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 ...

§. 2. Of Melchisedec who he was.

Heb. 7. 1, 2, 3.

1.

For this Melchisedec King of Salem, Priest of the most high God, who met Abra∣ham returning from the slaughter of the Kings and blessed him,

2.

To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all: first being by interpretation King of Righteousnesse, and after that also, King of Salem, which is King of peace.

3.

Without Father, without Mother, without descent, having neither beginning of dayes, nor end of life: but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a Priest cc•…•…∣tinually.

THe first particle (as our English hath it) is a causall conjunction, a 1.1 FOR: and implieth a reason of that which goeth before: which was that Christ was an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. The Apostle here sheweth the reason why Christ was a Priest after that order: even because Melchisedec was such an one, as is here described.

The mystery concerning the order of Melchisedec, as it is a most excellent and use∣full mysterie: so it is a very deep and difficult one: Therefore the Apostle doth largely and distinctly propound and expound it. For usefull and hard mysteries are to be explained: otherwise the benefit of them will be lost.

The notation of this name, Melchisedec, is given by the Apostle, v. 2. Here there∣fore* 1.2 we will consider, who is the person that is thus stiled.

There ever hath been in the Christian Church great difference about this point: and that by reason of the transcendent points here delivered by the Apostle about him,

1. Some of old, not determining in particular who he was, have notwithstanding avouched him to be a person a 1.3 greater then Christ: and that because he is said to be after the order of Melchisedec.

Answ. Though there may seem to be some modesty in this, that they determine not who he was: yet it is high presumption to assert him to be greater then Christ. Christ was true God. If greater then Christ, greater then God. Their own ar∣gument refuteth them; For Christ being High-Priest, after the order of Melchisedec, Melchisedec was a type of Christ: and Christ the truth of that type: but the truth is greater then the type.

2. b 1.4 Others hold that the Holy Ghost was this Melchisedec.

Answ.

• 1. The Holy-Ghost was never incarnate: but Melchisedec here mentioned was a true man: for he lived among men: and was a King of men.
• 2. The Holy-Ghost cannot be said to be taken from among men, as every High-Priest is, Heb. 5. 1. And it is necessary that he should be so: because he was to be as a middle person between God and man, 1 Tim. 2. 5.
• 3. The Holy-Ghost was not a type of Christ: for a type must be visible: and a type is inferiour to the truth.

3. c 1.5 Others are of opinion, that Melchisedec was an Angel.

Answ. This cannot stand with the description of an High-Priest set down, Chap. 5. v. 1. An High-Priest must be taken from among men: neither can it stand with the History noted of Melchisedec, Gen. 14. 18. &c.

4. There are that hold Melchisedec to be one of Chams stock: because he was King of Salem which was in Canaan. Many both ancient and latter divines are of this* 1.6 opinion.

Answ. Cham with his posterity were cursed, Gen. 9. 25. And it is not probable th•…•…

any of that cursed generation should be of place and authority, to blesse Abraham the father of the faithfull.

As for their argument taken from Salem in Canaan, nothing hindreth, but that one that was no Canaanite, might live and raign there, at that time that is here in∣tended: which was more then four hundred yeares before Ioshuah subdued the Ca∣•…•…aanites.

5. The most common received opinion is, that Shem the Son of Noah, was this* 1.7 Melchisedec.

Our Countrey-man, Mr. Broughton, produceth two and twenty Rabbies of the Jewes to be of this opinion, and inferreth that it was the common opinion of the Jewes.

Epiphanius reckoneth this among Heresies, which he ascribeth to the Samaritans, and laboureth to disprove it by an argument, wherein he himself is much mistaken. For he affirmeth that Melchisedec died eight and twenty, or thirty yeares before A∣braham rescued his brother Lot. But if the six hundred years which Shem lived, be duly computed, with the Genealogie of Shems posterity set down, Gen. 11. 10. &c. It will be found, that Shem lived about an hundred yeares in Isaacs time. That which deceived the foresaid, and other Greek Fathers, was, the false computation of the yeares of the Patriarchs made by the LXX.

Some of the Arguments to prove that this Melchisedec was Shem, are these,

• 1. Shem lived an hundred yeares before the flood; and none born before that time was then living. So as his parentage might well then be unknown.
• 2. He was the most honourable then in the world: so as he might well be counted greater then Abraham.
• 3. Shem was a most righteous man: and in that respect the title Melchisedec be given unto him. See §.
• 4. God is stiled the Lord God of Shem, (Gen. 9. 26.) So as he may fitly be cal∣led the Priest of the most high God, Gen. 14. 18.
• 5. Shem was that Stock from whence Christ according to the flesh descended, Luk. 3. 36.
• 6 To Shem was the promise made, Gen. 9. 26. And in that respect, he the fittest to blesse others.
• 7. Shem was the root of the Church: even that root from whence Abraham and his posterity sprouted: so as he might well be accounted greater then Abraham and fit to blesse him.
• 8. All the following branches of the description of Melchisedec, may fitly be applyed to Shem, as will appear in opening the particulars.

On these grounds I dare not gain-say this opinion.

6. There are that think it the safest to determine none at all to be this Melchise∣dec: but rather to speak and think of him, as of one unknown, whose Father, Mo∣ther, kindred, age and generation are not made known. And this the rather, be∣cause he is here so transcendently described.

This particular instance of Melchisedec, giveth proof of profound mysteries to be couched in the sacred Scriptures: which require all the meanes that can be used for finding out the true and full sense of them: of which meanes, See The Whole Ar∣mour of God, Treat. 2. Part. 8. of Gods word, on Eph. 6. 17. §. 3.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  Who was Melchisedec.
• a 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Epipha. advers. Haer. l. 2. Her. 55.
• b 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Epiph. loc. citat.
• c 1.5

  Melchise∣dechi tanta fuit excellentia ut a nonnullis dubitetur u∣trum hom•…•… an Angelus fuerit, Aug. Quaest super, Gen. l. c. 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  (d) I•…•…en. Euseb Calv. Musc. Merc. Iun. Per•…•….
• * 1.7

  Shem Melchi∣sedec.