Page:Ecclesiastical History of Eusebius Pamphilus, 1842.djvu/56

24 those who  are  admitted  among  these,  he  no  longer  imparts  mere types and  similitudes,  but  undisguised  virtues,  and  a  heavenly  hfe, in the  doctrines  of  truth. He received  an  unction,  not  formed  of material  substances,  but  that  which  comports  with  Deity,  the  divine Spirit  itself,  by  a  participation  of  the  uncreated  divinity  of the  Father. This is  shown  by  Isaiah,  who  seems  to  exclaim  in the  very  person  of  Christ :  "  The  spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me, wherefore  he  hath  anointed  me,  (he  hath  sent  me)  to  proclaim glad  tidings  to  the  poor,  to  heal  the  broken  hearted,  to  proclaim liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  recovery  of  sight  to  the  blind.'* And  not  only  Isaiah  but  David  also,  addressing  him,  says,  "  Thy throne, O  God,  is  from  everlasting  to  everlasting. A sceptre  of righteousness  is  the  sceptre  of  thy  kingdom. Thou hast  loved righteousness and  hated  iniquity. Therefore hath  God,  thy  God, anointed thee  with  the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows."  In  which words,  he  calls  him  God  in  the  first  verse;  and  in  the  second  he ascribes  to  him  the  royal  sceptre,  and  thus  proceeding  after  the divine  and  royal  power,  in  the  third  place,  he  represents  him  as Christ,  anointed  not  by  the  oil  of  material  substances,  but  by  the divine  oil  of  gladness.  By  this  also,  he  shows  his  excellence  and great  superiority  over  those  who,  in  former  ages,  had  been anointed  as  typical  images  with  the  material  substance.  The same  speaks  of  him  in  another  place,  thus:  "  The  Lord  said  unto my Lord,  sit  thou  at  my  right  hand,  until  I  make  thine  enemies thy footstool ;"  and  a  little  after,  "  From  the  womb  before  the morning star  did  I  beget  thee;  the  Lord  hath  sworn  and  he will  not  repent,  thou  art  a  priest  for  ever  after  the  order  of  Melchisedech."  This  Melchisedek  is  mentioned  in  the  holy  Scriptures, as  a  priest  of  the  Most  High  God,  not  consecrated  by  any unction  prepared  of  any  material  substance,  and  not  even  succeeding to  the  priesthood  of  the  Jews,  by  any  descent  of  lineage. Hence,  Christ  our  Saviour  is  denominated,  with  the  addition of  an  oath,  Christ  and  priest  after  his  own  order,  but  not  according to  the  order  of  those  who  received  merely  the  badges  and emblems.  Hence,  also,  neither  does  history  represent  him  anointed corporeally  among  the  Jews,  nor  even  as  sprung  from  a  tribe  of the  priesthood,  but  as  coming  into  existence  from  God  himself,