PRIESTHOOD, Sacerdotium. We may distinguish four Kinds of Priesthood. 1. That which belongs to Kings, to Princes, to the Heads of a Family, to the First-born. This may be called a natural Priesthood, because Nature and Reason teach us, that the Honour of offering Sacrifices to God should belong to the Greatest in Dignity. 2. The Priesthood according to the Order of Melchisedech, which does not differ from that now mentioned, but in its Dignity; because Melchisedech was raised up of God, to represent the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. 3. The Priesthood of Aaron and his Family, which subsisted as long as the Religion of the Jews was a true Religion. 4. Lastly, the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, and of the new Law. We have spoken of Melchisedech in a particular Article. As to the Priesthood of Aaron, See AARON before, and PRIEST.
The Priesthood passed from the Family of Ithamar into that of Eleazar, according to 1 Sam. ii. 30, 31, 32, &c.what the Lord had declared to the High-priest Eli. But this was not done presently. The Family of Eli still possess’d the Priesthood for a good while. This High-priest had for Successor his third Son Ahitub, or according to others, Abijah, to whom succeeded Ahimelech, who was put to death by Saul, with the other Priests at Nob. a This Prince then gave the High-priesthood to Zadoc. But Abiathar Son of Ahimelech having adhered to the Interests of David, was continued in the Possession of the High-priesthood in the Kingdom of Judah. So that for a good Part of David’s Reign, we find the High-priesthood to be exercised by the two High-priests Zadoc and Abiathar, the first of the Family of Eleazar, and the second of that of Ithamar. Lastly, towards the End of David’s Reign, Abiathar having adhered to the Party of Adonijah against Solomon, he was disgraced,1 and Zadoc alone acknowledg’d as High-priest. He then began to exercise his High-priesthood at Jerusalem, whereas before he had only perform’d the Functions of 1 Kings ii. 26, 27. 1 Chron. xvi. 39.it upon the Altar of Gibeon.
Some have pretended, that the High-priesthood was exercised, even after the Law took place, by others besides the Family of Aaron. For this are produced the Examples of Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and Saul, who sacrificed on some Occasions. But granting these Facts to be indisputable, yet nobody denies, first, that a Prophet may not extraordinarily, and by a particular Revelation, offer up Sacrifices. Secondly, that this Liberty was not of much greater Extent before the building of the Temple, than after the publick Worship of God was fix’d at Jerusalem. Thirdly, that it is not certain but that Joshua, Samuel, and Saul might offer their Sacrifices by the Hands of Priests; for often the Scripture affirms that to be done by a Man’s self, which is only done by his Orders. See PRIESTS before.
Ex. ii. 16.The Hebrew Word Cohen, which signifies Priest, is sometimes put for a Prince. For Example, it is said that Jethro the Father-in-Law of Moses, was Priest of Midian, that is, according to some Interpreters, that he was Prince or Governor of his City. In the second Book of Samuel it is said,2 That the Sons of David were Priests, that is to say, Princes, and consider’d in the Country as Priests. Filii autem David sacerdotes erant. The Septuagint say, they were principal Courtiers, the Chief of the Court. The Author of the first Book of Chronicles3 explains this, saying, they were the nearest at the King’s Hand. They had the chief Employments at Court.
As to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, which is infinitely superior to all the other, as to its Duration, its Dignity, its Prerogatives, its Object, and the Power which is annexed to it; the Priests of the New Law partake of the Royal Priesthood of Jesus Christ; they exercise his Priesthood and his Power. ‘Tis properly Jesus Christ that baptizes, that gives the Holy Ghost in Confirmation, that binds and looses in the Sacrament of Penance, that offers his own Body and his own Blood upon the Altar; in a Word, that performs all the4 Functions of the sacred Ministry by the Hands of the Priests his Ministers. The Priesthood of Aaron was to have an End, but that of Jesus Christ is everlasting. That of Aaron was limited to his own Family, was exercised only in the Temple, and among only one People; its Object was nothing but bloody Sacrifices and Purifications, which were only external, and could not remit Sins; but the Priesthood of Jesus Christ is extended to the whole Christian Church, spread over the Face of the whole Earth, and among all the Nations of the World. It exercises the Power of Jesus Christ even over Souls, in forgiving or restraining Sins; it opens the Channels of supernatural Graces, it offers the Host as an Expiation for all the Sins of the World. The Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews should be consider’d by those, that would comprehend the Excellence of the Priesthood of the New Law, above that of the Law of Moses. Hebrews iv. 14, 15, &c. also v. vi. vii. viii. ix. See also 1 Peter ii. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
Among all Nations the Priesthood was so honourable and elevated a Station, and at the same time so commodious, that it was look’d upon by the People with some sort of Jealousy; so that the Lord, to express to the Hebrews what great Favours he would confer upon them, says, that he would make them Kings and Priests. Eritis mihi Ex. xix. 6.in regnum sacerdotale. And St. Peter makes the same Promise to the Christians, or rather he tells them, that they are in earnest what Moses promised to the Israelites. Vos autem genus electum, regale sacerdotium, gens sancta. And St. John in the Revelations says, that the Son of God has made us Priests and Kings to God his Father. Fecit nos regnum & sacerdotes Deo Patri suo. The Priesthood of Christians does not allow indifferently to all, the Liberty of offering the Sacrifice of the New Law; but it consists in the Participation of the Priesthood of Jesus Christ, which is exercised in the Church by Priests legally ordain’d and consecrated. Any one of the Faithful may offer up to the Lord, in an Union with the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, his own Body, his Inclinations, his Pleasures, his temporal Goods. He may offer up the divine Sacrifice of the Altar in an Union of Heart and Intention with the Priest; lastly, he may every Moment offer up to the Father the Merits of that Sacrifice which Jesus Christ has once offered upon the Cross. And this is that in which the Exercise of the Priesthood of mere Laicks consists. Besides, as the Priesthood of the New Law is not successive, nor confin’d to one Family; all Christians may aspire at the Glory of the Priesthood, and endeavour by their Virtue and good Lives, by their Innocence and acquired Abilities, to become worthy of this Honour.
We have already enlarged upon the Rights, Prerogatives, Functions, Ornaments, and Revenues of the Priests of the Old Law, under the foregoing Article. We cannot do the same thing here in respect of the Priests of the New Law, because neither Christ in the Gospel, nor his Apostles in any of their Writings which they have left us, have express’d all the Ceremonies that are to be used in the Administration of the Sacraments, nor all the Circumstances that are to accompany them. The Apostles have left some of these things to be regulated by the Wisdom and Discretion of the Heads of the Church, though they taught the greatest Part of them to the Faithful of their own Times, vivâ voce, from whom we have received them by the Canal of Tradition.
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