancy in his intercession The intercession of Christ is so sweet that it perfumes heaven it self See how it was typified under the Law Lev. 16. 12 13. The odours of the sweetest incense are not so fragrant to the nostrils of men as the odours of Christs intercession are to God So fragrant is his intercession that the services of his people which are unsavory in themselves come up as a cloud of incense before the Lord. See this Cant. 3. 6. It 's spoken of the Church because it 's the feminine gender Quae ista All this sweetnesse which is upon the Church and in her services is because they are perfumed with the incense of Christs mediation 4 There is a fragrancy in the word of Christ The breath of Christs mouth is sweeter then any perfume in the world this is that which the Church mentions Cant. 5. 16. His mouth or palate is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sweetnesses so it is in the original all his promises all his precepts are very favoury 5. There is a fragrancy in all his Ordinances Prayer Sacraments Preaching singing of Psalmes are in themselves and to a gracious heart like sweet smelling oyntment The Church mentions this Cant. 2. 3. No such sweet aire bloweth under heaven as doth in the Church of God where the Ordinances of Christ are dispensed in power and purity In one word there is nothing of Christ but is more sweet then the best oyntment that ever was compounded by man This is the first property of oyntment it 's very sweet 2. Oyntment hath an exhilarating vertue It cheeres the spirits and makes the heart glad This is observed by Solomon Prov. 27. 9. Oyntment and perfume rejoyce the heart When Solomon exhorts men to a cheerful life he makes mention of oyntment let thy head want no ointment alluding to the custome of the ancients who in their banquettings and feastings used such signes of joy And the Prophet expressing the jovialty of those Epicures Amos 6. 6. saith they anoint themselves with the chief oyntments The Lord Jesus Christ hath a cheering vertue The heart of a sinner is never truly merry till it be anointed with the graces of Christ and the comforts of Christ Christ is the onely remover of spiritual heavinesse The oyntment is the onely cure for spiritual melancholy Mat. 11. 28. All spiritual refreshing is from Jesus Christ He was anointed with the oyle of gladnesse that he might work gladnesse in the hearts of others This work is committed to him by God the Father Esay 61. 3. There 's not one drop of the oyle of joy but what comes out of this great olive tree the Lord Jesus that gladnesse which doth not proceed from Christ and which is not bottom'd on Christ is worldly madnesse not true joy He is called the consolation of Israel Luke 2. 25. He hath laid the foundation of Israels comfort and he it is that doth convey to them all their comfort 3 Oyntment hath a mollifying and suppling vertue If there be any hard tumour or swelling upon the body we use oyntment to soften it The holy Ghost alludes to this Esay 1 6. Where speaking of the state diseases he saith they have not been mollified with oyntments Jesus Christ hath a mollifying vertue let a heart of Adamant be but once anointed with this oyntment and it becomes an heart of flesh It was by this oyntment that the hard heart of Manasseh was softned God by his Spirit chafed this oyntment into it and it became tender And it is by the Application of this unction through the warm hands of the Spirit of God that the stony hearts of sinners are softened from day to day Thou that hast now a tender heart wouldest have carried thy stony heart with thee to thy grave if this precious oyntment had not been spread upon it 4. Oyntment is of a shining nature It hath a brightning and beautifying vertue Those Virgins that were prepared for the Persian King did use divers oyntments to make themselves beautiful Est 2. 12. they used six moneths sweet odours and six moneths oyle of myrrh This oyle as those that write of it say had
an abstersive vertue it did help to get wrinkles out of the skin and so to beautifie the face and make it bright Naomi therefore bids Ruth when she sends her to Boaz to anoint her self Ruth 3. 3. And David speaking of oyle saith it makes the face to shine Psal 104. 15. Warriors of old that they might make their armour glister and so render themselves formidable to their enemies used to anoint them with oyle the Prophet alludes to this Esay 21. 5. Arise ye Princes and anoint the shield The Lord Jesus Christ hath a brightning vertue As he is bright and beautiful in his own person Psal 45. â— so he makes his people beautiâ—ul Christ is very bright in his own person There is no scar no spot no deformity in him That which was said of Absolom is much more true of Christ 2 Sâ—m 14. 25. Though men that are blinde see no beauty in him as the Prophet complain'd long since Esay 53 2. yet in the eyes of God in the eyes of the Angels in the eyes of the Saints he is singularly beautiful And as he is bright in himself so doth he beautifie others All the wrinkles of sinne all the spots of the soul are done away by means of this oyntment This oyntment if it â—e spread upon the soul turnes blackâ—mores into Nazarites All the brightness of the Saints is from hence Ezek. 16. 14. Thou wast comely through my comelinesse which I put upon thee Hereby the old wrinkles of original sin which are as so many deep furrowes 〈◊〉 the soul hereby the latter spots of actual sin are taken away as if they had not been you may read much of the brightnesse and beauty of the Saints Cant. 4. init Cant. 7. init All this beauty iâ— acquired by the application of this beautifying ointment Jesus Christ is the Churches Golden anointing-pot he that would have his spots removed must daily drop this ointment upon his soul This ointment if it be applyed by faith will fetch off the red spots of cruelty the black spots of discontent the blew spots of envy the heat spots of passion it will put a shining luster upon the soul 5. Ointment hath a healing vertue the Samaritan poured into the wounded man wine and oile Luk. 10. 34. Wine for cleansing and Oile for healing your Chyrurgions make much use of ointment search the Dispensatory for the truth of this Jesus Christ hath a healing vertue If the spiritual wounds of the soul though they have been of long continuance be anointed with this ointment they are in a short time finely healed Christ himself was that Samaritan his blood was the wine that cleansed and the Oile that healed those desperate wounds There is no other balme in Gilead besides this ointment that can cure the least sore upon the inward man without the application of this ointment you will certainly dye in your sins 2. For the second Christ is compared to ointment poured forth in three respects 1. To shew his communicativenesse Jesus Christ is ready to make distributions unto his people of all that grace and goodnesse which is in him he doth not keep his grace and vertue within himself but lets it drop down upon his members the â—oâ— of ointment stands continually open that his Elect may take out of it according as they stand in need the ointment which was poured upon the head of Aaron at his Consecration ran down to the very skirts of his cloathing Psal 133. 2. This was to typifie the communicativenesse of Christ Jesus Christ hath received the ointment of the Spirit not for himself but that he might anoint al his members and he is very mindful of the trust reposed in hâ—m he received for his members and he is willing they should receive from him Joh. 1. 6. Many are willing to have the patrimony of others poured into their treasury but they care not to poure out againe but Christ as he was willing God should poure out grace into him so is he as willing to poure it out upon us 2. To shew his exceeding fulnesse Christ hath so much that he can spare for others 'T is poured out and yet it doth not decay there is in Christ an undecayable fulnesse he is like the widowes cruse of oile 2 Kings 4. 6. never leaves running till the soul want a vessel to receive him 3. He is compared to ointment poured forth because the fragrancy and other excellent vertues of ointment are best discovered in the pouring of it forth Ointment in the vessel doth neither smell nor shine so as when it s poured out the excellency of Christ lies in the using of him when we come to poure out his graces then and not till then do we finde the sweetnesse of them Taste and see that the Lord is gracious Psal 34. 8. the graciousness of Christ is not apprehended till it come to be casted 3. For the third how Christ is 〈…〉 The great and ordinary way of 〈…〉 this name of Christ which is â—â— ointment 〈…〉 Ordinances which he hath appoiâ—ted Preachâ—â—g Prayer Sacraments these are the means â—f â—â—â—â—ing forth Christ the Ordinances are as the â—â—blaster Box wherein this precious ointment is kept you read in Zech. 4. Of a golden Candlestick with two Olive-trees standing by it c. the Olive-tree is Christ the Candlestick is the Church the Lamps are the several members of Christ the pipes which convey the Oyle to the Lamps are the Ordinances of grace Christ fills the pipes and the pipes carry the Oyle to the Lamps The Ordinances are the Golden Cruse in which the Oyle is kept and by which it is defused to every particular Saint as he hath need The preaching of the Gospel is called the bearing of his Name before the Gentiles Acts 9. 15. When the Gospel is preached and the Ordinances dispensed then is the ointment poured forth The Apostle gives testimony to this 2 Cor. 2. 14. Thanks be unto God which maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place He that would smell the savour of Christs ointment must wait conscionably upon the Ordinances The Ordinances are the consecrated pipes through which the Oyl runs 'T is true the Spirit of Christ fills these pipes and makes them effectuall to them that are saved but yet the Ordinances are the instrumental Every Prayer every Sermon every Sacrament conveys a drop of this ointment to the soul He that turnes away his face from the Ordinances makes himself uncapable of tasting the ointments of Christ CANT 1. 3. Christ is as an ointment poured forth XXVIII SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon. May 22. 1653. FOurthly for the fourth how Christ excels other oyntments I shall open that in these five particulars 1. He excels all other oyntments in worth and value Some oyntments are of great value but none arâ— comparable to Christ That oyntment which 〈◊〉 poured upon tâ—e head of Christ is said to 〈◊〉 â—â—ry costly John 12.
3. and yet it was but 〈◊〉 〈…〉 at three hundred Romane pence v. 5. but 〈◊〉 is oyntment of invaluable worth All the â—â—ld and silver on earth all the pearles and diamonds in the world are not worth the least drop of this oyntment He that hath it would not part with one drop of it for ten thousand rivers of oyle he that wants it cannot purchase it for all the riches of the world one drop of this oyntment is worth a sea of other oyntments 2. He excels all other oyntments in duration The vertue of other oyntments may be lost Take the most fragrant oyntment in the world keep it with never so much care yet it will corrupt in time Other casual accidents may fall out which may corrupt it You know what Solomen saith Eccles 10. 1. Dead flies cause the oyntment of the Apothecary to send 〈…〉 savour The best oyntment 〈…〉 compounded by the art of man may lose its 〈◊〉 and be offensive but Jesus Christ is incorruptible oyntment he can never lose his savour no time can putrifie him no accident can corrupt him This oyntment hath continued ever since the promise made to Adam Gen. 3. 15. yet the vertue of it in every respect is as precious as it was the very first day his Name is as glorious as fragrant as beautiful as shining now as it was when the Alaâ—aster box was at first poured forth The Psalmist spâ—â—ks of this very expressely Psal 72. 17. His Name shall endure for ever his Name shall be conâ—â—nued as long as the Sunne and daily shall he be pâ—aised all Nations shall call him blessed 3. He excels all other oyntments in his fulness Other oyntment is of a waiting nature take but one dram of oyntment out of the largest vessel and there is an abatement take but one drop out of a river of oyntment and there is a drop less but this oyntment doth not grow lesse by spending Christ hath anointed thousands of his Elect in all the ages that are past and yet the vessel is as full as if one drop had not been taken out of it This Olive tree hath been emptying it self for many ages into the golden bowle and yet it continues running with as full a stream as it did the very first day 4. He excels all other oyntments in vertue and operation this may be branched out into six particulars 1 He anoints the soul as well as the body Other oyntments are poured only upon the outward man the soul the conscience is not the better for the multitude of oyntments that are poured upon the body the face of a person may shine with oyntment and yet his soul be black and filthy but this oyntment reacheth to the conscience and inward man Yea this oyntment is principally for the inward man the heart is the chief place on which this oyntment is poured 1 John 2. 27. the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you Other oyntments are outward oyntments that abide upon us but this is an inward oyntment which abideth in us 'T is unctio spiritualis 2. This oyntment hath the good properties of all oyntments Some oyntments are fragrant to the smell but they are not healing others are healing but they are not sweet No one kinde of oyntment hath all excellercies in it but now in Jesus Christ all excellencies meet together the good properties of every oyntment do all center in Christ he is equally excellent every way You cannot say in what respect Christ is best he is so excellent every way 3. This oyntment doth charge the very naâ—ure of the person upon whom it s poured Other oyntments cannot change a person from what he is They cannot make a sinner a Saint they cannot alter the nature of a person But Jesus Christ changeth the nature of persons If this oyntment be poured upon the head of a sinner he is presently turned into a Saint if it fall upon a dead man he becomes a living man if a drop of this oyntment fall upon a weed it is presently turned into a flower When this oyntment was poured forth on Soul he became a Paul from a Persecutor of the Gospel he was changed into a preacher of the Gospel This oyntment turnes a filthy Sepulchre into a curious garden 〈…〉 an into a Nazarite as white aâ— show 4. This oyntment upon whomsoever it is poured doth abide upon him for ever A person may be anointed with material oyntment and in a short time lose all the sent and savour of it as if he had never been anointed but whosoever hath been once anointed with this oyntment will smell of it as long as he lives If Jesus Christ do but drop one drop of this oyntment upon the soul of an infant he carries the savour of it with him to his grave 1 John 2. 27. The unction which ye have received of him abideth in you The scent of this oyntment may be very weak in the children of God but it can never quite be lost David once by his sinne had brought such an ill savour upon his soule that the smell of the holy oyntment was almost quite lost My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishnesse Psal 38. 5. yet after a while his old savour did return againe the fragrancy of his oyment did ovecome the ill savour of his sinne The soul and body may be separated but Christ and the soul cannot be separated 5. This oyntment hath a present efficacy upon the soul The effects which are wrought by other oyntments are not so suddenly done Oyntment heales but not in a moment oyntment makes the face smooth and cleare but it must have some convenient time the Virgins which were to stand before the Persian King must be anointed six moneths before their beauty was perfect Est. 2. 12. hard swellings are mollified by oyntment but not at one dressing What ever operation the best oyntment hath it requires a convenient time to accomplâ—sh it But whatever iâ— done upon the soul by this oyntment is done in a moment â—â— sooner is this oyntment dropt upon the soul but the spots are done away it cures the most festred sore with once dressing Assoon as ever the Application is made the effect follows One moment is as good as an age for this oyntment 6. The smallest quantity of this oyntment is as effectual as the greatest quantity A little of other oyntment doth little or no good A drop will not cure a wound a small quantity will not perfume a great roome a drop or two will not supple a hard tumour But now one drop of this spiritual oyntment is as effectual for the maine work as a whole ocean One drop of Christ softens the heart one graine of this oyntment perfumes the soul There is infinite vertue in every drop of Christ He that is made partaker of any part of Christ hath the merit and vertue of whole Christ As our Saviour tels Peter in another case
suppling oyntment dâ—opt upon it it had been stony to this present day Fourthly from the beautifying vertue of this oyntment learn two things 1. What true beauty is To be anointed with Christ to be filled with his graces to be made partaker of the divine nature this is beauty this is true beauty this is lasting beauty this is beauty that will commend us to God 'T is not he that hath the beautiful face but he that hath the beautiful soule that is accepted of God And then 2. He that would be beautiful let him anoint himself with Christ How vaine are persons in painting their faces Jezabels daughters abound 2 Kings 9. 30. as if they would mend Gods workmanship it was formerly whores customes Ezek. 23. 40. Anoint your selves once with this oyntment and all others will be unpleasant And then Fifthly from the healing quality of this oyntment learn two things 1. To acknowledge how their sores were healed Thou wast one full of wounds now they are bound up and healed Thou mayest blesse God for this balsome of heaven â—esus Christ otherwise thou hadst died of thy wounds 2. Get this oyntment into 〈…〉 Wise men will not be without healing oyntment in their houseâ— especially were they are farre from Chirurgion All our houses by reason of sin are no better then spiritual hospitals There 's no balme in Gilead that can heal one sore but this divine balm Jesus Christ get your vessels fill'd with this oyntment and all will be well pray that God would poure this oyntment into your wounded children and servants else they are but dead men LUK. 2. 25. Waiting for the consolation of Israel XXIX SERM. at Mary Wolnoth Lon May 29. 1653. THere are in this Chapter foure things observable concerning Jesus Christ 1 His nativity ver 1. to ver 21. 2 His circumcision verse 21. 3 The presenting of him in the Temple ver 22. to v. 41. 4 A proof of his prophetical office v. 41. ad finem In that part which speaks of his presentation in the Temple we have many things observable 1. The time of it ver 22. which was the fourtieth day after his nativity 2. The efficient cause of it his parents Joseph and Mary 3. The final cause of it this is declared ver 23 24. 4. The adjuncts accompanying this work These are principally two First the prophecy of Simeon verse 25. to verse 36. Secondly the prophecy of Anna concerning him v. 36 to 39. In this prophecy of Simeon we have 1. A description of some things concerning his person v. 25 26. And then 2. A declaration of his prophecy v. 27 c. His person is described two wayes First by his piety v. 25. init Secondly by his gift of prophecy this is expressed generally by the efficient cause of it v. 25. The holy Ghost was upon him particularly by the revelation which he received v. 26. His piety is set down by three graces 1. His justice or righteousnesse He was just 2. His devotion he was a devout man 3. His faith and hope in expecting the fulfilling of Gods promise concerning Christ This is in the text He waited for the consolation of Israel â—n which words we have two things 1. A description of what Christ is to his people 2. A 〈◊〉 of what Simeon did in reference to â—â—rist 〈…〉 him God had reveaâ—ed 〈…〉 by 〈◊〉 â—oly Ghost that Jesus Christ 〈…〉 before his soule went out oâ— the flesh 〈◊〉 â—he holy man beleeved this and 〈…〉 wâ—it for it From 〈…〉 two particulars we have this double Observation 1. That Jesus Christ is the consolation of Israel 2. That godly men do expect and wait for the accomplishment of divine promises even of such as are most unlikely to be fulfilled I begin with the first viz. Doct. 1. That Jesus Christ is that consolation of the Israel of God Simeons expectation was for the coming of Christ in the flesh as is clear from v. 25. He that is there called the Lords Christ is here called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the consalation of Israel Christ is the only true consolation of all Gods Israel the consolation of Israel is a periphrasis of Christ the Messiah saith Piscator 1 See the type Noah was herein a type of Christ Gen. 5. 29. 2 See it in the prophecies They that foretold Christ prophecied of him as a comforter Esay 9. 3 6. Esay 40. 1. Esay 51. 3. Esay 52. 9 10. 3 See it in the Angels that proclaimed his birth Luke 2. 10 11. In opening of this doctrine I shall handle these three particulars 1. Who are meant by Israel 2. In what respects Christ is said to be the consolation of Israel 3. That he is the consolation of Israel only 1. For the first By Israel we are to understand true beleevers the members of the truly invisible Church so we find them called Gal. 6. 16. They are called Israel or the Israel of God in two respects First in reference to the people of Israel beleevers are like the people of Israel in three respects 1. In regard of their inward circumcision It was the badge of an Israelite and that whereby he was distinguished from all other Nations that he was circumcised Other Nations are called uncircumcision the Israelites are called ordinarily â—he circumcision Beleevers they and they onely are spiritually circumcised the foreskin of their flesh is mortified and cut off they are circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands Col. 2. 11. The body of sinne is truly mortified in them Hence they are called in Scripture the circumcision as the Israelites were Phil. 3. 3. We are the circumcision saith the Apostle speaking of beleevers which worship God in the Spirit a true Beleever is a true circumcised person 2. In regard of the Law written in their hearts It was the great priviledge of the people of Israel that they had the Law of God amongst them The Apostle mentions this Rom. 2. 2. And the Prophet David long before him Psalme 147. 19. Beleevers have this priviledge above all people under heaven that the Law of God is with them nay the Law of God is in them not the Law of nature but the Law of grace it is not onely written amongst them but it is written in them The Apostle speaks of this Heb. 8. 10. 3. In regard of their neernesse to God It was the great dignity of the people of Israel that they were of all people neerest to God Deut. 4. 7. They were Gods heritage his peculiar people separated from all people under heaven It is the great priviledge of beleevers that they are neerer to God then all other people They are neer to God in affection they are neer to God in relation Of this the Apostle speaks Eph. 2. 13. Thus they are called the Israel of God in regard of the people of Israel Secondly in reference to the 〈…〉 rael Israel is Jacob he had that name 〈◊〉 him of God Gen. 32. 28. Now