§. 117. Of the meaning of this relative particle Therefore.
UPon the former description of Christs righteousnesse this inference is made, Therefore God hath annointed thee; This may be taken as the cause of Christs righteousnesse, or as a consequence following from thence.
The a 1.1 Hebrew phrase is oft used to set out the cause of a thing, as Gen. 18. 5. b 1.2 Therefore are ye come, that is, for this cause: The same phrase is translated with a causall particle, Gen. 38. 26. c 1.3 Because I gave her not, &c. It is also used to declare a consequence or an effect, as Psa. 1. 5. d 1.4 Therefore the ungodly, &c. So Gen. 2. 24. e 1.5 Therefore shall a man leave, &c. f 1.6 The Greek phrase also used by the Apostle is sometimes put for a cause, as Mat. 13. 13. Therefore spake I to them in Parables: And it is thus translated for this cause, Ioh. 12. 27. 1 Tim. 1. 16. It is also put for an effect or consequence, as Mat. 14. 2.
It may in the one or the other sense be here taken: As a cause it implieth that Gods anointing Christ, that is, pouring his Spirit upon him, made him to be so fit and able a King as he was; As an effect, it intendeth, that Christ being most righte∣ous, and every way able and fit to govern the Kingdom, God therefore annointed, that is, deputed him thereto.
In this respect it must have reference to Christs humane nature or to his person as Mediator God-man: Thus God gave the Spirit unto him not by measure, Joh. 3. 34▪ and the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, Luk. 4. 18.
This word of inference Therefore, may also be taken as a manifestation of Gods annointing him, Thus, Christ loved righteousnesse, therefore it was manifest that God annointed him; as where Christ saith, therefore the Kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain King, Mat. 18. 23. It is manifest that the Kingdom of Heaven is like, &c.
This relative Therefore as it noteth a cause hath reference to the former part, thus, God hath annointed thee, therefore thou lovest Righteousnesse: As it decla∣reth a consequence, it hath reference to the latter part, thus, Thou lovest righ∣teousnesse, therefore God hath annointed thee, that is, saw it meet to annoint thee.
None of these senses crosse the other; but they may well stand together; For God may annoint Christ and depute him to his Function because he loveth righ∣teousnesse; and Christ may manifest his love of righteousnesse because God hath annointed him.
Finally, both the Hebrew and Greek phrase translated therefore, is sometimes used* 1.7 for ornament sake, or to begin a sentence, as in English we use this phrase, now then. It is also used to couple sentences together.