3. They say that Christ may have Substitutes in his Office though he abide a Priest still, and although the office still continue the same unchangeable. So God in the Government of the world makes use of Judges and Magistrates, yet is himself the Supreme Rector of all. But this Pretence is vain also. For they do not substitute their Priests unto him, in that which he continueth to do himself, but in that which he doth not, which he did indeed and as a Priest ought to do, but now ceaseth to do for ever in his own Person. For the principal Act of the Sacerdotal Office of Christ consisted in his Oblation, or his offering himself a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto God. This he did once, and ceaseth for ever from doing so any more. But these Priests are assigned to offer him in Sacrifice every day, as partakers of the same Priesthood with him, which is indeed not to be his Substitutes but his Successors; and to take his Office out of his hand, as if he were dead and could henceforth discharge it no more. For they do not appoint Priests to intercede in his room, because they grant he continueth himself so to do; but to offer Sacrifice in his stead, because he doth so no more. Wherefore if that be an Act of Priesthood, and of their Priesthood, as is pretended, it is unavoidable that his Priesthood is passed from him unto them. Now this is a blasphemous Imagination and directly contrary both unto the words of the Apostle and the whole Design of his Argument. Nay it would lay the advantage on the other side. For the Priests of the Order of Aaron had that Privilege, that none could take their Office upon them, nor officiate in it whilst they were alive. But although Christ abideth for ever, yet according unto the sense of these men and their practice thereon, he stands in need of others to officiate for him, and that in the principal part of his Duty and Office. For Offer himself in Sacrifice unto God he neither now doth, nor can, seeing henceforth he dieth no more. This is the work of the Mass-Priests alone, who must therefore be honoured as Christs Successors, or be abhorred as his Murderers, for the Sacrifice of him must be by blood and death.
3. They say that Christ may have Substitutes in his Office though he abide a Priest still, and although the office still continue the same unchangeable. So God in the Government of the world makes use of Judges and Magistrates, yet is himself the Supreme Rector of all. But this Pretence is vain also. For they do not substitute their Priests unto him, in that which he continueth to do himself, but in that which he doth not, which he did indeed and as a Priest ought to do, but now ceaseth to do for ever in his own Person. For the principal Act of the Sacerdotal Office of Christ consisted in his Oblation, or his offering himself a Sacrifice of a sweet smelling savour unto God. This he did once, and ceaseth for ever from doing so any more. But these Priests are assigned to offer him in Sacrifice every day, as partakers of the same Priesthood with him, which is indeed not to be his Substitutes but his Successors; and to take his Office out of his hand, as if he were dead and could henceforth discharge it no more. For they do not appoint Priests to intercede in his room, because they grant he continueth himself so to do; but to offer Sacrifice in his stead, because he doth so no more. Wherefore if that be an Act of Priesthood, and of their Priesthood, as is pretended, it is unavoidable that his Priesthood is passed from him unto them. Now this is a blasphemous Imagination and directly contrary both unto the words of the Apostle and the whole Design of his Argument. Nay it would lay the advantage on the other side. For the Priests of the Order of Aaron had that Priviledge, that none could take their Office upon them, nor officiate in it whilst they were alive. But although Christ abideth for ever, yet according unto the sense of these men and their practice thereon, he stands in need of others to officiate for him, and that in the principal part of his Duty and Office. For Offer himself in Sacrifice unto God he neither now doth, nor can, seeing henceforth he dieth no more. This is the work of the Mass-Priests alone, who must therefore be honoured as Christs Successors, or be abhorred as his Murderers, for the Sacrifice of him must be by blood and death.
