(z88) 2, And but little better doth the faid DoCtrine deal with Chrifts Prieftly office, to which yet it feemeth to give almoit all. For whereas Chrift is purpofely defcribed by the holy Church to be a Prieft for ever aftersthe order of Melclobt,eack,, it is a doubt whether they deny him not to be a Prieft at all : For it was the office of the Priett to aft as a middle perfon on behalf of the people, and for their good, but not in the very perfon of the (in- ner, fo as that in Law the limier did what the Prieft did ; further then as confent or requeft did make the Prieft his Initrument. But thefe menrather make Chrift our Delegate then our Prieft ; as if he had been one fent by us, to do and fuffer in our perfon and Itead But fuppofe that they do honor the exercife of Chrifts Prieft- hood on the Crofs ; do they not deny him the honor of it ever after in heaven ? It is the office of Chrift, as Prieft after the or- der of (914elchizedek, to be (till making Interceflion for us with God : by which Intercefsion he procureth us pardon of fin when we believe, and Abfolution or JUffification, Adoption-Right to heaven ; alfo he procureth us a renewed Pardon for each parti- cular fin afterward ; and the Continuation of the firft : All this is denyed by thefe men tohis Prieftly Interceffion with God, and pretended to be done on the Crofs before wewere born : as if it were nothing but the knowledge or fenfe of thefe that intercef- lion procureth ,with fandificationand poffefsionofthe glory that we had beforea Right to; Heb. 7. 24,25. Hebath an unchange- able Prieflhood ; Wherefore he PS able alto to faze them to the utter- mofl, that come to God by him, tieing he ever liveth to make Inter- ceffionfor them. What man that honoreth thrifts Priefthood,and knows the prefent need we have Dill of it, dare fay, that he need-. eth not the Intercefsion of Chrift to procure him the Pardon of any one fin with God, ( all being done already) but onlythe fenfe of this in our confciences. 3. The Prophetical Office of Chrift is exercifed, by his writ- ings and Minifters without , and his Spirit within ; the work of all which is,to teach us his Will orLaws ; even all things whatfo- ever he commanded : Math. z8. 20) 21. This Doctrine therefore which doth,as is aforefaid, fubvert the Laws themfelves , and the Dotirinewhich fhould be taught, cloth contradict Chrifts teach- ing by Word, Miniftry and Spirit. If he teach us the nature of his Covenant, and the Conditions on which we muff expe6 his blefsings,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=