Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-01-25
geadiuq fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY H..
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[OrIginal.1
CHRIST..THE PRIEST.

[OhgIna.1
CHRIST. THE PRIEST.
We are taught in the Scriptures that Jesus
Christ, the promised Messiah, executed the
office of a prophet, of priest and of a king.
The discharge of the particular functions be-
longing to each of these offices was, in the
economy of grace, necessary in order to the
salvation of sinners. In other words, it was
equally important that the redeemer of sinners
be Il prophet to instruct his people, priest to
make al atonement for their sins, and king
to rule in and over them. Viewed, however,
from human standpoint, the sacerdotal work
of Jesus Christ is the most important. In the
order of nature, the purpose of the triune God
to save sinners is first. The next thing in
order, is the atonement, then follows the work
of the prophet and the king. 1t was as, a
priest that Jesus Christ died upon the cross.
He was crucifed as priest. Paul, in Gal.
& IA, says, "God forbid, Tor may it never be)
that 1 should glory, save in the cross Of our
Lord Jesus Christ" In Cor p, he uses
the following language, 81 determined to know
nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and
him crucified."
From these and other passages of Scripture,
we conclude that the priestly work of Jesus
Christ opened the way to his executing the
functions belonging to the office of both the
prophet and the king of his people.
1t is only from the Scriptures that we are
able to discover what are the official duties
of priest. From that source, we learn that
the official duties of a priest are to make an
atonement for the sins of his people; to make
intercesson in behalf Of those for whom he
makes an atonement, and to bless those for
whom he is officially eXertng himself. "A
priest may correctly, because Scripturally, be
described as person chosen to exert his intiu-
ence with God in behalf of men, or to treat
with God in favor of men. Both prophet
and priest are representative persons. A
prophet represents God, who, by means of the
prophet, communicates his will to men. A
priest represents men, who communicate their
desires to God through the priest
Previous to the time of Moses, we know but
little about the priests, or the in which
they discharged their official duties. That
there were priests, no one can doubt. How
they were chosen, or how they were inducted
into office, we do not certainly know. Propi-
tiatory sacrifices were offered up to God soon
after the fall Cain and Abel both, ''in process
of time,'' brought offerings unto the Lord.
BY ''process of time" is meant the end of a
certain time, OF lend of days." which proba-
bly, means at the end of the six days of the
week. If this be correct, and we think it is,
Cain and Abel brought their offerings unto
the Lord on the Sabbath. 1t would seem that
they met at the same place, and although it is
only an opinion, we are inclined to think that
Adam, their father, oficiated as priest. If
this was not the case, then each, for himself,
acted as priest. This, however, is not in har-
mony with Gods dealings with the children Of
men. Some one was always chosen and set
apart to represent the multitude. During the
patriarchal period, the heads of families were
both prophets and priests.
1t is certain, from the nature Of the case,
that the sacerdotal Office and duties are of di-
vine appointment, and of divine revelation.
The idea that God could, in any way, be pro-
pitiated by sacrifices, is foreign to the human
mind Adam and Eve, after having sinned
against God, acted in perfect accordance with
sinful creatures, in that they attempted TO
hide themselves from the presence of the Lord.
We find that in the order of narration, imme-
diately after the interview of Adam and Eve
with the Lord God, ''the Lord God made coats
of skins and clothed them" 1t is probable
that the skins with which Adam and Eve were
clothed, were those taken from beasts which
Adam had offered rs sacrifices to the Lord
God. This probability amounts to almost, if
not altogether, moral certainty, since animal
food was not granted to man until after the
flood. The grant was made to Noah, and will
be found in Gen. 9:3, in the following words :
every moving thing, that liveth, shall be
meat-(that is food) for you." Previous to
this time, we have no evidence that any ami
NAL was slaughtered for food. If this conclu-
sion be Scriptural, and we think it is, then
the skins with which Adam and Eve were
clothed had not been taken off animals slaugh-
tered for food It is not probable that these
animals were slain for any other purpose ex-
cept sacrifices. Such being the reasonable in
ference, we conclude that Adam, by the COM
mand Of God, offered up animal sacrifices, and
with the skins of these animals Adam ard
Eve were clothed.
From Adam to Moses, the duties Of the
priest were discharged by the heads of families
The worship of God, under old Testament dis
pensation, was typical. The visible Church
was not organized until the time of Abraham
Previous to this time sacrifices were offered TO
God The Sabbath was observed, and prayer
and supplication made to the Supreme Being
Everything in connection with the worship OF
God was in a formative state. The call Of
Abraham marksa very important epoch. The
Ordinances of religion were now concentrated
in single family, and all the other families
neglected. The worship of God established in
the Church, as organized with Abraham, was
perpetuated through Isaac and Jacob.
During the period of Egyptian bondage all
the forms of religion seem to have been nearly
suspended 1t was period of great degener-
acy. The etimeo of mans extremity is, however,
always the time of Gods opportunity. The
children of Israel were, in due time, visited
by God, released from bondage, and sent, un-
der chosen leader, to theland which God had
promised for possession to his servant Abra-
ham.
In the wilderness, between Egypt and Ca.
naan. God did wonderful thingsfor the Church.
The moral law was codifed, the tribe of Levi
chosen to minister in sacred things, and Aaron
and his descendants selected and consecrated
as priests. The Church assumed an appear
ance which it never had before. Moses was
the prophet, and Aaron the priest. Both were