What hath been pleaded is sufficient unto our present purpose, as to the declaration of the nature of the priesthood of Christ, his entrance upon it, and discharge of it. But there being another opi- nion concerning it, universally opposite in all particulars unto the truth declared and vindicated, we must, for the security of the faith of the church, call it, with the ways, means, and artifices wherewith it is endeavoured to be supported, unto an account; which shall be done in the ensuing Exercitation.
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EXERCITATION XXXII. THE NATURE OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST.
1. The opinion of the Socinians about the priesthood of Christ distinctly stated in eight particulars; 2. Expressed by themselves. 3. The faith of the church of God in opposition thereunto, 4. Vindication of the whole doc- trine of the priesthood of Christ from the perversion of it and opposition made unto it by Crellius—Its agreement and disagreement with his kingly office and power. 5. How the priestly office of Christ is mentioned by other writers of the New Testament, and why principally handled in this Epistle to the Hebrews. 6. Intercession no act of Christ’s kingly power—Rom. viii. 34 vindicated—The mutual respect between the offices of Christ with regard unto the same general end. 7. 1 John ii. 2 vindicated—Testimonies of the Old and New Testament omitted—Confidence of the Socinians in pretending to own the priesthood and sacrifice of Christ. 8. The priest- hood of Christ is not comprehended by the holy writers in his kingly office— Attempts to prove it vain—The nature of the expiation of sins vindicated— Heb. iy. 16 explained. 9. The words of the Psalmist, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee,” how and in what sense applied by the apostles with respect unto the offices of Christ. 10. Vanity of Crellius in assigning differ- ences between the kingly ard priestly offices of Christ. 11. The differences assigned by him examined. 12. Real difference and distinction between these offices proved. 13. The dignity and honour of Christ exposed by denying his real priesthood. 14. The boldness of-Smalcius in censuring the divine writers—His reason why they ascribed the priestly office to Christ.
1. THE opinion of the Socinians concerning the priesthood of Christ was expressed in general in our preceding discourse; but for the clearer apprehension and confutation of it, it is necessary that it be more ‘particularly declared in the most important parts of it, as also that its contrariety unto the faith of the church may be the more plainly demonstrated. And the sum of what they pretend to apprehend and believe herein may be reduced unto the ensuing heads:—
_ (1) “That the Lord Christ was not, nor is, a high priest properly so called, but only metaphorically, by reason of some allusion be- tween what he doth for the church and what was done by the high priests under the law for the Jews.” And here, if they please, they may rest, as having in design utterly overthrown or rejected this office of Christ. But further to manifest their intentions, they add,—
(2.) “That he was not at all, in any sense, a high priest whilst he was on the earth, or before his ascension into heaven.” And this because he did not any. of those things on the earth on the account whereof he is called a high priest; but he is called so in an allusion to the high priests under the law. Hence it follows that in his death he offered no sacrifice unto God, nor made any expiation of our sins thereby; which also that he did not they expressly contend.
168 TRUE NATURE OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST [EXERC. XXXII.
(3.) “That therefore he became a high priest when he entered into heaven, and presented himself alive unto God.” Not that then he received any new office which he had not before, but only that then he had power to do those things from the doing whereof he is metaphorically denominated a priest. Wherefore they say,—
(4.) “That it is in heaven where he makes atonement and doth expiate our sins, which is called his offering himself unto God an expiatory oblation or sacrifice; which as it consisted not in his suffer- ings, death, and bloodshedding, so had it no virtue or efficacy from thence, but only as it was a condition pre-required thereunto.”
(5.) “ This expiation of our sins consists principally in two things, —[1.] Our deliverance from the punishment due unto them, ini- tially in this world by pardon, and completely at the last day, when we shall be saved from the wrath to come. [2.] In our deliverance from the power of sin, by faith in the doctrine he taught and con- formity unto his example, that we should not serve it in this world.” And,—
(6.) “ Hence it follows that believers are the first proper objects of the discharge of the duties of this office, or of all the sacerdotal actings of Christ ;” for they consist in the help, aid, relief, and de- liverance from our spiritual enemies which we have by him, his gracious and merciful will of relieving us being that on the account whereof he is called a high priest, and wherein that office doth consist. Wherefore,—
(7.) “ This priestly office of Christ is upon the matter the same with his kingly office;” or it is the exerting and exercise of his kingly power with love, care, and compassion ; so called in the Epistle to the Hebrews, out of an allusion unto what was done by the high priests of old.