A Short Treatise Containing the Principal Grounds of Christian Religion, Catechism · Question 63 – Question 65
Q. Why was Chriſt a Prophet?
A. To eLuk. 4. 18, 19.reueale 17 vntounto vsus the way to euerlaſting life,
Expoſ. 17. Before his comming in the fleſh, our Sauiour Chriſt made knowne the wil of God to the Patriarks and Prophets, either immediately, 2. Pet. 1. 21. 2. Sam. 23. 2. Gen. 3. 9. 10, 11. or by the miniſterie of Angels, Gen. 31. 11. Iudg. 6. 12. 2. Kin. 1. 3. and by the patriarks and Prophets, he informed the Church of the old-Teſtament in all points neceſſarie to ſaluation, 2. Pet. 2. 5. 1. Pet. 3. 19. Iude. 14. Luk. 1. 70. Eph. 2. 30. 1. Pet. 1. 11. In the fulneſſe of time taking vponupon him our nature, being after a moſt excellent manner ſanctified by the Spirit, Luk. 1. 35. Dan. 9. 24. furniſhed with all gifts neceſſary, Matth. 3. 16, 17. Io. 3. 34. Pſal. 45. 8. Eſ. 11. 2. Io. 1. 18. and 3. 32. and called of the Father to this office Luk. 3. 21, 22. Matth. 3. 16. 17. Matth. 17. 5. he did in his owne perſon preach vntounto the Iewes about the ſpace of three yeares and a halfe, Act. 1. 1. Luk. 21. 37. Heb. 1. 1. Dan. 9. 27. not altogether paſſing by the Samaritans and Caananits, Io. 4. 40. Matth. 15. 22. With admirable wiſedom, Mar. 6. 2. Matth. 21. 23. 27. and 22. 46. ardent zeale, Io. 2. 14. 17. Io. 4. 34. excellent grace, Pſal. 45. 2, 3. Matth. 7. 29. Luk. 4. 22. and 11. 27. ſingular meekenes, Matth. 11. 29. and authority vnuſuall, Matth. 7. 29. Matth. 5. 21, 22. not reſpecting any mans perſon, Matth. 21. 42. 43. Mar. 12. 14. he interpreted the lawe, Matth. 5. 21. 22. &c. and 19. 4. 5. reprooued the corruptions of the Scribes and Phariſes, Io. 2. 16. Matth. 23. 13. foretold ſome things that were to come, Matth. 16. 21. Luk. 19. 43. 44. Matth. 24. 3. &c. and taught the Goſpel, or the laſt will of God concerning the ſaluation of Man, Eſa. 61. 1. 2. Luk. 4. 18. illuſtrating his doctrine for the moſt part, by parables and ſimilitudes, as the people were able to beare it, Matth. 13. 3. Mar. 4. 33. and confirming that which he taught, by the Scriptures of the old Teſtament, Io. 5. 46. Matth. 22. 32. Luk. 24. 26. 27. 44. 45. and holines of life exactly anſwearing to his doctrine, with diuerſe ſignes of all kinds, Io. 3. 2. and 5. 36. Io. 6. 61, 62, and 2. 25. Matth. 9. 4. Io. 9. 6. and 11. 43, 44. and that moſt cruell and bitter death which for the truth of God he did voluntarily vndergoe. 1. Tim. 6. 13. After his aſcention our Sauiour taught his Church by his Apoſtles and Miniſters, Eph. 4. 11. 12. Act. 10. 41, 42. The Apoſtles being fully and perfectly inſtructed by Chriſt himſelfe in thoſe things which concerne the Kingdome of God, Act. 1. 3. Ioh. 15. 15. and 17. 8. and extraordinarily furniſhed with gifts, and infallibly aſſiſted by the Spirit; Act. 2. 3, 4. Io. 14. 26. and 16. 13. were ſent forth to preach the whole counſell of God, ſo farre as concernes man and the meanes of his ſaluation, Act. 20. 27. Matth. 28. 20. 1. Cor. 2. 9, 10, 11. 1. Io. 1. 3. Rom. 1. 16. vntounto all nations, Matth. 28. 18. 19. Mar. 16. 15. Their doctrine they confirmed both by the Prophets of the old teſtament, Act. 26. 22. and 28. 23. 2. Pet. 1. 18. 19. and by diuerſe ſignes and wonders which God wrought by them, Heb. 2. 3, 4. Mar. 16. 20. In the dayes alſo, and ſince the death of the Apoſtles, our Sauiour doth execute his propheticall office by his ordinary Miniſters, whom he hath commaunded vsus to heare, ſo long as they preach according to the Scriptures, Eph. 4. 11. 12. Luk. 10. 16. ſo that Chriſt is the Author of the doctrine which he taught, Miniſters are the Inſtruments of Chriſt, to teach not their owne, but his doctrine, 2. Cor. 5. 20. Iob. 33. 23. The fruite of this office is the reſtoring of knowledge decayed in the firſt fall of man, and the manifeſtation of diuine myſteries vnknowne to the world, Rom. 16. 25. 26. Eph. 3. 9. Col. 1. 26. 27.
Q. Why was Chriſt a 18 Prieſt?
A. To fHeb. 5. 9.purchaſe for vsus righteouſnes and life eternall,
Expoſ. 18. Chriſt is our high Prieſt, not after the order of Aaron, but after the order of Melchiſedec, Pſal. 110. 4. Aaron was of the tribe of Leui, Heb. 7. 5. his ſtocke and linage was known, Ex. 6. 16. 18. 20. he was compaſſed with infirmities, mortall, a ſinner, and had need to offer for himſelfe, and for his owne ſinnes, Heb. 7. 28. and 5. 2, 3. 4. and 9. 7. but Chriſt was of the tribe of Iudah. Heb. 7. 14. without Father touching his humanity, without mother touching his dietie, Heb, 7. 3. immortall and continuing for euer, holy, harmeles, vndefiled, who had no need to offer for himſelfe, but offered himſelfe for the people onelyonly, Heb. 7. 25. 26, 27. Materiall oyle was powred vponupon Aaron at his conſecration; Leu. 8. 12. but Chriſt was anointed with the holy Ghoſt, Act. 10. 38. Aaron was inſtituted without an oath, but Chriſt with an oath. Heb. 7. 20. 21. 28. Pſal. 110. 4. The Prieſthood of Aaron was typicall, Heb. 10. 2, 3. not auailable to take away ſinne, Heb. 9. 14. 15. but the Prieſthood of Chriſt is true and reall, containing the very Image and body of things themſelues; perfect to aboliſh ſinne, and to obtaine eternall redemption, Heb. 10. 1. 5. 11. Heb. 9. 12. 14. The Leuiticall Prieſt-hood was to be abrogated, Heb. 8. 13. but Chriſts Prieſthood is to continue for euer; Heb. 7. 24. Aaron died and had ſucceſſors, Heb. 7. 23. but Chriſt ſucceeded none, hath no ſucceſſors, but is our onelyonly and vnchangeable high Prieſt for euer, Heb. 7. 3. Aaron and his ſucceſſors, offered the bodies, and the blood of beaſts, Heb. 9. 12. 14. but Chriſt himſelfe is both the Prieſt and ſacrifice, Eph. 5. 25. Heb. 9. 26. and 10. 10. They offered oftentimes one manner of ſacrifice, but Chriſt hath offered himſelfe once for all. Heb. 7. 27. and 9. 25. 26. and 10. 12. 14. 1. Pet. 3. 18. Aaron and his ſucceſſors entred into the Tabernacle made with hands, Heb. 8. 5. and 9. 6. but Chriſt is entred into the very heauens, Heb. 9. 11. 24. and 4. 14. Aaron and his ſuceeſſors were Prieſts onelyonly, but Chriſt is both King and Prieſt, Heb. 7. 1, 2. Aaron and his ſucceſſors were but Miniſters, but Chriſt is the author of ſaluation, Heb. 5. 9. all which doe ſhewe the abſoluteneſſe, perfection, and excellencie of Chriſt his Prieſthood.
Q. What are the functions of his Prieſtly office?
A. Offering 19 vp gHeb. 5. 1. and 9. 26. and 7. 25.himſelfe a ſacrifice once for all, and 20 making requeſt for vsus,
Expoſ. 19. Chriſt thorough the eternal Spirit, Heb. 9. 14. offered vp his ſoule and body as a ſweete ſmelling ſacrifice to the Father, Eph. 5. 2. once for all, Heb. 10. 12. whereby he was conſecrated, and did enter into heauen, preſenting himſelfe before the Father for vsus, Heb. 9. 24. and 10. 20.
20. Chriſt… interceſſion is his moſt gracious will, feruently and vnmooueably deſiring, that all his members for the perpetuall vertue of his ſacrifice, may be accepted of the Father, Rom. 8. 34. This is both vniuerſall and particular, heauenly and glorious, euer effectuall, no way reciprocall, and tendered onelyonly for the vertue of his ſacrifice.