Christian Religion, Catechism · Part 20
HEB. 7. verſ. 13. &c. to the end.
13 For he of whom theſe things are ſpoken, pertaineth vntounto another tribe, whereof no man ſerued at the Altar.
HItherto of that part of Priesthood which ſtandeth in teaching, which is alſo called his propheticall Office, What is the ſumme of this text?
The declaration of the perſon & office of Chriſts Prieſthood, being compared with the Prieſthood of Aaron.
What are the parts of this text?
Two: to wit, what manner a one he ought to bee that hath this office, and how he executeth it.
Wherein ſtandeth the manner of him that ſhall hauehave this office?
Partly without him, and partly in himſelfe. Without him, as that hee was of the tribe of Iudah, this of the tribe of Leui. Secondly, that the Prieſts of Leui were appointed by the Law of the fleſhly Commandement; where Chriſt was appointed by the Law of the power of life. Thirdly, in that he was appointed of his father by an oath, for euer to bee a prieſt, after the order of Melchizedeck.
What benefit ariſeth to vsus in that this was confirmed with an oth?
It aſſureth vsus of all the parts of his Prieſthood to be performed vntounto vsus, and that he paid the ranſome for our ſinnes.
Was not the word of God ſufficient for the performance of this promiſe, without the binding of it with an oth?
Yes doubtleſſe: but the Lord in this promiſe hauing to deale with man, and willing more abundantly to ſhew vntounto the heires of promiſe the ſtableneſſe of his counſell; bound himſelfe by an oath.
Whereby is the perpetuitie thereof confirmed?
In that it did not proceed by ſucceſſion, as from Aaron to Eleazer, from Eleazer to Phinees, and ſo by deſcent, but is euerlaſting, alwaies abiding in him; which is another difference of their prieſtly Office.
What profit commeth to vsus by the perpetuitie of his Prieſthood?
That he continually maketh interceſſion for vsus to God, and of himſelfe alone is able to ſaue vsus, comming to the father through him.
So much of the qualitie of him that is to be Prieſt, which is without him. What is that part which is within him?
Firſt, that in himſelfe he is holy. Secondly, to others harmeleſſe and innocent. Thirdly, vndefiled of others, or of any thing; and to ſpeake in a word, he is ſeparated from ſinners. In al which, he differeth from that of Aaron, for they are neither holy in themſelues, nor innocent, neither vndefiled, but polluting, and being polluted by others.
What is the fruit we gather of this his holineſſe, innocencie, and vndefiledneſſe?
That he being holy and innocent, vndefiled, and ſo conſequently ſeparate from ſinners; the ſinne is not attributed to the faithful; and theſe his properties are imputed for theirs: And therefore he freeth them both from original and actual ſinne. Contrary to the doctrine of the Papiſts, who ſay, that he deliuereth vsus from originall ſinne only, and that we must make ſatisfaction for actuall.
What is touching the execution of this his office?
Firſt, in that they offered firſt for themſelues; hee for the people onelyonly, for himſelfe he heeded not. Secondly, he but once; they many times. Thirdly, hee offered himſelfe, they ſomething elſe then themſelues.
What is the vſe of this?
To prooue the abſoluteneſſe, perfection, and excellencie of this his prieſt-hood.
May not the Prieſthood of the Papiſts be ouerthrown, and prooued to be a falſe Prieſthood?
Yes verily, by all theſe arguments: as firſt, they are not of the tribe of Iudah, neither confirmed by an oth, and therefore not perpetuall. Secondly, they are not holy in themſelues, but vnholy; neither innocent, not vndefiled, but defiling others, and being defiled of them, and ſo not ſeparate from ſinners, but altogether ſinfull and ſet in ſinne. Thirdly, they offer firſt for themſelues, then for the people likewiſe many times, and ſacrifices which are not themſelues and laſtly, they bring a great diſgrace to the Prieſthood of Chriſt, by preferring themſelues to him, as the ſacrificer to the ſacrifice whom they ſay they offer.