2. The matter of the words show his fitness for this office, for here you have : —
[1.] His dignity : not a servant, but a Son : Heb. iii. 5, 6, ' Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, but Christ as a Son over his own house.' Now the old prophecies foretold the union of the two natures in his person, and necessary it was that our mediator should be God-man. There is a congruity between his person and office, one fit to be familiar with man, and naturally interested in his concerns, and yet so high and near the Father as may put a sufficient value upon his actions, and so meet to mediate with God for us.
[2.] The dearness between God and him : ' My beloved Son.' Christ is the object of his Father's love, both as the second person in the Trinity and mediator. The one is the ground of the other, for because he loved him he intrusted him with souls: John iii. 35, ' The Father hath loved him, and put all things into his hands' — the elect and all things else, all power that conduceth to their salvation. Afterwards loved him as mediator : John x. 17, ' Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.' Now such a beloved Son is fittest to mediate for us, and to come upon a design of love, to demonstrate God's great love to wretched sinners, and to be a pledge of that love which God will bestow upon us who are altogether so unworthy of it.
[3.] His acceptableness to God, who is well pleased with the design, the terms, the management of it.
Mat. XVII. 5.] Christ's transfiguration. 393
II. This work of mediator Christ executeth by three offices, of king, priest, prophet. For he is head and lord of tlie renewed state ; a priest to offer a sacrifice for sin, which, having once offered, he for ever represents in heaven ; he was also to be teacher of mankind, to acquaint us with the way of salvation. These offices are often alluded unto in scripture : Rev. i. 5, ' The faithful witness, the first-begotten from the dead, the prince of the kings of the earth ; ' so Heb. i. 2, 3, ' God hath spoken to us by his Son, he having by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.' The effect of them is more briefly described : John xiv. 6, ' I am the way, the truth, and the life.' The way was opened by his passion, and is kept open by his intercession. Truth as a prophet. Life we have from him, as prince of life, or head of the renewed estate. So the effects : 1 Cor. i. 30, ' But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption.' Wisdom as a prophet to cure our ignorance and folly ; righteousness and sanctification as a priest ; redemption as the king and captain of our salvation. The same benefits which he purchaseth as a king, he bestoweth as a priest, revealeth as a prophet. These three offices were typed out by the first-born, who were heads of families, and also prophets and priests.
That though all the three offices be employed, yet the prophetical office is more explicitly mentioned, partly as suiting with the present occasion, which is to demonstrate that Christ hath sufficient authority to repeal the law of Moses, which the prophets were to explain, confirm, and maintain till his coming. But now Moses and Elias appear in person to certify their consent, and God his approbation, from heaven, to that new law of grace which Christ should set up ; partly because it is not necessary that in every place all the offices should be men- tioned; sometimes but one, as where Christ is called either king, priest, or prophet ; sometimes two together, Heb. iii. 1, prophetical, sacerdotal : * Consider the apostle and high priest of our profession, Christ Jesus ;' sometimes his prophetical and kingly, Isa. Iv. 4, ' Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, and for a leader and commander to the people : ' partly because if Christ be received in this one office he will be received in all the rest ; for as a prophet he hath revealed that doctrine which establishetli his kingly and priestly office, for he hath revealed all things necessary to salvation, and therefore his own sacrifice and regal power. Lastly, some think all expressly mentioned here. Thus Christ is God's beloved Son, and therefore the heir of all things, and lord and king, in whom he is well pleased — that is, pacified and satisfied with his offering as a priest, or appeased by his complete sacrifice. Hear him as the great prophet and doctor of the Church.
This premised, I come now to observe : —
Doct. That Christ is appointed by God the Father to be the great prophet and teacher, whose voice alone must be heard in the Church,
I. That Christ is the great prophet and teacher of the Church appeareth : —