How Doth Christ Execute the Office of a Priest?
Answ. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice, to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God£ and in making continual intercession for us.
Q. What do you mean by a priest? A. One
who, by virtue of God’s appointment, offers up sacrifice to him, in the room of guilty sinners, Heb. viii. 3.
£). What is a proper sacrifice?
A. An holy offering up of some life to God in the stead of guilty men, upon an altar, and by a priest of his appointment, Hcb. v. 8.
Q. Why call you it an holy offering?
A. Because it was to be made to an holy God in a holy and reverend manner, Lev. x.. 3.
£). Why call you it the offering of a life P
A. Because the life of the thing offered was to be taken from it in + vie sacrifice of it, Lev. xvii. 11,
Q. Why was the life of the thing offered to be taken from it? A. Because without shedding of bleod there can be no remission of sin, Heb. ix. 22,
Q. Why so? A. Because man’s sin is an attack
upon the life of the most high God, lob xv. 25, 26..
Q. In what doth Christ’s priestiy office differ from his prophetical and kingly offices?
A. Christ, in the execution of his prophetical and kingly offices, deals with creatures •, but in the execution of Iks priestly, he deals immediately with God, Heb. ii. 17, ix. 1 4. and vii. 25.
.-g. What are the two parts of Christ’s priestly office?
A. His offering sacrifice, and making intercession.
<£. What sacrifice, did Christ offer up? A. He of»
lered up himself, both soul and body, Heb. ix. 14.
Q. How prove you that he offered his soul?
A. It is said, Thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin: his soul y*z&. troubled and sorrowful: nor could he have atoned for the sin of our souls, if he had not offered his own in sacrifice, Isa. liii. 10. &c. John xii. 21.
Q. Hew prove you that Christ’s divine nature was not properly offered in sacrifice?
A. Because his divine nature cannot suffer, 1 Tim. vi. 16.
Q. How is it then said, He gave himself for us?
A. Because his divine person gave infinite worth to the •ffering of his human nature, Acts xx. 28. Titus ii. 14.
Qj On what altar did Christ offer his sacrifice?
A. On the altar of his divine nature, Heb. ix. 14.
Q. Of what use was the altar in sacrifices?
A. It supported, sanctified, and made laluable the gift,
$). How prove you that the cross could not properly Jbe the altar on which Christ offered his sacrifice?
A. Because it could not give value to his offering.
Q. How long did Christ continue in offering himself?
A. He began his offering in his incarnation, continued it through his life, and completed it in his death and burial.
Q. When did he most remarkably offer himself?
A* In his agony in the garden and on the cross.
Q. What was the sword which killed, and fire whicH consumed this sacrifice?
A. The justice and wrath of God. Q. Did not divine justice make use of men and devils as instruments in slaying this sacrifice?
A. Yes$ but not in the severest part of its work, Zecfu xiii. 7. Isa. liii. 10.
$). Why did not an angry God make use of them in the’ whole of that work? A. Because they could not
afflict Christ with such severity as his justice required.
Q. Who was the priest that offered up Christ in sacrifice? A. It was himself, Heb. ix. 14. Tit. ii. 14.
£). Why was it necessary that Christ should offer himself?
A. Because a voluntary death was essentially necessary to the acceptance of this sacrifice: and none else could present this offering to God, John x. 17. Phil. ii. 7, 8.
O. Where did Christ offer himself? A. On earth.
Q. Why upon earth?
A. Because the earth is the theatre of that rebellion of man against God for which he atoned *, and it was necessary that God should be glorified by Christ’s death, where sin had dishonoured him.
Q. How often did Christ offer himself a sacrifice?
A. Only once, Heb. ix. 28. Rev. i. 18.
Qj. Why not ofiener than once? A. Because his
once offering, which comprehends his whole surety-righteousness, fully satisfied the law and justice of God.
Q. In whose stead did Christ offer himself?
A. In stead of the elect only, and for no other.
Q. How prove you that Christ died in the room of the elect?
A. The scripture affirms that their sin was laid upon him, and he bare it, and laid down his life fur them.
Q. How7 prove you that he died in the room of the elect only t
A. Because he prayed for, and saves the elect only, John xvii. 9. and x. 15. Rom. xi. 7. Acts xiii. 48.
Qj Why then do other men share of gospel-offers, common operations of the Spirit, and much temporal happiness? A. Though Christ represented the persons of the elect only in his death •, yet others, for the elect’s sake, receive these good things as the consequence of his death, Matth. xxiv. 22. Isa. Hi. 15. and liii. 12.
O. To whom did Christ offer himself? A. To God.
Q. For what end did Christ offer himself?
A. To satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, Eph. v. 2.
Q. Why did divine justice, require a satisfaction?
A. Because the elect had dishonoured God, and broken his law, Isa. liii. 6. Rom. iii. 9, — 26.
Q What did divine justice require as a satisfaction?
A. That the curse of God’s law should be executed, either upon the elect themselves, or a surety in theiroom.
Q. Why might they not have satisfied for themselves I
A. Because they were wicked, and could not cease from sin 5 and were finite, and could not give the infinite satisfaction which divine justice required, Micah yi. 6, 7.
O. Why did divine justice require an infinite satisfaction for the sin of finite creatures? A. Becau.se sin had given infinite offence to God, Jer. xliv. 4. 1 John iii. 4.
Q. How could divine justice demand that satisfaction frora Christ? A. Because he had engaged to pay all the debt of the elect world, Psalm xl. 6, 7. Isa. liii. 6.
Q. How could Christ lawfully give away his life far others? A. He was God, and his life was wholly his
own, which he might dispose of as he pleased, John x. IS.
Q. Hath Christ fully satisfied God’s justice for our sins?
A. Yes*, his sacrifice was to God of a sweet-smelling savour, and savour of ‘rest ‘, Eph. v. 2. Heb. ix. 12.
£). Why is Christ’s sacrifice so called? A. Because it entirely overcame the abominable savour of sin, and gave God’s justice the sweetest rest, Isa. xlii. 21.
Q. How do you further prove that Christ satisfied ‘God’s justice? A. From his saying on the cross, // h
finished; and from his Father’s raising him from the dead, and exalting him to his right hand, John xix. 30.
Q. What is the effect of Christ’s satisfying divine justice? A. Our reconciliation to God, Rom. v. 10.
Q. Did Christ’s offering himself change God’s dispositions towards us?
A. No *, but it removed out of the way whatever hindered the manifesting of his love to us.
Q. How doth the death of Christ reconcile men’s hearts to God? A. When it is applied to their conscience,
the love of God shines so brightly in it, that it slays their enmity against God, 1 John iv. 9, 10, 19.
Q. Is not the shedding of Christ’s blood sufficient to save us? A. No 5 it must also be applied to, cr
sprinkled on our consciences •, and hence it is called, the blood of sprinkling, Ezek. xxxvi. 25. 1 Pet. i. 2.
(X When are we actually reconciled to God?
A. When Christ’s blood is first sprinkled on our con* sciences.
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O; How may we know that we are reconciled to God?
A. If we are made heart enemies to all sin, Ps. cxix. 104.
Q. What is the second part of Christ’s priestly work I
A. His making intercession for us, Heb. ix. 24. and vii. 25.
Q. What do you understand by Christ’s intercession?
A. His willing the application of his purchased redemption to his people, John xvii. Heb. vii. 25.
O. Is Christ’s intercession in heaven any part of his surety righteousness? A. No -7 it is a part of his glorious reward, Heb. i. 3. and ix. 24.
Q. Might not his intercession alone have saved sinners?
A. No; for it could not satisfy God’s justice, Rom. iii. 25.
Q. If, God’s. justice be satisfied, and all blessings purchased by his sacrifice, what need is there of Christ’s intercession? A. That he may procure the possession of these blessings to the elect in such a way as best secures the glory of God, his own honour, and our welfare.
(£. How doth Christ’s intercession secure the glory of God? A. At by this means God hath no gracious
dealings with sinners but thro’ a Mediator, 2 Cor. v. 19.
Q. How doth it honour Christ? A. In this way
believers have immediate dependence on Christ for ever-Q. How doth Christ’s intercession secure the welfare of h:: people? A. It rer-ders them bold before God ‘,
and secures their grace and glory, notwithstanding their great carelessness and folly, Heb* iv. 14, 15, 16.
Q. For whom doth Christ make intercession?
A. For the elect only, John xvii. 9.
Q. For what doth he intercede to them, in their unconverted state? A. For their preservation from hell, ard inbringing into the bond of the new covenant.
Q. What intercedes he for, to them, after their conversion?
A. For their continuance in the covenant, and the constant communication of its blessings to ihem.
Q. Hew doth he obtain this? A. By answering
all accusations against them, by removing new differences between God and them, and by procuring the acceptance of what service they perform in faith. 1 John ii. 1. Q. Who accuse believers before G-;d A. Satan and their own consciences, Rev. xii. 10,
Q. Of what do they accuse believers? A. Of continual departures from God, Zech. iii. 1. Q. How doth Christ answer these accusations? A. By continually presenting his righteousness as theirs before God, Heb. ix. 24.
Q. How doth he take up the new differences which sin makes between God and them?
A. By procuring new application of his blood to their consciences, 1 John ii. 1, 2.
O. What in believers worship tends to render it unacceptable to God? A. The unworthiness of their persons, and the sin and weakness that attend their worship. Q. How doth Christ cure these defects? A. By appearing in their name, and presenting his atoning blood to God for the perfuming of their services, Rev. vim 4.
Q. What doth Christ by his intercession procure to his people at death? A. Abundant admission to glory.
Q. For what doth Christ intercede after their death? A. For their resurrection and eternal continuance in glory, John xvii. 24.
Qi How long will Christ intercede for his people? A. For ever: He ever liveth to make intercession. Qj Upon what plea or ground does Christ intercede? A. Upon the footing of his own merit or blood, which purchased eternal- redemption for us, Heb. ix. 12, 24.
Qi Where doth Christ now intercede? A. Within
the vail in heaven, the true holy of holies, Heb. ix. 24. Q^ In what manner doth Christ intercede for us? A. Continually, distinctly, carefully, and successfully. Q. How is Christ’s intercession continual? A. He
never ceases from his interceding work, Rom. viii. 34. Qj How is it distinct?
A. He represents his people’s case precisely as it is, Zech. i. 12. John xvii.
Q. How is it careful? A. He intercedes with the
greatest earnestness and zeal for our good, John xvii. Q. How is Christ’s intercession successful? A. The Father heareth him always, John xi. 42. Q. Can angels, or saints departed, assist Christ in hi* intercession? A. No; Christ is the only
Advocate with the Father, 1 John ii. 1, 2. Eph. ii. 18. p. Wherein do the intercession of Christ and of the
Holy Ghost differ? A. The Holy Ghost intercedes
within us on earth by stirring us up, and directing us how to plead with God for ourselves j but Christ intercedes without us, and presents our petitions to God, Romans viii. 26, 27, 34. John xvii. Heb. ix. 24. and yii. 25.
Q. What singular honour hath God put upon the priesthood of Christ?
A. He made him priest with an oath; and appointed more types to represent his priesthood than any of his other two offices, Psalm ex. 4. Heb. v, ix, x.
. Ql Why was this peculiar honour put upon Christ’spriesihood? A. Because it is most above the light of
inttute, most opposed by carnal men; it gives the brightest view of the perfections of God it is the foundation of the two other offices, and hath the most difficult work. belonging to it, 1 Pet. i. 10, 11. Tsa. Liii.
Q. What types under the Old Testament represented Christ’s priesthood? A. The most of the types but
especially the sacrifices, altars, and priests.
(J. What was typified by all the proper sacrifices?
A. The suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ, Heb. ix. 10-
^K What was typified by the pGuring out of the blood of the sacrifice, bu.rni.ng the fat, and sometimes the whole beast?
A. The seventy of Christ’s sufferings, Isa. liii. 10.
Q. What was signified by the blood oi the sacrifice being sprinkled both on the altar, and on the person for whom it was offered? A. That Christ’s sufferings
should both appease God and purify sinners, Heb. ix, x.
Q. What was signified by the feasting on the rlesh of sacrifices after the fat was burnt? A. That the sacrifice «f Christ is the most proper, quickening, and nourishing entertainment for our souls, John vi. 53. Isa. x.w. 6.
Q^ What did the salting of the sacrifice typify?
A. The everlasting sweet savour, reconciling, and sinkilli.n« .influence of Christ’s death, Eph. v. 2.
Q. What did the offering of sacrifices every day signify
A. The constant virtue of Christ’s blood, and our daily need of applying it, Gal. ii. 20. John vi. 56.
Q- What were some of the most distinguished typical sacrifices ?■ A. The sacrifice of the birds for the lfc-Qiiest. 25 .• Of Christ’s Priestly Office. 113
per, of the red heifer, and especially that of universal atonement, on the tenth day of the seventh month.
Qj What did the sacrifice of the birds typify?
A. The bird slain overrunning water, typified God’s holy child Jesus dying for our sins*; and the living bird flying away after it had been dipped in the blood of the slain bird, typified his rising and ascending to glory, to present his blood before God for our justification, Rom. iv. 25.
Qj What did the burning, &c. of the red heifer signify?
A. That Christ’s- sufferings should perfume and purify all his people in every generation, Heb. x’ui. 12.
Q. WThat did the sacrifice of universal atonement signify? A. The slaying of one goat for all Israel, typified Christ bearing all the sins of the elect in his death: and the sending the other goat into the wilderness, signified Christ’s taking away, and making an end of our sins by it.
Q, What did the burning of sacrifices writh holy fire typify? A. That Christ as a sacrifice offered through
the eternal Spirit, should be scorched and melted in the fire of the Father’s wrath, Psalm xxii. 14. and lxix.
Q. What did the altar typify? A. Christ’s divine
nature, as supporting and sanctifying the human in its obedience and suffering, Heb. ix. and xiii. 1-0.
Qj What did the altar’s being made of stone, brass &c. typify? A. The sufficiency of Christ’s divine nature, to support the human in his sufferings.
Q. What did the priests, and especially the high priests, typify? A. The person of Christ as our priest.
Qc What did the washings and freedom from blemishes in priests and sacrifices, typify.
A. The perfection and purity of Christ and his righte- ©usness, Heb. vii. 26.
Q^ What was typified by the vast number of priests?
A. The great extent and importance of Christ’s work as our grear High Priest, Heb. vii, viii, ix.
Q. What did their robes, especially those of the high priest, typify? A, Christ’s glorious righteousness.r.
Q. What did the high priest’s mitre typify?
A. That Christ is both king and priest, Heb, i. and y»
Q. What did his Urim and Thummim signify
A. The infinite knowledge and perfection of Christ* K3
Q. What did the high priest’s bearing the names of all the tribes of Israel on his breast-plate, signify?
A. That Christ has all the elect’s names engraven on his heart, and continually represents them before God.
Q^ What did the high priest’s going in once a-year to the holy of holies, to present the blood of atonement, typify? A. Christ’s ascending once for all into heaven, to present his sacrifice to God in the name of his people.
Q. Why might not one type have sufficed to represent Christ? A- All types were created and imperfect
things, whereas Christ’s person and work was divine.
Q. In what did Christ resemble the Old-Testament priests? A. He, like them, had God’s call •, was taken
from among men, and represented his guilty brethren.
Q. In what did Christ excel the Old-Testament priests?
A. Injhis person, instalment, order, and duration of office; and iii the nature, extent, and efficacy of his work,.
Q. How doth Christ excel them in his person. 2
A. He is Immanuel, God-man; and they were but sinful men, Isa. ix. 6. Heb. vii. 27.
Q. How doth he excel them in his instalment into his office? A> He was installed by God, with an oath;
but they by men, without an oath, Heb. vii,. 21.
Q. How doth Christ excel them in his order of office?
A, They were priests after the order of Aaron; but he is a priest after the order of Melchi%cdck, Heb. vii.
Q. In what did Melchizedek typify Christ?
A. In the dignity and eternity of his priesthood.
Q. How doth Christ excel the Old-Testament priests in duration of office *
A. They did not continue by reason of death, and their priesthood i* now abolished j but Christ’s- priesthood is e~ ternal and unchangeable*
Q. How doth he excel them in the nature of his work?
A. They offered beasts, &c. Christ offered himself
Qj How doth he excel them in the extent of his wrork?
A. They were many, and each had but a small share of work •, but Christ alone performs the whole work of the priesthood for all the elect, Heb. x. 14. and ix. 12, 14.
Q. Why then are believers called priests unto God?
A. Because they are clothed with Christ’s righteousness; and in his name offer sacrifice, not of atonement, but of praise and thanksgiving to God, Rev. i, iv, and v.
Q^ How doth Christ excel the Old-Testament priests in the efficacy of his sacrifice? A. Their sacrifices
in themselves never pleased God, nor took away sin; but his sacrifice perfectly satisfied divine justice, and made an end of our sin, Heb. x. 1, 14,
Q. How should we improve the priesthood of Christ I A. By making his righteousness and intercession the enly ground of our confidence before God j and by bold» ly asking in his name whatever blessings we need*.