To this Heb. vii. 15, 16 is urged, and these words, "After the power of an endless life," are insisted on; as though Christ was not a priest until after he had ended his life and risen again.
But is this the intendment of the apostle? doth he aim at any such thing? The apostle is insisting on one of his arguments, to prove from the institution of the priesthood of Melchizedek, or rather a priesthood after his order, the excellency of the priesthood of Christ above that of Aaron. From the manner of the institution of the one and of the other this argument lies. Says he, "The priests of the Jews were made xard w/jjov svrokrig ffapKixrjs, according to the law of a carnal commandment," — that is, by carnal rites and ceremonies, by carnal oil and ordinances ; " but this man is made a priest after the order of Melchisedec, xara bmaix.tv Z^urtg uKaraXvrov, by virtue of an endless life, — by the appointment of God, having such a life as should never by death interrupt him in the administration of his office:" for though the life of Christ was intercepted three days, yet his person was never dissolved as to the administration of his office of priesthood, which is the thing spoken of, and in respect of that he had an " endless life."
Question 9 is to the same purpose: —
OF Christ's priestly office. 407
Q. How did Christ enter into the holy place to offer himself? A. Heb. ix. 12, " By his own blood."
Ans. Would not any one imagine, [from this question,] that it was said in the Scripture that Christ entered into the holy place to offer himself? that that is taken for granted, and the onodus or manner hew he did it is alone inquired after? This is but one part of the sophistry Mr B. makes use of in this Scripture Catechism; but it is so far from being a true report of the testimony of the Scripture, that the plain contrary is asserted, — namely, that Christ offered himself before his entrance into the holy place not made with hands, and then entered thereinto, to appear in the presence of God for us. Christ entered by his own blood into the holy place, inasmuch as, having shed and offered his blood a sacrifice to God, with the effi- cacy of it, he entered into his presence to carry on the work of his priesthood in his intercession for us; as the high priest, having offered without a sacrifice to God, entered with the blood of it into the most holy place, there to perfect and complete the duties of his office in offering and interceding for the people.
The remaining questions of this chapter may be speedily despatch- ed. His sixth is: —
Q. What benefit happeneth by Christ's priesthood ? A. Heb. V. 9, 10.
Though the place be very improperly urged as to an answer to the question proposed, there being very many more testimonies clearly and distinctly expressing the immediate fruits and benefits of the priestly office of Christ, yet because we grant that by his priest- hood, principally and eminently, Christ is become the author of sal- vation, we shall not dissent as to this question and answer. Only, Ave add as to the manner, that the way whereby Christ by his priest- hood became the author of salvation consists principally in the of- fering up of himself to death in and by the shedding of his bloody whereby he obtained for us eternal redemption, Heb. ix. 14, 26.
But this Mr B. makes inquiry after: —
Q. How can Christ save them by his priesthood f A. Heb. vii. 25, ix. 28.
Ans. We acknowledge the use of the intercession of Christ for the carrying on and the completing of the work of our salvation, as also that it is the apostle's design there to manifest his ability to save beyond what the Aaronical priests could pretend unto, which is men- tioned chap. vii. 25 ; but that " he saves us thereby," exclusively to the oblation he made of himself at his death, or any otherwise but as carrying on that work whose foundation was laid therein (re- demption being meritoriously procured thereby), I suppose Mr B. doth not think that this place is any way useful to prove. And that place which he subjoins is not added at all to the advantage of his
408 VINDICI/E EVAKGELICJi.
intendment; for it is most evident that it is of the offering of Christ by death and the shedding of his blood, or the sacrifice of himself, as verse 26, that the apostle there speaks.
There is not any thing else that is needful for me to insist upon in this chapter; for though the Scripture instructs us in many other uses that we are to make of the doctrine of the priesthood of Christ than what he expresses in his last question, yet that being one emi- nent one amongst them (especially the foundation of coming with boldness to the throne of grace, being rightly understood), I shall not need to insist farther on it.
Not to put myself or reader to any needless trouble, Mr B. ac- knowledging that Christ is a high priest, and having opposed only his investiture with the office whilst he was upon the earth, and that to destroy the atonement made by the sacrifice of himself, having proved that he was a priest properly so called, I shall now prove that he was a high priest whilst he was upon earth, and show afterward what he had to offer, with the efficacy of his sacrifice, and the intent thereof: —