Chapter 16: Of Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King

Q. You have shewed that the Office of Christ in general is to be a Mediator, to reconcile God and man together by means of the new covenant, or covenant of grace; tell me now what are the special parts of his Mediatorship?

A. He is a Prophet, a Priest, and King.

Q. How may it be proved that Christ has this threefold Office of Prophet, Priest, and King?

A. First, by the condition of his people, lying under a threefold misery of ignorance, estrangement from God, and inability to recover themselves, and return to God again.

Q. How does this prove it?

A. The first of these miseries is holpen by Christ's prophetical office, the second by his Priestly, and the third by his Kingly.

Q. How else may this threefold office of Christ's be proved?

A. By the order and manner of bestowing salvation upon his people, which must first be revealed and made known, then purchased and procured, and lastly effectually applied.

Q. And how does this prove it?

A. The first of these is done by Christ's prophetical office, the second by his Priestly, and the third by his Kingly.

Q. What may be a further proof of this threefold Office of Christ?

A. The practice of Christ, who first lived as a Prophet teaching the will of God, secondly as a Priest he offered himself on the Cross; and then as a King he applies to his people all the benefits of his passion.

Q. Come we now to the particulars, and tell me how it may be proved that Christ is a Prophet to his people?

A. Because he is expressly so called, as also by other titles importing the same thing.

Q. What are those other titles?

A. He is called Counsellor, Messenger, Doctor or Master, Apostle, Speaker, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, the faithful and true witness.

Q. What is the work of Christ as a Prophet?

A. To reveal and make known to his people the counsel and will of God (Deuteronomy 18:18; John 1:18; John 4:25; John 15:15; Matthew 11:27).

Q. How does he this?

A. Outwardly by such means as he has appointed, and inwardly by the teaching and illumination of his holy Spirit.

Q. What are the outward means?

A. They are divers and sundry, according as it pleased him; but chiefly they are the holy Scriptures, and the ministry of men appointed to speak in his name.

Q. What is the teaching of the holy Spirit?

A. It is that inward work of the holy Ghost upon the soul, whereby the outward teaching is made efficacious and powerful for opening the understanding and humbling the heart to embrace the truth and will of God (John 16:13; John 14:26; 1 John 2:27).

Q. When has Christ performed his office and function of a Prophet to his people?

A. Both when he was upon earth in his own person, and also in all times and ages of the Church, both afore his incarnation, and since his Ascension into heaven.

Q. How much of the will of God does this Prophet make known to his people?

A. All that is requisite for our salvation (John 15:15; John 4:25; John 16:13; Deuteronomy 18:18).

Q. What then is to be thought of all doctrines, traditions, revelations and ordinances which he has not appointed?

A. They are all to be rejected and accursed, as being injurious to the perfection and fullness of the prophetical office of Christ.