QVEST. XIX. How Abraham payed tithes.
Vers. 20. ANd he gave him tithes of all, &c. 1. Although it bee not expressed in the text, whether Melchisedeck or Abraham gave tithes, yet the Apostle cleareth this doubt, that he recei∣ved tithes of Abraham, Heb. 7.6. and the text also giveth this sense: for seeing Melchisedeck is named to be a Priest, he was more fit to receive than give tithes. 2. Some thinke that Abraham gave not tithes of all the goods recovered, seeing •e after refused to take so much as a shooe threed of that which belonged to the King of Sodome, vers. 25. He then gave tithes onely of his owne substance, Calvin, Mercer. But though Abraham refused to touch any part of the Sodomites substance, in himselfe, for his owne use, yet he might even of that offer the tithe unto God: 1. Because it was his by common •ight, and the law of Nations: 2. Because he giveth reason, lest he should say, that he had made Abraham rich: which rea∣son served onely against the private and proper use, not the publike and religious use of those goods. 3. If Abraham had not prevented them in giving the honour of the victory unto God, the Sodomites would have offered the same things in sacrifice to their Idols.
Neither is the opinion of Cajetane to be allowed, that Abraham gave not the just tenth part, as after∣ward was appointed by the Law, but a certaine portion in the name of the tenth: for the Apostle shew∣eth that Abraham paid tithes properly, and Levi in Abraham was tithed, as the Levites received tithes afterwards, Heb. 7.5▪ 6. 4. Whereas Levi is said to pay tithes in Abraham, being yet in his loynes, and thereby proveth the Priesthood of Melchisedeck to be greater, than of Levi, that is so said, because the Priesthood went then by carnall generation,* not by spirituall election, as now under the Gospell. 5. And though Christ were also in Abrahams loynes, secundum substantiam corporalem, in respect of his corporall substance, yet he was not there, secundum rationem conceptionis, in regard of the manner of his conception, because he was conceived by the holy Ghost. But Levi was in Abrahams loynes both wayes: and there∣fore the argument for superiority in Melchisedeck, concludeth well against Levi, but not against Christ.