Of Christ's Priesthood
Q. 9. What is the third instruction?
A. That prayer is the best expedient to obtain saving knowledge; James 1:5. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Q. 10. What is the last instruction?
A. Learn hence the transcendent excellency of the knowledge of Christ above all other knowledge; Phil. 3:8. Yea, doubtless, I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.
Of Christ's Priesthood Quest. 25. HOW doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. 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. 1. What is the priesthood of Christ in general?
A. It is his expiation of our sins by the sacrifice of himself, and obtaining God's favour for us; Col. 1:20. And (having made peace through the blood of his cross) by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Q. 2. What are the parts of Christ's priestly office?
A. It hath two parts. First, Oblation, or offering of himself; Heb. 9:14.
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your consciences from dead works, to serve the living God? Secondly, Intercession for us; Heb. 7:25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the
uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Q. 3. What is the end of Christ's oblation?
A. The end of it, as to God, was to satisfy his incensed justice; Rom.
3:25. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. And as to men, to put away their sins; Heb. 9:26. For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but how once in the end of the world, hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Q. 4. What is the first difference between Christ and other priests?
A. Other priests offered the blood of beasts; Christ his own blood; Heb. 9:12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Q. 5. What is the second difference?
A. They offered many sacrifices; Christ perfected all by one offering, Heb. 10:14. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Q. 6. What was the sacrifice Christ offered to God?
A. His body; Heb. 10:10. By the which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And his soul; Isa.
53:10. When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin.
Q. 7. Whence is the efficacy of this sacrifice?
A. From the divine Person to whom that soul and body was united; Acts 15:28. Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.