Ch. 5, Chrfl'sPriefibood. Hebrews: Cbriff's Priefibood, . Ch. S. God gave it him, who faid, Theo art my Son,&c. per£ed in two refpeds. I. In the perfect 6. As he faith alfo in another place, performance of his Work on Earths as any undertaker is called perfeif whenhehah per- Thou art a pried for ever after theor- fióted his Undertaking. e. In his own perfe- der of Melchifedec. lion üt Heaven. 3. Obeying drift is part 6. And Pjd. xto. he faith, Thou art, &c. ofthe Condition of final Jußification and Sal- Thou art a King and Prieß, as Melchifedecwas, vation. and that for ever. I o, I I. Calledof God an high prieft 7. Who in the days of his fleth, after the order of Melchifedec: Of when he had offered upprayers and whom we have many 'things to fay, fupplications, with ffrong crying and and hard to be uttered, feeing ye are tears, unto him that was able to fave dull of hearing. xo, tx. Of which Prießhood of Chriß, as compared to Melchifedec, we have much to fay, which it is not catiie to make intelligible by words to thofe that are fo unprepar'd, as you are, by ignorance, and a dull and flow under- ßanding. Note, t. All great Scripture Truths be not equally ealie ro be underftood. 2. It is the incapacity of hearers, through dulnefs and want of preparatoryknowledge, which maketh Scripture and Teachingnot un- derttood. 3. It is no uncharitable difhonouring of pro= felled Chriftians, but an undeniable thing, to fay, that great numbers of them are dull hea- rers, andby ignorance uncapable at prefent of hard things. ned he obedience,by the thingswhich r 2. For when for the time ye ought he fuffered : to be teachers, ye have need that one s. Tho' he was 2,S(21, (and finlefs) yet did teach you again which be the firfiprin- he by his fuffering experimentally know and ciples of the oracles of God, and are !hew what it is to obey at the deareß rate, as become fuch as have need of milk, and abfolutely fubjed to the Will of God. not of firong meat. 9. And being made perfe&, he be- Note, r. Men ought to grow in knowledge, came the author of eternal falvation according to the time they have to learn. unto all them that obey him, 2. Many after long teaching are ignorant, and 9. And being confummate,or made by the muff be taught again the Came things which perfe&ion of his performed part on Earth, a theyhave long ago heard. 3. God's Oracles perfect Redeemer, he is in the fulnels ofhis have Principles which muff be firft learnt. Power in Heaven become the Author of Eter- _ 13 For every one that vfeth milk, nal Salvation, by Interceiliion, Pardon, Commu- is unskilful in the word of righteouf- nication of his Spirit, and by aetual Glorifica- tion, to all that hearken to him, and obey refs : for he is a babe. 14. But ftrong him. meat belongeth to them that are of Nore, t. That their Texts do not intimate full -age ; even thofe whoby reafon of any private imperfection in Chrift'sKnowledge yfe have their fenfes exercifed to di- qr obedience, or any qualificationbefore s but a fcern bothgood and evil. negative imperfection cannot be denied to his Humane Nature. As ,Adam, new made, knew not all fenfible Objects remote, as he did when they came before his Senfes ; fo Chrift in his Infancy, and in the Stable at Bethlehem, muff nor b'e fitppofed to know as man, all that af- ter he knew : Yea, himfelf faith after, that he knew not the day and hour, dye. fo he had no fenfibie experimental knowledgeof pafìive Qbedience before. n, He is laid to be made him from death,and was heard, in that he feared : - 7. Who in the Garden, and on the Crofs, when he had offerd Prayers with Agony, fweating likeWater and Blood, and cry'd out on theCrofs, I Why haft thouforfakeen me ?) to him that could have prevented his death, and all thepains which he feared (not withany fin- ful difrutt in God, nor any oppofition to his Father's Will, but from that ßrong averfation to fuffering and death, as fuch, which is a pro. perry ofHumane Nature, and did confift with a full fubmiflion to his Father's Will, and con- feat to be a Sacrifice for us :) and he was heard in that he feared, tho' he muft fnft (utter be- fore he was raifed. 8. Though he were a Son, yet lear- t 3, 14. Milk is a Dyet for Babes, and plain things for young and dull Chriftians s harder things will but hurt them : Thefe are for them that by long fludy and pra6lice have got preparatory knowledge, and a habit ofquick, clear, and found difcerning Truth and Errour, Good and Evil.
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