externally by his Word, and internally by his Spirit: John xx. 31. But thefe are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name.' Chap. xiv. 26. But the 'Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the 'Father will fend in my name, he shall teach you all 'things, and bring all things to your remembrance, 'whatsoever I have faid unto you.' And by his fo executing his prophetical Office, he redeems or rescues us from the Power of fpiritual Darkness, or Ignorance: Col. i: 13. [The Father] hath deliver

ed us from the power of darkness, and hath tranf'lated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.' Acts xxvi. 18. To open their eyes, and to turn them ' from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgive'nefs of fins, and inheritance among them which are fanctified by faith that is in me.' So Chrift hath redeemed none by Power, but those who are rescued from the Power of their natural Darkness: Matth. iv. 16. The people which fat in darkness, faw great light: and to them which fat in the region and fhadow of death, light is fprung up." Eph. v. 8. For ye were fometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.' His Word is the Scripture of the Old and New Teftament: Col. iii. 16. Let the word ' of Chrift dwell in you richly in all wifdom; teaching and admonishing one another in pfalms, and hymns, and fpiritual fongs, finging with grace in your hearts to the Lord." And the Scripture is his Word, in that it was written by the Infpiration of his Spirit: 2 Tim. iii. 16. Al 'fcripture is given by infpiration of God.' 1 Pet.

i. 11.

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Chrift which was in them did fignify, when it teftified beforehand the fufferings of Chrift, and the glory that should follow.' He reveals to us the Will of God for our Salvation, externally by the Word; giving us the Scripture, wherein we may fee it, and the Preaching of the Word, wherein we may hear it: John v. 39. Search the fcriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which tefti." fy of me.' Rom. x. 18. But I fay, Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their found went in< to all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.' We ought then to look upon our having of the Bible among us, and the Preaching of the Word to us, by his Servants, as Chrift's executing his prophetical Office among us: Heb. xii. 25. See that ye refufe not him that fpeaketh: For if they escaped not who refused him that fpake on earth, much more fhall not we efcape, if we turn away from him that speaketh 'from heaven.' Col. iii. 16. forecited. Luke x. 16. He that heareth you, heareth me: and he that defpifeth you, defpifeth me: and he that defpifeth me, defpifeth him that fent me.' But the external Revelation of the Will of God for our Salvation, by the Word, is not fufficient to redeem or refcue us from the Power of our fpiritual Darkness: Deut. xxix. 4. The Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to fee, and ears to hear unto this day.' 2 Cor. ii. 16. To the one we are the favour of death unto death; and to the other, the favour of life unto life and who is fufficient for these things?' Chap. iii. 6. The letter killeth, but the fpirit gi

veth life. Becaufe, when it is externally revealed, we cannot favingly know it, without an internal Illumination: 1 Cor. ii. 14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolifhnefs unto him: nei"ther can he know them, because they are fpiri" tually difcerned.' Acts xxvi. 18. forecited. Chrift then doth redeem or rescue us from the Power of our fpiritual Darkness, by joining an internal Revelation by his Spirit, with the external Revelation by his Word: 1 Cor. ii. 10. But God 'hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for 'the Spirit fearcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.' verf. 12. Now we have re'ceived, not the fpirit of the world, but the Spi'rit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.' 2 Cor. iii. 6. The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. verf. 17.. 'Now the Lord is that Spirit : and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.'

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We are to receive Chrift as our Prophet, renouncing our own Wisdom, and wholly giving up ourselves to him, to be taught in all Things, by his Word and Spirit: Matth. xvi. 24. Then faid Jefus unto his difciples, If any man will come after me, 'let him deny himself, and take up his crofs, ' and follow me.' Acts iii. 22. ' For Mofes truly faid unto the fathers, A prophet fhall the Lord your God raise up unto you, of your brethren, like unto me; him fhall ye hear in all things whatfoever he fhall fay unto you.' We are to make use of him, as our Prophet, daily applying and trufting to him, for Light, Inftruction, and Direction, in all Things: Pfal. cxix. 18. Open

thou

M

thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.' Prou. iii. 5. 6. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknow<ledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.'

Queft. 25. How doth Chrift execute the Office of a Priest?

Anf. Chrift executeth the Office of a Prieft, in his once offering up of himself a Sacrifice, to fatisfy Divine Juftice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual Interceffion for us.

EXPLICATIO N.

The Office of Priefts was to offer Sacrifice, and pray, for the People: Heb. v. 1. For every high priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may "offer both gifts and facrifices for fins.' Num. vi. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. And the Lord fpake unto Mofes, faying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his fons, faying, On this wife ye fhall bless the children of Ifrael, faying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make his face fhine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.' Compared with Mal. i. 9. And now, I pray you, befeech God that he will be gracious unto us this hath been by your means will he regard your perfons? faith the Lord of hofts.' And the Lord Jefus Chrift, as

our

Heb. X. 1.

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our Redeemer, is truly and properly a Priest; Heb. viii. 3. For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and facrifices: wherefore it is of neceffity that this man have fomewhat alfo to offer.' The Difference betwixt him and the other Priefts lay chiefly here, that they and their Priesthood were the Types and Shadows, whereof Chrift and his Priesthood were the Subftance, really accomplishing what they fhadowed forth: 'For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the 'things, can never with thofe facrifices which they offered year by year continually, make the comers thereunto perfect.' verf. 9. 10. • Then 'faid he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the firft, that he may establish the fecond. By the which will we are fanctified, through the offering of the body of Jefus Chrift ' once for all.' Eph. i. 3. Bleffed be the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who hath bleffed. us with all spiritual bleffings in heavenly places ' in Chrift.' Our Redeemer was qualified for fuch an efficacious Priesthood, by the infinite Dignity of his Perfon, and his real untainted Holiness: Heb. iv. 14. We have a great high priest that is paffed into the heavens, Jefus the Son of God.' Chap. vii. 26. For fuch an high priest became us, who is holy, harmlefs, undefiled, feparate from 'finners, and made higher than the heavens.' verf. 28. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath which was fince the law, maketh the Son, who is confecrated for evermore.'

The Office of a Prieft belongs to our Redeemas a Redeemer by Price: 1 Pet. i. 18. 19.

'Forafmuch