Christ as a Melchizedek Priest
ordained a ministry set them apart consecrated them: that he might send them
forth to preach. When he ordained them he must have conferred on them the
Melchizedek priesthood, for Christ held that authority and the office of an
Apostle was not in the Aaronic Priesthood. Men were called in the same way to
offices in this Priesthood in the christian dispensation, that they were under
the law, viz: by revelation from God; hence, Paul says, “As God hath
distributed to every one as the Lord has called every one, so ordain I
in all the churches.” Ordaining was the conferring of the office of the
Priesthood upon them. Hence, when God spoke through the prophets at Antioch, to
separate Barnabas and Saul to the ministry, they did so by the laying on of
hands. Peter makes it definite that the Melchizedek Priesthood was in the
christian church.
“Ye are a Royal Priesthood.” 1
Peter 2:9. Melchizedek was king even on earth, and Christ who holds the royal
authority is an Apostle, High Priest and King, and presides over his own House,
the church. He is to reign as king of kings and Lord of Lords, holding the royal
priesthood.
Ye are “an Holy Priesthood to
offer up spiritual sacrifices.” 1 Peter 2:5. The church of Christ was a holy
one and “Royal Priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices.” Yet my opponent
has the audacious assumption to assert that neither the Aaronic or Melchizedek
Priesthood were ever conferred in the Christian church. It is sheer nonsense
and stupidity to talk about a Priesthood and no priests, or priests and no
priesthood. It was the belief in a conferred authority in the Christian church
that gave rise to ecclesiastical conflicts all along down from the Apostles to
the present day. (Edmund Levi Kelley in Public
Discussion of the Issues Between the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints and The Church of Christ [Disciples], Held in Kirtland, Ohio,
Beginning February 12th, and Closing March 8th, 1884 [Lamoni,
Iowa: The Herald Publishing House, 1913], 360)