by Rev. Donald MacFarlane
The Name of Christ.
Song of Sol: 1.3.
The name of Christ — Christ’s name means sometimes anything whereby He makes Himself known, and here though it embraces that, it means chiefly Christ Himself. The Church says of Himself that He is as ointment poured forth. How Christ is as ointment poured forth? He is as ointment poured forth as revealed in the promise made to our first parents in the Garden of Eden. God purposed from eternity to save sinners, but that purpose was hid in Himself like ointment in a sealed bottle or box, till it pleased Him to make it known, and when did He reveal His purpose, not a moment sooner than there was need for it. In the time of need, immediately after the fall, or after He convinced our first parents of their guilt. They were convinced of their sin, but it does not appear that they had any idea of how they might be restored to the favour of God, till it was graciously revealed to them. And we may believe Christ manifested, in the first promise, was as ointment poured forth to them. He was as ointment poured forth at his incarnation; repeated manifestations are given of Christ between the first promise and His assumption of human nature, but He was particularly as ointment poured forth when the Word was made flesh and tabernacled among us. He was revealed now not in the mere promise, nor in types and shadows, but God manifest in the flesh: God sent forth His Son.
Christ was more particularly as ointment poured forth in his death. He poured out His soul unto death. Speaking beforehand Himself of His sufferings unto death He says: “I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint, my heart is like wax, it is melted in the midst of my bowels.” He has poured out His soul unto death.
Christ is as ointment poured forth in the preaching of the Gospel, and in the free overtures to sinners by and in the words of God’s grace. “Oh, everyone that thirsteth come ye to the waters. I have not hid thy righteousness and thy salvation I have not concealed thy loving kindness, and thy truth from the great congregation.” Why is Christ compared to ointment? For various reasons. Because of the preciousness of Him. Christ is precious. We read of precious ointments that Mary brought and anointed His feet with. So Christ is precious to them that believe and precious to the Father and holy angels. Christ is precious because he softens the heart of His people when they are bound up with trouble; ointment has the power of molifying the heart. Christ is as ointment because of his healing efficacy. The good samaritan poured oil in the wounds of the poor men that fell among robbers. Christ heals His people, all that come to Him for healing. In Christ dwells all fulness or grace. Christ has been anointed by the Spirit without measure, and from Him His people receive the Spirit and all the communications of grace of which they are made partakers on earth and in Heaven.
Christ is as ointment poured forth, because He is able and willing to make those that come to Him really happy. We read of the oil of joy: Christ who has been anointed above measure by that oil will put more gladness in the hearts of His people than when the corn and wine or others abound.
Christ White and Ruddy
Song of Sol:2.17.
Christ is white, meaning glorious. He is the brightness of the father’s glory, and the express image of His person. Holy, just, in all His dealings, with His church in chastening her for her backsliding; just in his dealings with others also.
Christ is red. He is so as to His sufferings and death. He shed His blood to redeem His Church, as the great conqueror. He bruised the head of the serpent, spoiled principalities and powers, making a show of them openly. He fought the good fight and overcame. He now displays the red bourne on the Cross. The bearer of Victory. He is red moreover in view of His future, victorious over His and His people’s enemies. He has overcome, and He will overcome. He must reign till all His enemies are made His footstool. Christ shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ is red in as much as He will take vengeance on all His enemies. And who are His enemies? All that live and die in their natural condition, however blameless in their outward conduct in the sight of man. Some are not willing to believe this. Those who are strangers to the new birth and the power of godliness, who will send their fellow creatures, that do without any appearance even of having undergone a gracious change, to heaven. It is painful to read the flattering words of some about the state of their fellow creatures after death. If one has the name of a minister they will send him by all means to heaven, but friends, flattering words will not do at death, and at the judgment-seat of Christ. The great day will reveal great things. Men will then change their opinion, when they see hundreds and thousands whom they sent to heaven at their death, driven away by the grand judge of all, into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Yes! except a man be born again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
An opinion on Instrument Music
The introduction of instrumental music into Free St. Lukes Church, Broughty Ferry, is an innovation which, besides it being unscriptural, sinful, dishonouring to God, inconsistent with the Presbyterian form of worship, and a violation of ordination vows, is a manifest sign of spiritual declension in that Congregation. Carnal professors of religion, who are destitute of the spirit of grace are very prone to employ external aids for the purpose of doing for them that which they are incapable of doing themselves. It is my belief that those who cannot sing the praises of God without the help of a lifeless instrument, are as devoid of the life of saving grace as the dead instrument, which they vainly employ to offer praise to the living and true God, who is a Spirit, and must be worshipped in spirit and in truth. It has been reported that the utmost cordiality and unanimity prevailed in the meeting at which the new mode of praise was adopted.
It is very proper that ministers and congregation should be cordial and unanimous in doing that which is right; but to be cordial and unanimous in doing that which is wrong, as in the present case, is both sinful and disgraceful and goes a great length to show the spiritual condition of the poor minister and congregation.
December 1880. D. McF.