A Treatise of Christian Religion, Chapter 31
CHAP. 31.
Of the Prieſthood of Chriſt.
In the Prieſthood is to be conſidered, the
Quality of the perſon,
Out of himſelfe.
In himſelfe.
Manner of his execution.
HEBR. chap. 7. verſ. 13. to the end.
13. For he of whom theſe things are ſpoken, pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gaue attendance at the Altar.
14. For it is euident that our Lord ſprang out of Iudah, of which tribe Moſes ſpake nothing concerning Prieſthood.
15. And it is yet farre more euident: for that after the ſimilitude of Melchiſedech there ariſeth another Prieſt,
16. Who is made not after the Law of a carnall commandement, but after the power of an endleſſe life.
17. For he teſtifyeth; Thou art a Prieſt for euer, after the order of Melchiſedech.
18. For there is verily a diſ-anulling of the commandement going before, for the weakneſſe and vnprofitableneſſe thereof.
19. For the Law made nothing perfect: but the bringing in of a better hope did: by the which we draw nigh vntounto God.
20. And in as much as not without an oath hee was made Prieſt.
21. For thoſe Priests were made without an oath: but this with an oath, by him that ſaid vntounto him, The Lord ſware and will not repent, Thou art a Prieſt for euer after the order of Melchiſedeck.
22. By ſo much was Ieſus made a ſurety of a better Testament.
23. And they truly were many Prieſts, becauſe they were not ſuffered to continue by reaſon of death.
24. But this man, becauſe he continueth euer, hath an vnchangeable Prieſthood.
25. Wherefore he is able alſo to ſaue them to the vttermoſt-that come vntounto God by him, ſeeing he euer liueth to make inter ceſſion for them.
26. For ſuch an high Prieſt became vsus, which is holy, harmleſſe, vndefiled, ſeparate from ſinners, and made higher then the heauens.
27. Who needeth not daily, as thoſe high Prieſts, to offer vp ſacrifice, firſt, for his owne ſinnes, and then for the peoples: for this he did once, when he offered up himſelfe.
28. For the Law maketh men high Prieſts which hauehave infirmitie, but the word of the oath which was ſince the Law, maketh the Sonne, who is conſecrated for euermore,
Q. HItherto of the Prophetical office of Chriſt: what is his Priesthood?
A. That part of his mediatorſhip, whereby he aMat. 5. 17.fulfilled the Law, and offered himſelfe a bRom. 3. 24. 1. Ioh. 2. 2.propitiatorie ſacrifice to his Father; and thereby fully ſatisfied the Iuſtice of God, for the ſinnes of the cRom. 8. 33. Heb. 7. 24. 25.Elect.
Q. How did he offer himſelfe?
A. By ſubmitting himſelfe to (manifold miſeries, eſpecially) aMat. 20. 28. & 26. 27.the ſhamefull and curſed death vponupon the Croſſe, enduring (chiefly) vponupon the ſame, both in ſoule and body, the wrath of God, till hee had fully ſatisfied the iuſtice of his Father for our ſinnes.
Q. In what place of Scripture is this office principally treated of?
A. Hebr. 7. 13. &c.
Q. What is the ſumme of this text?
A. The declaration of the Prieſthood of Chriſt, by comparing it with the Prieſthood of Aaron.
Q. What are the parts of this declaration?
A. Two: firſt, what manner a one he ought to be, that hath this office: and ſecondly, how he executeth it. In both which he ſhewes the difference betweene his Prieſthood, and the Prieſthood of Aaron.
Q. What manner of perſon ought he to be, that is to hauehave this office?
A. The Apoſtle ſheweth this, by declaring certain qualities; partly without him, and partly within him.
Q. VVhat are the qualities without him?
A. Firſt, that he was of the tribe of Iudah, this of the tribe of Lemi. Secondly, that the Prieſts of Leui were Heb. 7. 20. 21.appointed by the Law of the fleſhly Commandemēt; where Chriſt was appointed by the power of endleſſe life. Thirdly, in that hee was appointed of his Father by an oath, for euer to bee a Prieſt, after the order of Melchizedeck. Whereas the Prieſts of the Law were made without an oath.
Q. VVhat benefit ariſeth to vsus, in that this was confirmed with an oath?
A. It ſerueth to aſſure vsus, that all the parts of his Prieſthood ſhall be performed vntounto vsus, and that hee (conſequently) paid the ranſome for our ſinnes.
Q. VVas not the word of God ſufficient for the performance of this promiſe, without the binding of it with an oath?
A. Yes doubtleſſe: but the Lord (in this promiſe) Heb. 6. 17.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.
Q. VVhereby is the perpetuitie thereof confirmed?
A. In that it did not proceed by ſucceſſion, as from Aaron, to Eleazer; from Eleazer, to Phin…es, and ſo by deſcent, but is euerlaſting, alwaies abiding in him; which is another difference of his Prieſtly Office, from Aarons.
Q. VVhat profit commeth to vsus by the perpetuitie of his Prieſthood?
A. That he continually maketh interceſſion for vsus to God, and of himſelfe alone is able to ſaue vsus, comming to the father through him.
Q. So much of the qualities which are without him. What are thoſe which are within him?
A. Firſt, that in himſelfe he is holy. Secondly, to others harmeleſſe and innocent. Thirdly, vndefiled in himſelfe, and in regard of others: and to ſpeake in a word, he is ſeparated from ſinners. In all which, hee differeth from thoſe of Aaron; for they are neither holy in themſelues, nor innocent, neither vndefiled, but polluting, and being polluted by others.
Q. VVhat is the fruit we gather of this his holineſſe, innocencie, and vndefiledleſſe?
A. That he being holy and innocent, vndefiled, and ſo conſequently ſeparate from ſinners, ſin is not, neither can bee attributed to the faithfull, and that theſe his properties are imputed to them by faith for theirs, for whoſe ſake and benefit hee became man, and was endued with theſe properties: and therefore he freeth them, both from originall and actuall ſinne. Contrary to the doctrine of the Papiſts, who ſay, that hee deliuereth vsus from originall ſinne onelyonly, and that we muſt make ſatisfaction for actuall.
Q. So much of the manner of his perſon? how doth hee execute this his office?
A. Firſt, whereas they offered firſt for themſelues, and then for the people; he offered for the people only, for for himſelfe he needed not. Secondly, he offered but once; they many times. Thirdly, hee offered himſelfe, they ſomthing elſe then themſelues.
Q. VVhat is the vſe of this?
A. Firſt, to proue the abſoluteneſſe, perfection, and excellencie of this his prieſthood. Secondly, to ouerthrow the Prieſthood of the Papiſts, and proue it to be a falſe Prieſthood: for firſt, they are not of the tribe of Iudah, neither confirmed by an oath; and therefore not perpetuall. Secondly, they are not holy in themſelues, but vnholy; neither innocent, nor 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, and 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: they making themſelues the Prieſts, and him the Sacrifice, whom they ſay they offer.
Q. Are there no Prieſts vnderunder the Goſpell?
A. None to offer vp a propitiatorie ſacrifice: otherwiſe, all Chriſtians are Prieſts, to offer vp the ſpirituall 1. Pet. 2. 5. Reuel. 1. 6.ſacrifices of Prayers, and Almes.