The Pattern of Wholesome Words, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Of the Priestly office of Christ.
THe Priestly office of Christ follows, which is that part of his function, whereby he maketh satisfaction vntounto God for men.
This office in the execution of it hath in it three things; or there be three things Christ must doe, as the Priest of the Church:
1. He must obey the Law of God perfectly.
2. Hee must make expiation for our sinnes by sacrificing to God.
3. He must make intercession for vsus.
First, of the principles that concerne his obedience; there are foure things wee are bound to beleeue concerning the obedience of Christ:
1. First, that he was without sin in his nature, Ioh. 8.46. Which of you can rebuke me of sinne?
2. Cor. 5.21. For he hath made him to be sinne for vsus, which knew no sinne.
1. Pet. 1.19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot.
1. Pet. 2.22.23. Who did no sin, neither was there guile found in his mouth, &c.
Heb. 4.15. For we hauehave not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted in like sort, yet without sinne, &c.
2. Secondly, that he fulfilled the whole law of God perfectly in all his actions: Hence called the holy one, and the holy Child Iesus, Act. 2.27. Because thou wilt not leaue my soule in hell, neither wilt suffer thine holy one to see corruption. Act. 13.35.
Act. 3.14. But ye denied the holy one, and the iust.
Act. 4.27. For doubtlesse against thine holy Sonne Iesus, whom thou hast annointed, &c.
30. So that thou stretch forth thine hand, that healing, and signes, and wonders may bee done by the name of thine holy Sonne Iesus.
1. Ioh. 2.20. But yee hauehave an oyntment from him that is holy, and ye hauehave knowne all things.
Thirdly, that hee fulfilled the law, not onelyonly for himselfe, but for vsus, & for our sakes, Rom. 8.3.4. For (that that was impossible to the law, in as much as it was weak because of the flesh) God sending his owne Sonne in the similitude of sinfull flesh, and for sinne condemned sinne in the flesh, &c.
That the righteousnesse of the law might be fulfilled in vsus, which walke not after the flesh, but after the spirit.
Rom. 10.4. For Christ is the end of the law, for righteousnes vntounto eueryevery one that beleeueth.
Rom. 5.18. Likewise then, as by the offence of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation, so by the iustifying of one, the benefit abounded toward all men to the iustification of life,
That this righteousnesse of his is an euerlasting righteousnes, that is, such a righteousnesse as serues for the Elect of all ages, and such a righteousnesse as cannot be lost, Dan. 9.24. Seuenty weekes are determined vponupon thy people, and vponupon thine holy City to finish the wickednesse, and to seale vp the sinnes, and to reconcile the iniquity, and to bring in euerlasting righteousnesse.
The vses may be,
For consolation: for hereby all the faithfull may be assured, that though they bee very vnrighteous in themselues, yet they are made the righteousnesse of God in him, Ierem. 23.6. In his dayes Iuda shall be saued, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is the name whereby they shall call him, The Lord our righteousnesse.
2. Cor. 5.21. For he hath made him to be sinne for vsus, which knew no sinne, that we should be made the righteousnesse of God in him.
Hee is the end of the law to eueryevery one that beleeueth: wee hauehave as certaine iustification to life by his obedience, as euer we were subiect to death by Adams disobedience, Rom. 5.19. For as by one mans disobedience many were made sinners; so by the obedience of one shall many also be made righteous.
And if his righteousnesse bee ours, how rich are we? and how ought our hearts to bee established in his well doing? &c.
Secondly for instruction: and so it should worke in vsus two things:
1. First, an establishment of faith in our reconciliation, and a willing yeelding of our selues to acknowledge this free gift of God in his Sonne, 2. Cor. 5.21. Rom. 10.4.
2. Secondly an imitation of his maruellous holinesse: a striuing to expresse his vertues, that we may be holy as he is holy; for he communicates the benefit of his obedience onelyonly to such as liue iustly, and walke not after the flesh, but after the spirit,
Rom. 8.4. That the righteousnes of the law might bee fulfilled in vsus, which walke not after the flesh, but after the spirit.
1. Pet. 2.9. But yee are a chosen generation, a royall priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the vertues of him, that hath called you out of darknes into his maruellous light, &c.
Matth. 11.29. Take my yoke on you, and learne of mee, that I am meeke, and lowly in heart, and yee shall finde rest vntounto your soules, &c.
2. Cor. 5.17. Therefore if any man be in Christ, let him be a new creature, &c.
Thirdly, for humiliation to all stubborne-hearted wicked men, that deny this holy one, partly by their vnbeleefe, when they regard not his words, whom they can conuince of no sinne, Ioh. 8.46. Which of you can rebuke me of sinne? and if I say the truth, why doe you not beleeue me?
And partly by wicked life, keeping out all conformity with Christ; as also by chusing rather to liue in wicked company, then to cleaue to Christ: Is not this to denie the holy one, and to chuse a murtherer to bee giuen them? Act. 3.14. What communion betweene Christ and Belial? betweene his righteousnesse, and such vnrighteousnesse?
Thus much of his obedience to the law.