A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

Those whom they choose to go to God by, are able to save them, or they are not. If they are not, is it not the greatest folly and madness imaginable, whilst we seek after Salvation, to set him aside on any occasion, in any one instance, who can save us to the utmost, and betake our selves unto them who cannot save us at all? If they are able to save us in any sense, it is either by virtue of some Office, and Office-Power that they are invested withal in Heaven, (as Ministers are in the Discharge of their Office said to save them that hear them, 1 Tim. 4. 16. That is, ministerially and instrumentally) or without any such Office. If they can do so without any Office, they can do more than Jesus Christ can do; for he is able to do it by virtue of his Office only. And if it might have been otherwise, what need was there that Christ should undertake and discharge this Office of the Priesthood, and that our Apostle should so labour to prove the Excellency of this his Office, only to satisfy us that he is able to save them that come to God by him? If they do it by virtue of any Office committed to them, let it be named what it is. Are they Priests in Heaven for ever after the Order of Melchizedek? Dishonour enough is done unto Christ, by making any Sacrificing Priests on the Earth, as they do in their Mass; but to make interceding Priests in Heaven also, is the highest reproach unto him. Or are they the Kings or Prophets of the Church: or under what Name or Title is this Power entrusted with them? Such imaginations are most foreign from true Christian Religion. An Holy painful Minister on the Earth can do much more towards the saving of the souls of Men, than any Saint or Angel in Heaven. For the work of doing it ministerially by the Dispensation of the Word is committed unto them in the way of Office; but Office in the Church beareth none in Heaven, but only Jesus Christ.

Those whom they choose to go to God by, are able to save them, or they are not. If they are not, is it not the greatest folly and madness imaginable, whilst we seek after Salvation, to set him aside on any occasion, in any one instance, who can save us to the utmost, and betake our selves unto them who cannot save us at all? If they are able to save us in any sense, it is either by vertue of some Office, and Office-Power that they are invested withal in Heaven, (as Ministers are in the Discharge of their Office said to save them that hear them, 1 Tim. 4. 16