s,” with the like magnificent expressions of sacerdotal actings, do Recta unto ,—namely, that he frees us by his power from tempta- tions and afflictions, with all the efficacy they have to destroy us? Is this, I say, to offer himself to God a true, perfect, complete expia-
SECT, 19.] OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. 235
tory sacrifice? Were it not much better wholly to deny that Christ was a high priest, or that he ever offered himself to God, than to put such strained and futilous senses on these expressions. (38.) And because these men will have it so, all things must be spoken properly of the Aaronical priests, though they were umbratile, typi- cal, figurative, temporary, and liable to such infirmities as exceedingly eclipsed the glory of the office itself; but all things spoken of the Lord Christ to the same purpose must be improper and metaphorical, and denote things of another nature, only called by the names of priesthood and sacrifice in allusion unto them and those things, who and which were appointed and ordained of God for no other end or purpose but that they might prefigure him in the discharge of his office. And then, to salve the matter, the things so improperly assigned unto Christ must be said to be more excellent than the things that are properly ascribed unto the Aaronical priests, when indeed they are not, nor to be compared unto them; and if they were, yet would not that prove but that Aaron, though not abso- lutely, yet as unto the office of the priesthood, was more excellent than Christ, as being properly a priest, whereas the Lord Christ was so only metaphorically, which is a diminution as to that particular.
He closeth his discourse: “ Istud adhuc antequam hinc abeamus notare libet, Paulum, Rom. xv. 17, licet de munere suo apostolico loquatur, cujus vis circa homines primo versabatur, et quod, ut cum Grotio loquamur, erat pro Deo aut Christo apud homines, tamen quia ad sacrificia sacerdotiumque alludit dicere, se habere gloria- tionem, seu quod glorietur in Christo Jesu ra apis Océ, ‘in lis quae apud Deum.’”
Ans. This observation doth no way impeach the force of the tes- timony produced by Grotius). He intended no more by that ex- pression, Ta «pig riv @zév, but to declare in the words of the apostle that God was the object of what was so performed ; which certainly, unless some great reason be produced unto the contrary, must be acknowledged to be the sense of the words. But Grotius proves his intention from the matter treated of, which is sacrifices; and if they are not offered unto God, and that for men, they are not at all what they are called. And in compliance with this sense the apostle respects the discharge of his conscience towards God in the work of his ministry, wherein he had immediately to do with him; for although men were the object of his ministry, yet he received it from God, and to him he was to give an account thereof. Where- fore he only declares how he had acquitted himself sincerely in that whole work, which was in an especial manner committed unto him of God, and whereof he was to give unto him a peculiar aec- count.
236 PREFIGURATIONS OF THE PRIESTHOOD [EXERO. XXXIV.
20. I had sundry reasons why I chose to insist on a particular examination of these discourses of Crellius; for it is confessed that none among our adversaries have handled those things with more diligence and subtilty than he hath made use of. It was neces- sary, therefore, to give a specimen, as of his strength, so of his way and method, whereby he seeks to defend his opinions. And every impartial reader may see, in the discussion of what he allegeth or pleadeth, that the whole of his defence is made up of tergiversations, equivocations, and plausible diversions from the cause under debate. Besides, I have had sundry opportunities hereby to declare many things belonging to the nature and discharge of the priesthood of Christ which could not conveniently be reduced unto other heads. And I was willing, also, to cast these things into this place by them- selves, to avoid all controversies as much as possible in the Exposi- tion itself, though I constantly detect the falsehood of this man’s interpretations, as those of others who either follow him or comply with him. And hereby also, perhaps, some who are less exercised in the sophistry of these men may learn somewhat how they are to be dealt withal.
EXERCITATION XXXIV.
PREFIGURATIONS OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND SACRIFICE OF CHRIST.
1. Prefigurations of the priesthood and sacrifice of Christ. 2. The original, use, and practice of sacrifices before the law—Rabbinical conceits on Ps. Ixix. 32 —lInstances of the sacrifices of the patriarchs—Occasional, not stated. 3. No office of priesthood from the beginning—Men bound to offer sacrifices every one for himself. 4. Sacrifices in families, before the law and afterwards, among the heathen and in the church. 5. By whom those sacrifices were — offered. 6. This further inquired into. 7. The rights of primogenitors— What Jacob took from Reuben, Gen. xlix. 3,4. 8. Jews’ apprehension of the rights of the first-born. 9. The right of sacrificing continued unto parti- cular persons before the law, and to fathers of families. 10. The first rise of the priesthood in greater communities by lot or suffrage. 11. How far annexed to the kingly office. 12. Inquiry into the original of the priesthood among the Egyptians. 13. The story of the Hyksos in Manetho applicable to the Hebrews only. 14. Who were the priests of Egypt. 15, 16. The wise men, sorcerers, magicians of Egypt, and of the Chaldeans.