XVII.
Concerning His priesthood, Christ having
sanctified Himself, hath appeared once to put away sin by that one offering of Himself a
sacrifice for sin, by which He hath fully finished and suffered all things God required
for the salvation of His elect, and removed all rites and shadows, etc. and is now entered
within the vail into the holy of holies, which is the presence of God. Also, He makes His
people a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifice acceptable
to God through Him. Neither doth the Father accept, nor Christ offer to the Father, any
other worship or worshippers.
John 17:19; Heb. 5:7,8,9,10,12; Rom. 5:19,
Eph. 5:2; Col. 1:20; Eph. 2:14, etc.; Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24; 8:1; 1 Pet. 2:5; John 4:23,24.
XVIII.
This priesthood was not legal or temporary,
but according to the order of Melchisedec, and is stable and perfect, not for a time, but
forever, which is suitable to Jesus Christ, as to Him that ever liveth. Christ was the
priest, sacrifice, and altar: He was a priest according to both natures; He was a
sacrifice according to His human nature; whence in Scripture it is attributed to His body,
to His blood: Yet the effectualness of this sacrifice did depend upon His divine nature;
therefore it is called the blood of God. He was the altar according to His divine nature,
it belonging to the altar to sanctify that which is offered upon it, and so it ought to be
of greater dignity than the sacrifice itself.
Heb. 7:16, etc.; Heb. 5:6, 10:10; 1 Pet.
1:18,19; Col. 1:20, 22; Heb. 9:13; Acts 20:28; Heb. 9:14, 13:10,12,15; Matt. 23:17; John
17:19.
XIX.
Concerning His kingly office, Christ being
risen from the dead, and ascended into heaven, and having all power in heaven and earth,
He doth spiritually govern His church, and doth exercise His power over all, angels and
men, good and bad, to the preservation and salvation of the elect, and to the overruling
and destruction of His enemies. By this kingly power He applieth the benefits, virtue, and
fruits of His prophecy and priesthood to His elect, subduing their sins, preserving and
strengthening them in all their conflicts against Satan, the world, and the flesh, keeping
their hearts in faith and filial fear by His Spirit: By this His mighty power He ruleth the
vessels of wrath, using, limiting and restraining them, as it seems good to His infinite
wisdom.
1 Cor. 15:4; 1 Pet. 3:21,22; Matt.
28:18,19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:1, 5:30,31; John 19:36; Rom. 14:9; John 5:26,27; Rom.
5:6,7,8; 14:17; Gal. 5:22,23; Mark 1:27; Heb. 1:14; John 16:15; Job 2:8; Rom. 1:21,
[9:17-18]; Eph. 4:17,18; 2 Pet. 2.
XX.
This His kingly power shall be more fully
manifested when He shall come in glory to reign among His saints, when He shall put down
all rule and authority under His feet, that the glory of the Father may be perfectly
manifested in His Son, and the glory of the Father and the Son in all His members.
1 Cor. 15:24,28; Heb. 9:28; 2 Thess.
1:9,10; 1 Thess. 4:15,16,17; John 17:21, 26.
XXI.
Jesus Christ by His death did purchase
salvation for the elect that God gave unto Him: These only have interest in Him, and
fellowship with Him, for whom He makes intercession to His Father in their behalf, and to
them alone doth God by His Spirit apply this redemption; as also the free gift of eternal
life is given to them, and none else.
Eph. 1:14; Heb. 5:9; Matt. 1:21; John 17:6;
Heb. 7:25; 1 Cor. 2:12; Rom. 8:29,30; 1 John 5:12; John 15:35, 3:16.