A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 1. Of the resolution of HEB. Chap. VII.

THe Apostle in this Chapter, returneth to that mysterious matter which he had interrupted, Chap. 5. v. 11. which was concerning Christs Priest-hood, after the order of Melchisedec.

The sum of this Chapter, is, The excellency of Christs Priest-hood.

This is set out two wayes.

• 1. By way of similitude.
• 2. By way of dissimilitude.

The similitude hath reference to the Priest-hood of Melchisedec, from the begin∣ning to v. 11.

This dissimilitude to the Priest-hood of Aaron, from v. 11. to the end.

The Apostle doth the rather induce these two orders, because there never were in the Church any but these two orders of typicall Priests.

The Iewes had the order of Aarons Priest-hood in high account.

The Apostle therefore proves the other order of Melchisedec, after which Christ was a Priest, to be far the more excellent: that thereby he might draw the Hebrewes from the legall ceremonies, unto Christ and his Gospell.

The excellency of Melchisedecs Priest-hood is demonstrated two wayes.

• 1. Simply, v. 1, 2, 3.
• 2. Comparatively from v. 4. to v. 11.

The simple demonstration is,

• 1. Propounded.
• 2. Illustrated.

It is propounded,

• 1. By an historicall narration of sundry passages registred.
• 2. By a mysticall explanation of some of them, and others. Matters of History are four.

• 1. The name of the High Priest here intended, Melchisedec.
• 2. His offices. These are two,
  • 1. A King,
  • 2. A Priest.
• ...

  3. His Actions.

  These are of two kinds,

  • 1. Royall, He met Abraham, returning from his victory.
  • 2. Priestly: He blessed Abraham.
• 4. His prerogative: which was to receive tithe of Abraham.

Matters of mystery are of things either revealed, or concealed.

Two mysteries are gathered out of things revealed.

One from his name, Melchisedec, that he was a King of righteousnesse.

The other from the place of his government, Salem, that he was a King of peace.

Five mysteries are gathered from things concealed.

• 1. That he was without Father.
• 2. That he was without Mother.
• 3. That he was without descent.
• 4. That he had no beginning of dayes.
• 5. That he had no end of life.

The illustration is by a resemblance of Melchisedec to the Son of God, v. 3.

The comparative demonstration is from the excellency of Melchisedec above A∣braham, out of whose loines Levi, Aaron and all their posterity came.

This comparative excellency of Melchisedec is exemplified in three particulars.

• ...

  1. That Abraham paied tithes to Melchisedec. This was an act of an inferiority: and that in Abraham to Melchisedec. It is amplified by the relation betwixt Abra∣ham and Aaron. Abraham was the great Grand-father of Levi, from whom Aaron descended: and whose posterity was deputed to the Priest-hood. Upon this ac∣count Levi and all his posterity were in the loines of Abraham, and in him paid tithes to Melchisedec.

  The argument thus lyeth.

  That Priest-hood which received tithes of others is more excellent then that which paided tithes thereto.

  But Melchisedec received in Abraham tithes of Levi, Aaron and all their poste∣rity.

  Therefore Melchisedecs Priest-hood was the more excellent, v. 4, 5, 6.

• 2. That Melchisedec blessed Abraham. This is an act of eminency and superio∣rity. Therefore Melchisedec was greater then Abraham: and by consequence grea∣ter then they who descended from Abraham, v. 6, 7.
• 3. That Melchisedec ever liveth. But all the Leviticall Priests died. Therefore Melchisedec must needs be greater then Aaron, and all the Leviticall Priests, v. 8.

The extent of the first argument unto Levi, and his posterity is asserted, v. 9, 10.

The dissimilitude betwixt Christs Priest-hood and Aarons, is largely amplified in the remainder of this Chapter.

The dissimilitude betwixt Christs, and the Leviticall Priest-hood, consists in this:

That the Leviticall Priest-hood was imperfect and insufficient: but Christs every way perfect, and all-sufficient. Yea, the Apostle distinctly noteth in every branch of the insufficiency of the Leviticall Priesthood a sufficient, and an abundant supply in and by Christs Priest-hood.

This is exemplified in seven particulars,

• ...

  1. The change of the Leviticall Priest-hood. There was another order of Priest∣hood to succeed the Leviticall. Therefore the Leviticall was imperfect. For that which is perfect, needs not be altered, v. 11.

  The consequence is confirmed by this, that the change of the Priest-hood, pre∣supposeth the change of the law, v. 12.

  The proposition, that the Leviticall Priest-hood was changed by a Priest-hood of another order, is hereby proved, That Christ the other Priest was of another tribe, (v. 13▪ 14.) and that he was after the order of Melchisedec, v. 15.

• 2. The weaknesse and unprofitablenesse of the Leviticall Priest-hood: which is made up by the efficacy of Christs Priest-hood, v. 16, 17, 18, 19.
• ...

  3. The manner of instituting the one, and the other Priest-hood. The Leviti∣call Priest-hood was instituted without an oath: But Christ most solemnly by an Oath, v. 20, 21.

  Hence is inferred the excellency of the New Testament, v. 22.

• ...

  4. The mortality of the Leviticall Priests: but Christ ever remaines, v. 23, 24▪

  Hence is inferred the fulnesse of that salvation which Christ hath wrought, v. 25.

• 5. The sinfulnesse of the Leviticall Priests, which forced them to offer for them∣selves. But Christ was perfectly pure, v. 26.
• ...

• 6. The reiteration of Leviticall sacrifices. But Christs was but once offered, v. 27.
• 7. The nature of Leviticall Priests: They were but men. Christ was the S•…•…r, namely of God, v. 28.