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WHatsoever good thing or perfection it was which the Apostles, or Disciples of our Lord did obtaine in this life, over and above all that which the Patriarchs in their Pilgrimages here on earth did attaine un∣to, this was wholly from the perfection here mentioned in my Text. Neither the Patriarchs nor Apostles were made perfect untill the Sonne of God
was made perfect. Their best perfection is but an ef∣fct, or branch of his perfection, or of his being made perfect. That the Patriarchs and Apostles should be made perfect, is not a thing strange, because they were but men, and therefore subject to many imper∣fections: but that the Sonne of God who is perfecti∣on it selfe should be made perfect, this may seeme more then strange, a thing impossible; and wee were bound to admit a solecisme in the Apostles expressiō, if wee were to weigh it only according to the gram∣maticall signification of the Originall 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which word for word is neither more nor lesse then to be made perfect.
2 But many words there are in all the learned tongues, whose prime signification every ordinary Grammar Scholar may know whil'st hee reades them onely in Historians or Rhetoricians. And yet the best Grammarian living (so he be no more then a Grāmarian) may be altogether ignorant of their true meaning o•• importance, whilest they are used in le∣gall or solemne Instruments, or as termes of some speciall art or faculty. Every schooleboy knowes the ordinary signification of Possum whilest he reads it in his Grammar rules, or in such Authors as he is acquainted with: and yet his master (how good a Grammarian soever) unlesse hee bee a Philosopher withall, shall hardly be able to render the true notion or expression of Potentia in naturall Philosophy: And a naturall Philosopher may bee sometimes as sarre to seeke in the use of the same word Potentia or Potestas in the faculty of the Civill Law. Lastly, he that hath his senses exercised in all these Faculties or
Sciences mentioned, would be a meer stranger to the notion of the same word in the Mathematicks: as unable to expresse what Posse or Aequiposse imports in the Science of Geometry, as a meer rustick is to understand the terms of Law. Such a word or terme is this first word in my text, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. For it is more then a word of art, verbum Jolenne, used by the LXX. Interpreters to expresse the legall and formall conse∣cration of Aaron his sonnes and their successors to their Priestly function. And in this sense it is to be taken in this place, and is so rendred in our former English, [And being consecrated he was made the Au∣thor of salvation.] And so is the very same word rendred by our later English. Heb. 7. and the last. [The word of the oath which was since the law maketh the Son Priest,] who is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, consecrated for ever∣more.] The Authours of both Translations, (if so it had pleased them) might have given better content and satisfaction to their readers, if they had con∣stantly so expressed the same word with it's allies in most places of this Epistle. That in this place the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 imports as much as we have said, that is, the formall and solemne consecration of the Son of God unto his everlasting Priesthood, needes no farther proofe or declaration, then the matter or sub∣ject of his discourse from the 14th v. of the 4th Chap. unto the 11. v. of this 5. Now the onely sub∣ject of his discourse aswell in these places now cited, as through the whole 7. Chap. is the Consecration of the Sonne of God to his everlasting Priesthood: and the super-excellency of the Priesthood, aswell as of the Cōsecration to it, in respect of legall Priesthoods or consecrations.
3. This is the profoundest mystery in Divinity, or rather the main foundation of all Evangelicall mysteries treated off by our Apostle unto the end of this Epistle. But this profound mystery it selfe hath the same hap which other deepe foundations have, that is, to be least seen or sought into by such as are otherwise exact surveyors of superstructures or buil∣dings raised above ground.
The summe of my present search or survey after this great mistery is this; How the everlasting Priest∣hood of the Sonne of God, and his consecration to it were prefigured, foreshadowed, or foretold either in the law or before the law!
Of the eternity of this our high Priests person, (that is the person of the Sonne of God) Melchi∣zedech long before the law, was the most illustrious type or picture. So was his order, or Sacerdotall fun∣ction, the most exact shadow of the Sonne of Gods everlasting Priesthood.
Of the qualification of the Sonne of God for this everlasting Priesthood, and of the manner of his Consecration to it, Aaron and other legall Priests his lawfull Successors, and the legall rites or man∣ner of their Consecration, were the most lively pi∣ctures.
First of the parallel betweene Aaron and his Suc∣cessors lawfully ordained, and the high Priest of our soules, for their qualifications required by the Law of God, and by the Law of nature.
Secondly of the parallel betweene Melchisedech and the Sonne of God, aswell for their persons, as for sacerdotall functions or exercises of them.
The parallel betweene Aaron and other Priests of the Law, and the Sonne of God, for their qualifica∣tion to their different Priesthoods, is (as was but now intimated) the subject of our Apostles dis∣course from the beginning of the fifth Chapter un∣to the tenth verse. Wee are then in the first place to search out the true sense and meaning of our Apo∣stle, by tracing his steps from the first verse unto the ninth verse. Secondly, to shew in what sense the Son of God, by his Consecration became the Author of everlasting salvation to all that obey him, and to them only. For so our Apostle saith, being consecra∣ted he became the Author or cause 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of everlasting salvation to all that obey him.