[Feb. 8th, 1857.]
Priests and kings are the two highest classes of officers among men, e.g., Moses and Aaron, David and the High Priest, the Pontifex Maximus among Romans. To say that believers are priests and kings may be a figurative expression, declaring their dignity and exaltation. More however is meant.
I. The nature of the priesthood.
It includes properly, 1. The right of access to God. 2. The duty of offering sacrifices for sin. In the strict sense, therefore, there is under the New Testament dispensation, no other priest than Christ. This is one of the greatest differences between Romanists and Protestants, which supposes a radically different theory of the gospel.
II. The sense in which all believers are priests, is.
- That they all have liberty of access to God. This is the main idea. This is the great distinction and blessedness intended to be expressed by the term. 2. They offer to God the sacrifice of a broken heart, the incense of prayer, the thank-offering of praise. They minister before God, and are in this sense priests. 3. They make intercession for others.
III. The qualifications for the priesthood.
- No man taketh the priesthood on himself. This is true both of the official priesthood and of the general priesthood of believers. A priest must be selected and constituted such by God. 2. This appointment must be signified and certified; the external priesthood by external forms, the spiritual priesthood by internal anointing. 3. A priest must have something to offer. What was a priest without a sacrifice? What are we without a contrite spirit? Without a believing and grateful heart our priesthood would be merely nominal. The external priesthood had its external dignities, emoluments and prerogatives; but the spiritual priesthood has only spiritual advantages. The latter is indeed as much higher than the former, as the things of the Spirit are higher than the things of the flesh; but the want of these spiritual gifts is more fatal in the latter ease than in the former. 4. As a priest acts not for himself only, but for others also, he must sympathize with them. This is taught with regard to the priests of the Old Testament, with regard to our blessed Lord, and it is no less true with regard to us. 5. A priest must be holy in two senses. (a.) As to his personal character. Under the Old Testament it was required that the priest should be free from all blemish of body and deficiency in intellect. Under the New, we cannot draw near to God unless we are pure in heart. The Old Testament priests were required to abstain from all defiling contact with external things. We are to abstain from the pollutions which are in the world. They could not approach, unless ceremonially clean; we cannot, unless inwardly sanctified. (b.) In the second place, a priest must be holy in the sense of sacred, set apart, or consecrated. The Old Testament priests were a distinct class, separated from the people. They could not engage in ordinary avocations, nor seek support in the ordinary way. Those who ministered at the altar were partakers of the altar. In like manner, Christians are a people separated from the world, and consecrated to God. They cannot belong to the world, seek its objects, or enjoy its pleasures. 6. A priest must be faithful. This includes, (a.) The assiduous discharge of all his duties, as opposed to negligence. (b.) Trustworthiness. The people should be able to rely upon them as being what they professed to be, and really possessing the qualifications of their office. So we as priests should be faithful in drawing near to God, in offering sacrifices, and in interceding; and all should have reason to confide in us as being indeed the priests of God.
IV. The prerogatives and privileges of the priesthood.
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Access to God. This is the end of redemption. It includes all its blessings. When the people saw the High Priest enter the most Holy place, they felt that he was the most honored of mortals.
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The favor of God. The priest was highly distinguished.
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Power with God. The power of the priesthood has ever been higher than that of kings. Believers have power with God. Their prayers control the world.
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