The thirteenth Objection.
1 Pet. 2. 9. Ye are a Royal Priesthood. Rev. 3. 1 0. and 1. 6. And hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on earth. Exod. 19. 6. All Priests must teach; but all Believers are Priests; Ergo, all Beleevers may teach.
Answ. The fallacy lies in the word Priest. We read in Scripture of two ••orts of Priests. 1. Some were Priests by Office,* 1.1 and these were to offer Sacrifice, and teach the people, &c. these are called a ••ituall Priesthood: this is swallowed up by the Priesthood of Christ.
2. There is a Royal Priesthood proper to all Believers, who are cal∣led Priests comparatively. 1. The Priests, the sons of Levi, are said to come neer to God, Deut. 21. 5. So Believers by saith have boldness and access of God, and draw nigh to him. 2. In respect of the Sacrifices they offer, viz. Prayer and praise, Psal. 116. 17. 2. Good works,* 1.2 Heb. 13. 15. 16.
3. Themselves, they must slaughter their sins, and mortifie the old man, and offer up their souls and bodies in sacrifice to God; and so they are Kings spiritually, because they raign over ••in and Satan.
4. In respect of the common anointing. Priests were anointed;* 1.3 so all believers have an unction, even the Spirit of God, which shall lead them into all truth, 1 Ioh. 2. 20. and being thus taught, they may, and must teach others privately according to their places and stations, the way of the Lord; but not publikely; for then the whole body should be eye, &c.
2. A. I shall shew the weakness of this Argument per iaem, thus: The Office of a King is to Rule: but every beleever is a King; Ergo.