The Sum of Christian Religion 2, Part 2 · Subpart 13
I BELEEVE IN CHRIST.
THe name of Ieſus doth rather ſummarily than expreſſely note the office of the Mediator:What is ſignified by the name of Chriſt. and is as it were a proper name deſigning rather a certaine perſon. But the woorde, Meſſias, or Chriſt, or Annointed, is properly an epitheton of the office, which being adioyned to the former, doth more ſignificantly declare the proper and certaine office of the Mediatour: For it expreſſeth metonymicallie the three parts thereof, namely, to bee a Prophet, a Prieſt, and a King. For theſe three were wont to be annointed, and ſo to be deſigned to theſe functions.
Obiection, But it may bee that CHRIST was annointed but to one of theſe functions onelie. Aunſwere. He is called in the Scripture a Prophet, a King, and a Prieſt: And further CHRIST was ſignified by annointed perſons, whereof thoſe three ſortes were in the olde Teſtament. And hence it commeth to paſſe that theſe two names JESVS CHRIST are often ioined. For it is not inough to beleeue, that there is a Sauiour, and that hee is exhibited, but wee muſt further alſo certainly bee perſwaded, that this IESVS, borne of the Virgine Marie, is that Sauiour and CHRIST, promiſed in the olde Teſtament. Furtherermore, concerning the office of the Mediatour, as it is deſigned by this name CHRIST, which ſignifieth Annointed, fower thinges eſpeciallie offer themſelues to bee conſidered.
1 What the vnction or annointing of Chriſt is, or in what ſenſe he is called Annointed.
2 What is Chriſts propheticall function.
3 What his Prieſthood.
4 What his Kingdome.
1 WHAT CHRISTS VNCTION OR ANNOINTING IS.
What was betokened by annointing, in the old Teſtament.ANnointing in the old teſtament was a ceremonie, whereby according to gods ordinance Prophets, Prieſts, and Kings were annointed either with ſome ſpeciall, or with common oile: that it might ſtand for a teſtimonie, to thoſe who were rightlie annointed, that they were called of god to the adminiſtring of one of theſe functions, and that they ſhould be furniſhed from god with giftes neceſſarie for the performing of that whereunto they were called. For Annointing ſignified, 1. The calling and ordaining of anie to the office eyther of a Prophet, or of a Prieſt, or of a King. 2. It ſignified the promiſe and beſtowing of giftes neceſſarie thereto. For to whome GOD committed anie office, and whome hee cauſed to bee annointed, to theſe alſo hee ſubminiſtered the giftes of the holie GHOST neceſſarie for the diſcharging of it, as knowledge, wiſedome, ſtrength, fo…titude, induſtrie, authority, and ſuch other. 3. It ſignified the fragrantneſſe or ſweete ſauour of the labours employed in that vocation, that is, it was a teſtimonie that the labours were gratefull and acceptable to GOD, and that hee woulde proſper ſuch labours, as the Annointed ſhoulde with a true faith and cheerefullie vndergoe in exequuting the function committed vntounto them of GOD. 2. Corinth. 2.15. We are vntounto GOD the ſweete fauor of Chriſt in them that are ſaued. 1. Corinth. 15.58. Your labour is not vaine in the Lord.
Further, the outwarde annointing did as a ſigne repreſent the inwarde, that is, the giftes of the holy GHOST, as the thinges ſignified, by reaſon of a correſpondent Analogie and proportion. For as oile maketh the drie partes, beeing annointed therewith, liuely, agill, and able and fitte to doe their duetie, and beſides to ſend foorth a ſweete fauour: So the holie Ghoſt furniſhing them with neceſſarie giftes, which are ordained to a function, giueth them ſtrength and power, whereby they being of themſelues vnfit to doe any good, are made fit and able to woorke and accompliſh thinges gratefull vntounto God: that is, the holie Ghoſt cauſeth them to diſpatch readilie and with dexteritie the partes of that dutie which is enioined them, and to doe thinges acceptable to GOD, and auaileable for the preſeruation of the Church.
Nowe the annointing of Ieſus Chriſt is, Firſt the ordaining of the ſonne of God to the office of the chiefe Prophet, Prieſt, and King of the Church. Secondlie, The eſpeciall communicating of the giftes of the holie Ghoſt neceſſarie for this office. Thirdlie, Gods approbation and proſpering of this office. Iſaie 53.10. The LORDE woulde breake him, and make him ſubiect to infirmities: when hee ſhalt make his ſoule an offering for ſinne, hee ſhal ſee his ſeede, and ſhall prolong his daies, and the will of the Lord ſhal proſper in his hand: He ſhal ſee of the …auell of his ſoule, and ſhal be ſatisfied, by his knowledge ſhal my righteous ſeruant iuſtifie many, for he ſha… beare their iniquities. Therefore wil I giuegive him a portion with the great, and hee ſhal diuide the ſpoile. Ieſus then, the ſonne of God and Mary, is called Meſſias, or Chriſt, or annointed: Firſt, becauſe he was appointed of his father from euerlaſting the Mediatour, that is, the chiefe Prophet, Prieſt, & King of the Church. This is confirmed by this reaſon. He that is to be a Prophet, a Prieſt, and a King, and is called annointed, hee is in reſpect of thoſe three called annointed. But the Mediator which was called Meſſias or annointed, was to be the chiefe Prophet, Prieſt and King of the Church. Therefore he is in reſpect of thoſe three called annointed or Chriſt. Again the ſame is ſhewed by many places of Scripture. Ioh. 7.28. I came not of my ſelfe &c. Iohn 6.38. I came downe from heauen, not to doe mine owne will, but his wil, which hath ſent me. Heb. 5.5. Chriſt tooke not vntounto himſelfe this honour to bee made the High-Prieſt, but hee that ſaide vntounto him, Thou art my ſonne, this day begate I thee. Pſalm. 110.4. The Lorde ſwore, thou art a Prieſt for euer, after the order of Melchiſedeck. Hebr. 13.8. Ieſus Chriſt yeſterday, and to daie, the ſame is alſo for euer. Reuel. 13.8. The Lambe ſlaine from the beginning of the world. 1. Corinth. 130. CHRIST is made of God vntounto vsus wiſedome, and righteouſneſſe, and ſanctification, and redemption. So is hee often called the Angell of the couenant ſent of olde vntounto the Church. 2. Hee is called annointed in reſpect of the giftes of the holie GHOST which were poured on him thicke, aboundauntlie, and moſt perfectlie; that is, al the giftes and graces whatſoeuer are in all the bleſſed Angels and men, and thoſe in the moſt excellent and high degree, that hee might bee ſufficient for the reſtoring, ruling, preſeruing of his Church, and for adminiſtering the gouernement of the whole woorlde, and for the directing thereof to the ſafetie and ſaluation of his Church. Iohn 3.34. God giueth him not the ſpirite by meaſure. Hebr. 1.9. Wherefore God, thy God, hath annointed thee with the oile of gladneſſe aboue thy fellowes. Iſaie 61.1. The ſpirite of the Lorde is vponupon mee, therefore hath the Lorde annointed mee. The annointing therefore is of the whole perſon, yet with this difference, that it is ſo applied to both natures, as it ſignifieth the ordaining of him to the Mediatourſhippe. For hee is Mediatour according to both natures, who was alwaies preſent with his Church, euen before his fleſhe was borne:Chriſt anointed in reſpect of his humanitie, not of his Godhead, in reſpect wherof he is annointer. But as his annointing deſigneth the communicating of the giftes of the holie GHOST, ſo his humane nature onelie is meant to bee annointed. For his Godhead, becauſe it is alwaies in it ſelfe goodneſſe moſt perfect, and paſſing meaſure, is not annointed, but annointeth & filleth with giftes and graces both his owne humanity, which his God-head dooth perſonally inhabite, as alſo all the elect and choſen. Wherefore one and the ſame Christ, in reſpect of his diuerſe natures, is both annointed and annointer, as raiſer and raiſed. For the father annointeth with the holie Ghoſt, but by the Lorde: ſo that Ireneus ſaid pretilie, that by the name of annointing was compriſed and vnderſtood the three perſons of the godhead, The annointer, the annointed, and the annointing.
Obiection. But it is no where reade, Chriſt annointed ſpirituallie.that Chriſt was annointed. Aunſwere. Chriſt was not annointed, typicallie, ceremonially, or ſacramentallie; but reallie, and ſpiritually, that is, hee receiued the thing it ſelfe, which was prefigured and ſignified by the ceremonial annointing; which was the holy Ghoſt; as it is ſaid, Pſalm. 43.97. and Heb. 1.9 Wherefore God, thy God, hath annointed thee with the oile of gladneſſe aboue thy fellowes. Iſaie 61.1. The ſpirite of the Lorde is vponupon mee, therefore hath the Lorde annointed mee. As therefore it was meete that Chriſt ſhoulde bee a Prophet, a Prieſt, and a King, not typical, but the verie ſignified and true, that is, the great and high Prophet, Prieſt, and King; ſo it was neceſſarie that hee ſhould be annointed not with typical oile, but with the ſignified and true oile, which was the holy Ghoſt. For ſuch as the office was, ſuch ſhould the annointing be. But the office was not typical, but the very thing it ſelfe. Therefore ſuch alſo ſhould the annointing be.
Hence wee learne and vnderſtand theſe two thinges. The firſt is, That Christ hath this name, not from the ceremonial annointing, but from the thing it ſelfe which was thereby ſignified: becauſe he is that chiefe and high Prophet,Chriſt hath his name, not from the ceremonial annointing, but from the thing thereby ſignified. Prieſt and King, whom, as types, the Prophetes, Prieſtes, and Kinges of the olde Teſtament, which were wont to bee annointed with external oile, did repreſent. The name therefore of the ſigne or type, that is, Annointed, is transferred to the thing it ſelf, euen to the High-Prieſt, Prophet & King, Ieſus. Another thing that wee learne is,The difference between Chriſt Annointed, and the Annointed of the old Teſtament. That there is a great difference between this Ieſus Annointed, and the Annointed of the olde teſtament. For 1. There were only certaine types and ſhadowes of this onelyonly chief and true Chriſt, that is, of this King, Prophet, & Prieſt. Wherefore neceſſary was it that they ſhould yeeld & giuegive place to him being once exhibited. For the thing it ſelfe being come & exhibited, the types ceaſe. 2. The annointing, that is, the communicating of the gifts of the Holy Ghoſt in the typicall Annointed was imperfect & weake. But in Ieſus chriſt it is perfect & exceeding great. For in him dwelleth the fulnes of the Godhead perſonally, ſo that he is both the Annointed & the Annointer. 3. He onlie hath receiued all the giftes of the holie Ghoſt, and thoſe manie waies more excellent than they are to bee found in all the Angels and men: Becauſe hee had them in the higheſt both number and degree. 1. Iohn 1.16. Of his fulneſſe hauehave all wee receiued. But the Annointed of the old teſtament receiued neither all the giftes, neither in the higheſt degree, but diuided, and according to the meaſure of the gift of chriſt, ſome more, ſome fewer, & ſome greater gifts than ſome, 1. Cor. 12.11. Ep. 4.7. Much leſſe were they able by their own power and vertue to worke the ſame in others.
Replie 1. GOD cannot bee annointed: chriſt is GOD. Therefore he coulde not be annointed, no not with the prefigured or ſignified oile. Aunſwere. In ſome reſpect wee graunt this whole reaſon. For Chriſt as touching his God-head, cannot be annointed with the giftes of the holie GHOST. Firſt, becauſe not one iot of the giftes of the holie Ghoſt can bee added to the God-head, becauſe of the exceeding perfection thereof. And further, becauſe the holie Ghoſt, by whome the annointing is immediately adminiſtred, is the proper ſpirite of chriſt, no leſſe proceeding from him, than from the father. Wherefore he, as he is God, hath not any thing from the holy Ghoſt, neither dooth hee receiue him, which is alreadie his owne from any other, but giueth him vntounto others whom it pleaſeth him: As alſo no man can giuegive thee thy ſpirite which is in thee, becauſe that which thou already haſt cannot bee giuen vntounto thee.
Reply 2. According to which nature chriſt is annointed, according to the ſame he is Mediator, that is, the Prophet, Prieſt, and King of the church. But according to his humane nature only he is annointed: Therefore according to that only he is Mediatour. The Minor is thus proued. To be annointed, is, to receiue the gifts of the holie Ghoſt: But according to his humane nature onlie hee receiued theſe giftes: In what ſenſe Chriſt may bee ſaide to bee annointed accoding to his Godhead.therefore according to that onelie he is annointed. Aunſwere. The Maior of the former reaſon is made of a bad and faultie definition: becauſe the definition is of too ſtrait and narrowe a compaſſe. For to bee annointed is not onelyonly to receiue the giftes: but alſo to bee deſigned to ſome certaine office. In the former ſenſe Chriſt is annointed according to his humanitie only: in the later, according to both natures. Or, we may aunſwere that the whole reaſon is faulty, becauſe of an ambiguity in the word annointing. For in the Maior, it is taken either for the whole annointing, or for that part, which is an ordeining to an office: but in the Minor it is taken for the other part onelyonly, which is the participation of the giftes of the holie Ghoſt. Nowe then, according to which nature chriſt is not annointed, that is, neither ſeuerally by a deſignement to an office: neither by both a deſignement to an office & a receiuing of the giftes of the holie Ghoſt: according to that nature he is not Mediatour. Chriſt according to his Godheade is not annointed, both with a deſignement to an office, and a receiuing of giftes: yet is hee according to his Godheade annointed by an ordaining or deſignement to an office. Therefore hee is Mediatour alſo according to his Godhead.
Chriſt therefore is Mediatour, that is, the Prophet, Priest, Chriſt Mediatour according to both natures.and King of the church in reſpect of both natures. For vntounto the office of a Mediatour doe mo actions concur, whereof ſome he executeth by his Godhead, ſome by his fleſh; yet ſo, that they are don & performed together, the properties of both natures being as it were cōmunicated. Wherefore that we er not here, nor cōceiue amiſſe, theſe two rules ar to be obſerued. The firſt: the properties of the one nature in the mediator, are attributed to the other in the concrete, that is, to the perſon, yet ſtill in reſpect of that nature whoſe properties they are. This is called the communicating of the properties, & it is a certaine kind of Synecdoche. The ſecond. The names of the mediatorſhip are attributed to the whole perſon, in reſpect of both natures, yet reſeruing ſtill the properties of each nature, and the differences of actions. For to the perfourming of the Mediatourſhip, the properties of faculties and operations both of the diuine and of the humane nature are required.
2 WHAT IS CHRISTS PROPHETICALL FVNCTION.
The ſignification of the name Prophet.THE worde Prophet commeth from the Grecke word foreign, which ſignifieth to publiſh abroade things either preſent, or to come. A Prophet in general, is a perſon called of god, who publiſheth and expoundeth vntounto men the will of God concerning things either preſent or to come; which without ſome reuelation from God, remain vnknowne to vsus; as being ſuch, to the knowledge wherof men were not able by themſelues to come. A Prophet is either a miniſter, or the head and chiefe of the Prophets, which is Chriſt. Of Miniſterial Prophets, ſome are of the old, ſome of the new Teſtament. Of the new Teſtament, ſome are ſpecially ſo called, ſome only in generall.
What the Prophets of the old Teſtament were.The Prophets of the olde Teſtament were perſons immediatlie called and inſtructed of God himſelfe either by inſtinct, or by dreams, or by diuine viſions, or by ſpeeches had by God with them, that they ſhould declare to men, to whom they were ſent, the true doctrine concerning God and his worſhip, and cleanſe and cleare it from errors and corruption; that they ſhould recount & illuſtrate the promiſe of the Meſſias to come, and his kingdome and benefits, of remiſſion of ſinnes and eternal life, by and for him, to bee giuen to all beleeuers; that they ſhould foretell future euents, good and bad, and rewards and puniſhments; that they ſhould guide & adminiſter and order many counſels and offices politicke, or ciuil, hauing diuine and certaine teſtimonies to warrant them, that they could not erre in ſuch Doctrine, precepts, and counſels, as they propounded in the name of God. Thoſe teſtimonies were eſpecially theſe. 1 The continuall conſent of the Prophets in Iſraell, of Moſes, and the Patriarcks, both one with another, and with thoſe first diuine reuelations, which were giuen at the creation in Paradiſe. 2 Miracles certainly comming from God. 3 The euents of things exa…tly aunſwering to the ſacred oracles and predictions of the Prophetes 4. The Teſtimony of the holy Ghoſt thoroughlie perſwading and conuincing mens minds concerning the truth of Propheticall do…trine. Such Prophets were, Adam, Seth, Noa, Abraham, Iſaac, Iacob, Ioſeph, and other, and afterwards Moſes, & they who ſucceeded him among the people of Iſrael.
A Prophet of the new teſtament, ſpecially ſo called, What a Prophet of the new Teſtament is both in generall and in ſpecial.is a perſon, who by diuine inſtinct, and through ſpeciall reuelation of the holie ghost, doth certainly foreſee and foreſhewe thinges to come; As were the Apoſtles & Agabus, Acts. 11.28. & cap. 21.11. and the Diſciples, telling Paul through the ſpirite, that hee ſhoulde not goe vp to Ieruſalem, Acts. 21.4. &c. A Prophet of the newe Teſtament, in general, is called anie, whoſoeuer hath the gift of vnderſtanding, expounding and applying the Prophecies and writinges of the Prophets, who are properly ſo called, to the preſent vſe of the church. So is this word vſed. 1. Cor. 14.3.4.5.29. This function & gift of prophecying, that is, of expounding & applying the Scriptures of the Prophetes and Apoſtles to the vſe of the Church, is at al times neceſſary: That other, of foretelling things to come, not ſo: and therfore is it but temporary, and for a time.
The great and chiefe Prophet, which is Chriſt, Chriſt a Prophet from the beginning of the church to all eternitie.is a perſon immediatelie ordained of god euen from the beginning and cradel of the Church in paradiſe to al eternity, ſent of the father to declare the wil of god towards mankind, to inſtitute and appoint a miniſterie, to teach by the woorde and Sacramentes, the holy ghoſt working together with him: and laſtlie in the fleſhe; to preach the goſpel, and to make knowen that hee is the Sonne conſubſtantiall and of the ſame ſubſtaunce with the father, and author of the Euangelique doctrine, kindling it in the harts of men, and not only preaching it; as a Miniſter: And therefore Chriſt is called the WORDE, not onelyonly in reſpect of the father, of whome in cogitation beholding himſelfe, and conſidering the image of himſelfe not vaniſhing, but ſubſiſting, conſubſtantial, coequal, coeternall to the father himſelfe, hee was begotten: but alſo in reſpect of vsus, becauſe hee is that perſon, which ſpake to the fathers, and brought foorth the liuing and quickening woorde, or Goſpell, out of the boſome of the Father.
What Chriſt according to his propheticall fu…ction was to doe.Wherefore the propheticall function of Chriſt is, 1 To open & declare vntounto men God & his ſecret will, of ſauing beleeuers by and for him, ſhewed vntounto him immediatly from God himſelfe. 2 To refine and purifie the Lawe and woorſhippe of God, from corruptions, Mat. 5.67. he interpreteth the Lawe. Ioh. 1.18. The ſonne which is in the boſome of the Father, he hath declared him. Iohn. 8.26. The things that I hauehave heard of the Father, thoſe ſpeake I to the woorld. 3 To open the promiſes of the goſpell concerning himſelfe to bee borne, to ſuffer, and to die concerning remiſſion of ſinnes, our reconciliation vntounto God, and of ſaluation and euerlaſting life. 4 At length alſo aſſuming & taking vntounto him humane nature, to teach as by his voice the will of god, concerning vsus, and towards vsus, and to confirm this doctrine by Miracles. 5 Not only to giuegive oracles and prophecies, to open the will of god by prophets, and to teach & expound it himſelfe preſent in humane nature; but alſo to ordaine & institute the miniſtery of the woord and ſacraments, that is, to call and ſend Prophets, Apoſtles, and other miniſters of the Church, and to furniſh them with giftes neceſſarie to this miniſterie. Iohn. 20.21. As the Father hath ſent mee, ſo ſend I you. Epheſ. 4.11. He (Chriſt) hath giuen ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophetes, ſome Doctours. Luk. 21.15. I will giuegive you a mouth, and wiſedome, where-against all your aduerſaries ſhall not be able to ſpeake, nor reſiſt. So 1. Pet. 1.10. The ſpirit of Chriſt is ſaied to hauehave ſpoken by the prophetes. 6. To giuegive the holy Ghoſt. Mat. 3.11. Hee will baptiſe you with the holy Ghoſt, and with fire. 7. To be through his owne and others miniſterie effectuall in the hartes of the hearers, that is, by his ſpirit to lighten our mindes, that wee may vnderſtand thoſe thinges which hee teacheth vsus of God and his will, either by his own voice, or by the voice of others: Luk. 24 45. Then opened hee their vnderſtanding, that they might vnderſtand the ſcriptures. 8. To effectuate alſo that which by the efficacie of his ſpirit he ſpeaketh in our heartes, that, is to moue our will, that wee may yeeld our aſſent and obedience to thoſe thinges, which by his teaching wee learne and knowe. Eph. 5.25. Chriſt gaue himſelfe for the Church, that he might ſanctifie it and clenſe it, by the waſhing of water through the worde. And theſe thinges Chriſt did & doth performe euen from the beginning of the church, to the end of the world, and that by his own authority and power: and for this very cauſe is hee called the Word. Mat. 11.27. No man knoweth the Father, but the Sonne, and he to whom the ſonne wil reueile him. Ioh. 5 21. As the Father, ſo the Sonne quickneth whom he will.
By theſe things which hauehave beene now ſpoken, is alſo vnderſtood, what difference there is betweene Chriſt, & other Prophets, both of the old and newe teſtament; & why he is the chiefe prophet & doctor. The difference & eminency conſiſteth in his nature & office. 1 Chriſt is the verie ſonne of God & god and lord of all, & doth immediatly vtter the woord of the Father, & is the embaſſador and mediator ſent of the father. Other prophets are only men & his ſeruants, called & ſent by him. 2 Chriſt is autor & reueiler of the doctrine, & therefore the Prince of all Prophets. Others are ſ gnifiers of that which they hauehave receiued from Chriſt. For whatſoeuer knoweledge and Propheticall ſpirite is in them, all that they hauehave from Chriſt reueiling and giuing it to them. Therefore is the ſpirit of chriſt ſaid to hauehave ſpoken in the prophets. Neither hath he opened only to the prophets the doctrine which he teacheth, but alſo to all the godly. Ioh. 1.16. Of his fulnes hauehave we all receiued, that is, al the Elect, euen frō the beginning of the world vntounto the end, Ioh. 1.18. No man hath ſeen god at any time, the only begotten ſonne, which is in the boſome of the father, he hath declared him. 3 His Prophetical wiſedome is infinit, and perfect, & therefore in al gifts he excelleth others. 4 This Prophet chriſt, appointeth the ministery, ſendeth & ordaineth Prophets, and Apoſtles: he giueth the holie Ghoſt & gifts neceſſarie for the prophets, Apoſtles, & al miniſters of the word, to the perfourming of their duty. Ioh. 16.14. He ſhall receiue of mine, & ſhall ſhew it vntounto you. He will lead you into al trueth. 5 Chriſt himſelfe is not onlie autor of the doctrine, & erectour & maintainer of the external Miniſtery, but alſo by his own & other Prophets voice & outward miniſterie he preacheth effectuallie to men inwardlie through the vertue and working of the holy ghoſt. Others are onelyonly the inſtrumentes of Chriſt and that arbitrarie, and at his diſpoſition and direction. 6 The Doctrine of chriſt, which beeing made man hee vttered by his owne and his Apoſtles mouthes, is much more cleare & ful than the doctrine of Moſes, & the Prophets of the old Teſtament. Chriſt therefore hath authoritie of himſelfe; others from him: if Chriſt ſpeake, wee muſt beleeue him for himſelfe: others, becauſe Chriſt ſpeaketh in them. Theſe things are expreſly prooued by theſe places of holy writ. Hebr. 1.1. At ſundrie times and in diuerſe manners god ſpake in the old time to our Fathers, by the Prophets: Jn theſe laſt daies he hath ſpoken vntounto vsus by his Sonne. And, cap. 3.3. This man is counted woorthie of more glorie than Moſes; in as much as hee which hath builded the houſe, hath more honour than the houſe. Ioh. 16.14. The ſpirit of truth, which I will ſend you, ſhall receiue of mine, and ſhal ſhew it vntounto you. Mat. 17.5. This is my beloued ſonne, in whom I am well pleaſed: Heare him. Luc. 10.16. Hee that heareth you, heareth mee; and hee that deſpiſeth you, deſpiſeth mee, and him that ſent mee.
3 WHAT CHRISTS PRIESTHOOD IS.
A prieſt in general.A Prieſt, in generall, is a perſon ordeined by god to offer for himſelfe and others oblations & ſacrifices: to pray for others, and to instruct. VnderUnder praier is comprehended bleſſing, which is to wiſh them good from God.
A typical prieſt.There is one Prieſt which is ſignifieng or typical, another ſignified. The typicall Prieſt was a perſon appointed by God, 1. to offer typical Sacrifices, 2. to make interceſſion for himſelfe and others, 3. to declare to the people the doctrine of the Law, and the promiſe of the Meſſias, and true Sacrifice which was to come. Such were al the Prieſtes of the old Teſtament. For theſe three properties which we hauehave reckned, were common to the High-Prieſt with other inferiour Prieſtes.The High prieſt. But ſome thinges the High-Prieſt had proper & peculiar to himſelfe. 1. That he alone entered into the Tabernacle, called the Holieſt of al, or Sanctuarie, & that but once euerie …eare, not without blood, which he offered for himſelfe and the people burning incenſe there, and making interceſsion for the people. 2. That his rayment was more gorgious. 3. That he was ſet ouer the reſt. 4. That he onlie was conſulted of queſtions or matters doubtful, waightie and obſcure, whether appertaining to religion or to the common-wealth, and did returne the aunſweres of God for the Princes and the people, 5. and therefore did gouerne and order ſome counſels and offices of the ſtate and kingdom, & did ſee, that al things were lawfully adminiſtred. The inferiours were all the other prieſts of the old Teſtament, whoſe office it was, to ſacrifice, to praie, to teach the doctrine of the Lawe, and the promiſe of the Meſſias to come, and to make interceſſion for themſelues and others. Wherefore though all the Leuitical prieſtes were a type of Chriſt: yet the moſt notable type was the High-Prieſt, for that he in mo thinges repreſented Chriſt our very true, celeſtial, & perpetual high-Prieſt.
Obiection. But it was the Prophets office to teach. The difference between the Prieſtes and prophetes in the old Teſtament,Therefore the Prieſtes differed nothing from the Prophetes. Anſwere. Both of them, both the Prophets and the Prieſtes did teach the people: and it might ſo fal out alſo, that the ſame was both a Prieſt and a Prophet; as it is reade of Ieremie. But this was not perpetual, but accidentarie; Becauſe 1. the Prieſtes were ordained out of one certaine tribe, namelie the Leuiticall; but God raiſed vp Prophetes out of anie tribe. 2. There is a great difference found betwixt them, as touching their function of teaching. For the Prophets were called extraordinarilie and and immediately by God himſelfe, and ſo receiued from him the doctrine, which they were to declare vntounto men. 3. They were ſo guided by the ſpecial motion of the holie ghoſt, that they coulde not er in that doctrine, which they vttered vntounto men in the name of god. But the Prieſtes, as Prieſts, 1. were ordinarie miniſters of the oulde Church. 2. were appointed by men. 3. were tied to the doctrine of Moſes and the Prophetes, which they learned, not from GOD immediatelie, but mediatelie by men. 4. They might erre in doctrine and counſels, and did erre often, when they departed from the rule of the Prophetes. Wherefore as touching their function of teaching, the Prophetes differed from the Prieſtes of the oulde Teſtament, after the ſame ſort, as in the new Teſtament the Apoſtles from other miniſters and teachers of the Church.
The ſignified, and true, and onelie High-Prieſt, Chriſt the true and prefigured high prieſt. Chriſts Interceſſion.is the Sonne of GOD, immediatelie ordained by GOD the Father himſelfe, and annointed by the holie GHOST, to reueile vntounto vsus the ſecret will of GOD & his counſell towardes vsus, & by aſſuming humane nature to offer himſelfe a Sacrifice propitiatorie for the ſinnes of all man-kinde, to obtaine for vsus by his interceſſion vntounto the Father remiſſion of ſinnes and eternall life: and laſtlie to applie effectuallie his Sacrifice vntounto vsus, both by imputing it, and alſo by illightening and moouing the elect by his woorde and ſpirit to receiue it with a true faith, hauing this testimonie, that he is certainly heard of his heauenly father, for all thoſe for whom he maketh interceſſion: and withall hauing power to collect and gather his Church.
Wherefore there are foure principall parts of Chriſtes Prieſthoode. Firſt, To teach men both outwardly by his voice, and the voice of his miniſters, and inwardly by the efficacy of his ſpirite. Secondly, To offer himſelfe a ſacrifice and ranſome, full-ſufficient and acceptable vntounto GOD for the ſinnes of the woorlde. Chriſts Interceſſion.Thirdly, To make continuallie interceſſion for vsus vntounto the father. For this interceſſion is proper vntounto the Sonne: Firſt, not onelie beecauſe himſelfe liuing on earth in the time of his fleſh was made a ſuppliant and a Sacrifice for vsus vntounto his Father. Secondly, but alſo becauſe he earneſtly and deſirouſly wil according to both natures, that the Father for his ſacrifice once accompliſhed on the Croſſe, remit vntounto vsus our ſins, and reſtore vntounto vsus righteouſneſſe and life. Thirdly, that the Father, looking vponupon the ſacrifice and wil of his onelyonly beloued Sonne receiueth all beleeuers into his grace and fauour.
Wherefore the Sonne in reſpect both of his merite & will to ſaue vsus, & of his fathers continual beholding & looking thereon, hath from euerlaſting made interceſſion, and alſo doth nowe and for euer in heauen appearing before his Father, make interceſſion for all the elect & choſen. To praie for the people, is a thing common to all prieſtes: but, to make interceſſion both in heauen and earth vntounto the Father for vsus, that our ſinnes may bee pardoned vsus, is onlie belonging to this high and onelie Prieſt. Fourthly, to apply his ſacrifice vntounto all thoſe for whom hee praieth.
Chriſts applying of his merit vntounto vsus.And hee applieth it, Firſt, when hee procureth by praier, the Father to impute it vntounto vsus, that is, to receiue vsus for it into fauour, and for it to louelove vsus: Secondly, when himſelfe alſo for the ſame his ſacrifice ſake, dooth receiue vsus into fauor. Iohn. 17.19. Father, for their ſakes ſanctifie I my ſelfe: Thirdly, hee endueth vsus with true faith, whereby wee alſo may apply his ſatisfaction vntounto our ſelues, that is, maie bee aſſured and thinke that it is our righteouſneſſe, whereby wee may ſtande in the preſence of the Lorde.
Heereby alſo it is cleare, in what other Prieſtes differ from Chriſt. 1 Theſe te…ch onlie by their outward voice, …n difference …e…een Chriſt and …ther Prieſts.and not by the inwarde woorking alſo of the holie Ghost 2. They doe not make continual interceſsion, neither do they alwaies obtaine what they aske 3. Theſe applie their benefits vntounto no man. 4. They offer not them-ſelues a Sacrifice for the ſinnes of others. For all theſe thinges, can bee and are perfourmed by CHRIST alone.