The covenant of nature made with Adam described and cleared from sundry great mistakes. And thereby proving, I. That the kind of death that was threatned in that covenant, in Gen. 2.17. ought not to be understood of any other kind of death but of a double spiritual death, 1. By depriving Adam of Gods concreated image: and 2. By corruption of nature that followed thereupon. II. Proving that the said covenant was totally extinguished and made utterly null, as soon as Adam had but tasted of the forbidden fruit, and received the said threatned punishment. III. Expounding Gal. 3.10. and proving that the curse therein threatned must not be understood of the curse of the said covenant of nature, but of that curse that is threatned in the covenant of grace to the fallen posterity of Adam, for their not doing of Moses law by faith in Christ, which was given to them for the covenant of grace and reconciliation only. ... VIII. Expounding Rom. 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8. in ch. 25. By William Pynchon.

SECT. 16.

The fourth kind of Anointing the Messias, was done by his consecrating sufferings to his Death and Sacrifice.

1. HE could not make his death to be accepted of God as a propitiatory sa∣crifice, * 1.1 until his obedience was throughly tryed and made perfect by his consecrating sufferings from his warlike Enemy the Devil and his potent seed, unto whom God gave a liberty of power, Gen. 3. 15. to pierce him in the foot-soals as a wicked Malefactor, to try if thereby they could provoke his passions to any sinfull distemper, and in case they had prevailed they had gotten the victory over the seed of the Womrn; but because they could not prevail to provoke his pas∣sions to any sinfull distemper, therefore their Combat of suffering was but for the consecration, or for the perfecting of his Obedience to his Death and Sa∣crifice.

The wicked Jews are often said to lay wait for Christ to take him and to kill him, a good space of time before the expiration of the Seventy-seven years, as in Mar. 11. 18. Mar. 12. 12. Mar. 14. 1, 11, &c. but yet it was not in their power to lay hands upon him and to put him to death, until the appointed time (which Christ had covenanted with his Father) was come, no man could take his Life from him untill he laid it down of himself, John 12. 16. and he would not lay it down untill the said Seventy-sevens of years were just come, and when that hour was come, he did but say, Father into thy hands I commend my spirit, and at that very instant he breathed out his soul, not through any weaknesse of his Nature, but by the powerfull and joynt concurrence of both his Natures, John 10. 18. Heb. 9. 14. And this last Act was properly the Formality of his Death and Sacrifice.

2. It is most evident by Heb. 2. 10. and by Heb. 5. 8, 9. and by other places, that Christ was not to be anointed to his death by his consecrating sufferings, before his death could be accepted of God as a most perfect and obedient sacri∣fice: and thence it follows that this phrase, to anoint the Holy of Holies (at the just end of Seventy-sevens of years) must be understood of his said consecrating sufferings which in this juncture of time he suffered from his Warlike Enemy Sathan and his potent seed.

3. This word [To Anoynt] may also be an allusion to Comba••ing-Champions: For Austin saith thus in the City of God, l. 14. c. 9. Paul, that bles∣sed man, Christs Champion, taught by him, anointed from him, and crucified with him: His Commenter-Vives doth thus explain these phrases of Austin: on the word anointed, he saith, That Austins Allusion runneth through the anointing Exercise and Fashion of Champions: and on the word crucified, he saith, they had certain bounds that they might not passe in any exercise.

4. Ambrose in his first Book of Offices; saith in chap. 16. They who have not * 1.2 subscribed and given up their Names as Wrestlets for the Garland, are not held to the burden of the Combat; They who have not entred the lists of the Race, anoint not themselves with Oyl.

From these customes of Combaters, we may see that such as undertake the Combat were anointed, for their better performance of the Combat.

5. It is also evident by Esay 21. 5. That anointing was used for the prepara∣tion, or for the consecration of such as undertook a warlike Combat: Arise ye Princes (of the Medes and Persians) anoint the shield against the Babilonians: that is to say, prepare or consecrate your selves to this warlike Combat by anoin∣ting; and to this purpose also doth God speak in Esay 13. 3. I have commanded my sanctified ones, or my anointed ones, to destroy Babylon by a Combat of war; And to this purpose also doth God speak to the Babylonians in Jer. 6. 4. Sanctifie (i.e. prepare or consecrate) war, or anoint your selves from a warlike Combat against Judah; And according to this custom Jesus Christ was anointed to his great warlike Combat with his old proclaimed Enemy the Devil and his potent seed the Scribes and Pharisees, just at the end of Seventy-sevens of years in the Gar∣den and on the Crosse; he was then in his Resolutions prepared, sanctified or set apart, or anointed to undergo his said warlike Combat in perfection of pa∣tience under all his greatest sufferings, by which perfection of his patience was also made manifest, that so through his perfect obedience to death, even to the shamefull and painfull death of the Crosse, he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil, Heb. 2. 14.

6. The Psalmist saith in Psalm 89. 31. That the Devils wicked generation should reproach the footsteps of the Lords anointed; and from thence it follows, that when he was pierced in his Foot-steps, he was anointed, i.e. prepared to bear those Reproaches when they pierced him in the Foot-soals between two thieves on the Crosse, as esteeming him thereby to be the worst of all Malefactors.

7. In the Wars of Israel God ordained a chief Priest to be anointed for the War, that so he might prepare the people to be couragious, Deut. 20. 2.

It is also said of the Koathites, that they must enter into the Army from thir∣ty years old and upwards, Numb. 4. 3. To war the warfare (i.e. to work) or to serve the service of the Congregation with all exact care and diligence,

as it is explained in verse 23. and in that sence Paul doth exhort Timothy to war a good warfare, that is, to do the work of the Minister diligently.

8. Though the M••ssias was first anointed by the holy Ghost extrinsecally at his Baptism to do the Office of the Mediator: yet after this, and not long be∣fore his death, he was in a more peculiar manner anointed to his Combat of suf∣ferings at the time of his death; Namely at his Transfiguration, For then Mo∣ses and Elias told his three Disciples [of his Departure] Name of his depar∣ture, or decease by death, which (shortly after) he should accomplish at Jeru∣salem, Luke 9. 31. And then presently there came a voyce out of the Cloud say∣ing, * 1.3 This is my beloved Son, Luke 5. 35. in whom I am well pleased; that is to say, in whose Righteous performance of the great Combat of his sufferings, and of his death and sacrifice I am well pleased, or Reconciled to all believing sinners, therefore hear him: and accordingly, about eight dayes before this he told his Disciples, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the Elders, and chief Priests and Scribes, and be slain, ver. 22. And the next day after his Transfiguration, v. 27. he said to his Disciples in v. 41. Let these things sink into your eares, for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men, namely, into the hands of notorious sinfull men: as I have expounded in Phil. 2. 7. a little before.

9. Though Christ was a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which * 1.4 he suffered: And being made perfect, he became the Author of salvation to all that obey him (by believing in him) Heb. 5. 8, 9. Dr. Hammond saith on the word [made perfect] That he was consecrated by his sufferings, as the Priest was by the ceremonies of his consecration: This Annot. of his and that in Phil. 3. (d.) is worthy of special marking: And why else is it said in Heb. 2 10. that it became God (the Father) to consecrate the Prince of our salvation through suf∣ferings: but because God had given a liberty of power to the Devil and to his potent seed in Gen. 3. 15. to pierce him in the foot-soals, ••nd thereby to try the per∣fection of his obedience and ignominious Reproaches, and by painfull Tortures on the Crosse: and because his obedience was thereby proved to be perfect, God accepted his death so performed as of a most pleasing and acceptable sacrifice, for the procuring of his Reconciliation to all believing sinners, and so conse∣quently it was accepted of God, as the meritorious price of their Redemption and justification from the guilt of all their sins, and of their being received into Gods special Favour.

10. Though many particular Rites must concur to the consecration of the Priest besides his anointing, Exod. 28. 41. Exod. 29. 7, 21. Yet the act of Anoint∣ing * 1.5 was so eminent an act that it is often put for the Office sake, unto the which the Priest was anointed, Numb. 18. 8. Lev. 21. 10, 12. Lev. 6. 22. Lev. 7. 35, 36. And 2. The Anointing is last named in Exod. 40. 15. because it was for the confirmation of their full consecration to the execution of their Priestly Office. 3. In like sort the Priest is called the anointed Priest in Lev. 4. 3. by which A∣nointing his whole consecration is meant by the figure Synecdoche. 4. Take special notice of these three Synonimous terms in Exod. 28. 41. Thou shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctifie them: All the men in the World cannot give a better Exposition of the true sence of the word Anoint, then is here given by the holy Ghost, by the word Consecrate and Sanctifie. 5. As Anointing is figura∣tively,

put for the Priest that was anointed in Lev. 7. 35. so Oyl is put for Christ in Esay 10. 27. because he was anointed with the oyl of gladnesse above measure.

11. Another Rite that belonged to the consecration of the Priest, was, That he must be sprinkled both with Oyl and Blood, Exod. 29. 21. and according to this Type Christ was consecrated:

1. With the Oyl of grace above his Fellows at his Baptism, and then at last with his bloody sufferings before he could make his death to be accepted as a consecrated sacrifice, Heb. 2. 10. Heb. 5. 9. Heb. 7. 28. and in the Levitical Law this Oyl and Blood was used for the cleansing of Lepers, by putting it upon the tip of his right Ear, right Thumb and right Toe; and unlesse it were in this very order put on, it made no Atonement for the Leper by the Hebrew Cannons. See Ains. in Lev. 14. 15, 18. The like may be said of the anointing of the Mes∣sias: That in case it had been done without his consecrating sufferings for the * 1.6 perfecting of his obedience, his death had made no Atonement: For Gods Oath doth assure us in Heb. 7. 28. that it was eternally decreed and covenanted between the blessed Trinity, that Christ must be consecrated or made perfect in his obe∣dience by his sufferings, as it was first declared in Gen. 3. 15. before he could make his death to be accepted of God, as the meritorious sacrifice of his Recon∣ciled Forgivenesse to believing sinners.

2. It is also further evident by Mat. 26. 32, 42. and by John 11. That it was the decreed will of God that Christ should be consecrated (i.e. anointed to his death by a combat of sharp sufferings before his death could be accepted as the meritorious and procuring Cause of Gods Reconciliation for the Redempti∣on of believing sinners, and Christs will was united to his Fathers will in the said eternal Covenant and decree, Psalm 40 8. with Heb. 10. 7. Yea Christ affir∣med, that it was his meat and drink to do the will of him that sent him, and to fi∣nish his work, John 4. 34. John 5. 3. John 6. 38. And Paul affirmeth, That Christ gave himself (to perform his great Combat of sufferings from his pro∣claimed Combater Sathan) according to the will of God, Gal. 1. 4. even accor∣ding to the declared Will of God in Gen. 3. 15. And it is as certain also, That God worketh all things after the Councel of his own Will, Eph. 1. 11. By the which Will of God we are sanctified (or made holy, or justified from sin) through the offering of the Body of Jesus Christ once for all, Heb. 10. 10.

12. Another Rite that belonged to the consecration of the Priests was, That their hands must be filled with the parts of the Ram of consecration, Exod. 29. 22, 24. and then it was the Priests duty to wave those parts to and fro before Jeho∣vah: But the Original word saith Ains. For wave, is sometimes used for sifting in a sieve, Esay 30. 28. and that sifting signified Tryals and Afflictions, Luke 22. 31. And the Prophets apply this word unto Troubles, Esay 10. 32. Esay 13. 2. Esay 30. 28. which Troubles do shake the mind too and fro••: But as I noted it * 1.7 before at N. 10. This and all the other Rites of Consecration are comprehen∣ded by the figure Synecdoche under the word Anointed.

13. It is also worthy of all observation, which is noted from Hebrew Doctors by Ainsworth in Exod. 30. 25, 30. That the Anointing oyl was made of four sorts of Spices, and that every one of these four sorts must be pounded severally by it self: typifying thereby that every several Grace of the Spirit wherewith Christ was anointed for the execution of his Mediators office should be tryed (espe∣cially

at his death) with bruising afflictions as they are called in Esay 53. 5.

14. It was in relation to these and such like Types of consecration that Christ in his prayer just before his great Combat of sufferings: said thus to his Father, For their sakes I sanctifie my self, John 17. 19. that is to say, I do prepare my self to undergo my great Combat of sufferings from my malignant Combater Sa∣than, in perfection of patience, that I may thereby evidence the perfection of my * 1.8 obedience to the death, even to the death of the Crosse. Or thus: I sanctifie my self, i.e. I consecrate or anoint my self; For as I shewed before at N. 10. these three terms are all Synonimous in Exod. 28. 41. I sanctifie, anoint, or con∣secrate my self by way of preparation to undertake that great Combat in Gen. 3. 15. that is now at hand to be tryed; For God in Gen. 3. 15. hath given a li∣berty of power to my old proclaimed Combater the Devil and his potent seed, to pierce me in the Foot-soals on the Crosse, as if I were the worst of Malefactors; to the end that thereby they may try whether they can provoke my passions to any sinful distemper: But I have before-hand anointed, consecrated and sancti∣fied my self, i.e. prepared my self to undergo this great Combat with perfect patience and obedience, to the end I may in that perfection of my obedience make my death to be accepted of my Father, as of a most perfect and well-pleasing sa∣crifice, for the appeasing of his Wrath, and for the procuring of his Reconcilia∣tion to all believing sinners: and therefore sorasmuch as the children are parta∣kers of flesh and blood, be also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the Devil, and deli∣ver them, who through fear of death were all their life-time subject to bondage, Heb. 2. 14, 15. And that he might be a faithfull and a mercifull high Priest to make Recon∣ciliation for the sins of the people; for in that he himself hath suffered being temp∣ted, he is able to succor them that are tempted, Heb. 2. 17, 18.

Conclusion from the Premises.

That kind of anointing which the Angel told Daniel, that the Messias should be anointed withal at the just End of Seventy-sevens of years, must be understood of his consecrating sufferings, which I have now described: and of which I have also largely spoken in my former printed Reply in p. 90. 92, 93, 294, 344. But Aben. Ezra calls this last kind of Anointing, Sealing, as I have noted it before in Sect. 11. ult.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The fourth kind of anointing the Messias, was by his consecra∣ting sufferings at the time of his death.
• * 1.2

  Such Combaters as subscribed their names to undergo the burthen of the Combat, were wont to be a∣nointed by way of preparation to the Combat.
• * 1.3

  Luke 9. 31.
• * 1.4

  Heb. 5. 8, 9. Heb. 2. 10, 17. Gen. 3. 15.
• * 1.5

  Exod. 40. 15. Exod. 28. 41. Exod. 29. 21. Heb. 2 10. Esr. 5. 9. Heb. 7. 28.
• * 1.6

  By the decree of the blessed Tri∣nity Christ was to be consecrated or made perfect in his obedience through suffer∣ings before he could make his death to be ac∣cepted as a pleasing sacri∣fice for the pro∣curing of his Fathers Recon∣ciliation. John 4. 34. Gal. 1. 4. Luke 22. 31.
• * 1.7

  Every grace of the Spirit wher∣with Christ was anointed for the execution of his Mediators Of∣fice, was to be tryed with brui∣sing afflictions.
• * 1.8

  John 17. 19.