Ch. 6. God's Truth. Hebrews. Melchifedec. Ch. ry. 1[6. For men verily fwear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation C H A P. VII. is to them an end of all ftrife. 1. FOr this Melchifedec king of Sa- 16. For men ufe, by Oath, to appeal to lem, prieft of the molt high him that can difceru and revenge Perhdiouf- g nets; and when other Evidences Ail, they end God, who met Abraham returning their Strifes by the Confirmation of an Oath. from the (laughter of the kings, and 17. Wherein God willing more bleffed him : 2. To whom alto Abra- abundantly to Phew unto the heirs of ham gave a tenth part of all: firft, be promife the immutability of his coon- ing by interpretation king of righ fel, confirmed it by an oath : teoufnefs, and after that alto king of 17. And God knowing our weaknefs of Salem, which is, king ofpeace : Faith, to confirm the Faithful, who are the 1, 2. This Malchifedec, ro whom .Abraham Heirs of his promifed Happinefs, of the truth gave the tenths of the Spoils, was Kingof and immutability of his Decrees, confirmed his Righteoufitefsby the fignification of his Name; Word to us byhisOath, that we might be pst and King of Peace, Interpreting his place: quite out of doubt. whichChrift is eminently, whom he typified. 18. That by two immutable things, 3. Without father, without mother, in which it was impolfìble for God to without defcent ; having neither be- lie, we might have a. thong confola- ginningof days, nor end of life: but don who have fled for refuge to lay made like unto the Son of God, abi- deth a prieft continually. 3. The Hiftoryof him maketh no mention of his Father, or Mother, or Defcenr, nor of his Birth or Beginning, nor ofhisdeath or end; but defcribeth him like a continuing Prieff,and a Type of the Son of God, who abideth a Print continually. Note, The yam thifik he was Sham, whole Beginning was not leen by theNew World, nor his End by the Old, nor his Death men- tion'd : But this is a prefumption t Had it been good for us to know more of him, God would have told usmore. 4. Now confider how great this fait, and which entereth into that man was, unto whom even the pa- within the vail. triarchAbraham gave the tenth ofthe 1v. Though thethings ofthis Life are much fpoils. uncertain, this Hope; which is our Support 4. When .A1'rabam, from whom the Leviti- and Comfort, is founded on firm and ftedfaft cal Priefthood, and the peculiar Seed, fprung, Security ; and is fetclid, by Faith, from the gave him the Tenths of all the Spoils, it tells molt holy and invifible things, which the Vail ushow great a manMelohifedec was. of Mortality yet hideth from our fight. 5. And verily they that are of the 20. Whither the fore- runner is for foes of Levi, who receive the officeof us entered, even Jefus made an high thepriefthood, have a commandment prieft for ever after the order of Mel- to take tithes of the people, according chifedec. to the law, that is, of their brethren, 20. Into which invifible, heavenly Glory, though they come out ofthe loins of Chrift is entred, not only for himfelf, and 'his Abraham. ownConfummation, but as a Fore-runner for vs, to intercede, and prepare felicity for-us, 5. The Law allow'd,Aaron, and the other and from his fulnefs ofPower, to fend down Prints, to take Tythes of their Brethren that. hisSpirit, and confummate all that concerned, fprung from .Abraham. ourSalvation, as a Royal Prieft, typifiedbyMe/- 6. But he uhofe defeeht is not chlfeedee. counted from them, received tythes ofAbraham, and bleffed him that had the promifes. 7. And without all con- tradifìion holdupon the hope let before us. 18. That fo, by his Word and his Oath, which are both immutable, and therefore in- fallibleSecurity, feeing it is impofftblefor God to lie, we who are fled for refuge from Guilt; andSin, and Danger, andMifery, to lay hold on the propofed hopeofEverlafting Life, might have well-grounded and ftrong Conflation, and not be Iltaken by any doubts of theFide- lity or Promifes of God. Nate, God would have us to have ftrong Confolation in our Faith and Hope. 19. Which hope we have as an an- chor of the foul, bothPure and fled-
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