in the margin, _anointed, my king upon my holy hill of Sion_, Psal. ii. 2. Now there are three things which are more especially intended in this unction, which are particularly mentioned in this answer. 1. His being set apart, or separated from the rest of mankind, as the only Person who was designed to execute the offices, together with his public investiture therein. For the right understanding of which, let it be considered, that there was an eternal designation of him by the Father thereunto: thus the apostle speaks of him, as one _who was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world_, 1 Pet. i. 20. And some think, that this is intended by that expression of the Psalmist, _I will declare the decree; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee_, Psal. ii. 7. and that this is also intended by _his being set up from everlasting_, Prov. viii. 23. This we may call his eternal inauguration, which was the foundation, ground, and reason of his incarnation, or of that inauguration, or investiture, which was visible to men in time, which is the second thing to be considered, in his being set apart to execute these offices. When he came into the world, there was a glorious declaration given, both to angels and men, that he was the Person whom God had conferred this honour upon, and accordingly he received glory from them, as Mediator, by a divine warrant; so some understand that scripture, _When he bringeth in the first-begotten into the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him_, Heb. i. 6. And elsewhere we read, Luke ii. 10, 11. of the angels being sent as heralds, to make proclamation of this matter to men, at his first coming into the world. And, when he entered on his public ministry, there was a divine declaration given, as a farther visible confirmation hereof, immediately after his baptism, when _the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him, and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased_, Matt. iii. 16, 17. and John the Baptist was immediately raised up, as a prophet, to signify this to the world, which he did at that time, when our Saviour first entered on his public ministry, and speaks of him, as _preferred before himself_, not only as having a more excellent nature, but as being set apart to an higher office, than that which he was called to; and accordingly he styles him, _The Lamb of God_, intimating, that God had set him apart, as the great Sacrifice that was to be offered for sin, John i. 29, 30. and, soon after this, he gives another testimony hereunto, together with a glorious, yet just, character of the Person, who was invested with this authority, when he says, concerning him, _A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven_: q. d. “I have not received this honour of being the Christ, and doing the