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I. CHRISTIAN ILLUMINATION IS THE ANOINTING OF THE SACRED SPIRIT (2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:20, 27).

1. The conversion of man is effected through the influence of God's truth applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. It is in the very essence of this process that the verities of Scripture impress themselves with such resistless energy over the whole man that he is compelled to yield to their influence. It is, however, the influence of Truth — reasonable, genial, and gratifying to its subject.

2. The subsequent growth in grace of the man who has become a believer is effected by the same Almighty and gracious influence. The Word of God is the nutriment of faith.

3. Nothing short of close personal dealing with the Spirit of God in prayer will maintain the proper influence of Divine truths over our understanding, our conscience, and our affections.

II. CHRISTIAN CONSECRATION IS THE ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT. Great is the change made in the individual who is the subject of such consecration. The disciple who declares to the servant-maid, "I know not the man," is hard to identify with him who, on the temple steps, exclaims, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." The result of such an anointing upon our Churches would be incalculable good; the growth of holy enjoyment, and the increase of holy usefulness, would elicit from all quarters of the land the joyful shouts proclaiming a present God, and wonders wrought by His power.

III. CHRISTIAN GLADNESS IS THE ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT (Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 1:9). Gladness is the inheritance of the saints, and, in regard to it, we often need to be "anointed with fresh oil." Exhortations to joy are frequent in both the Old and New Testament. Joy is one of the foundations of the kingdom of grace in the heart, which is righteousness, joy, and peace. This holy gladness rests on the twofold basis of a firm, constant belief in the all-pervading providence of God, and a confident assurance of participation in His forgiving mercy, manifested in the Lord Jesus Christ.

IV. CHRISTIAN GRACES ARE THE ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22, 23). There is a legend which represents St. Francis as having looked so long and so eagerly on the body of the suffering Saviour, that the prints of the nails were reproduced in his hands, and the mark of the spear in his side. There is another legend, which affirms that Veronica possessed a napkin with which the Lord Jesus wiped His brow on the way to Calvary; which cloth was said to bear upon it a perfect representation of the Saviour's countenance. These fables have lying behind them an important fact — the assimilating power of communion with Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

(W. G. Lewis.)

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KJV: But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

WEB: But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil.