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 ...

§. 36. Of the main scope of v. 5, 6, 7. Heb. 7. 5, 6, 7.

5.

And verily, they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the Priest-hood, have a commandement to take tythes of the people, according to the Law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the Loynes of Abraham.

6.

But he whose descent is not counted from them, received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises:

7.

And without all contraction the lesse is blessed of the better.

IN these three verses there is a confirmation of the former argument, whereby the greatnesse of Melchisedec above Abraham was proved. That argument was taken

from Abrahams giving tithes to Melchisedec. See §. 33.

The confirmation of that argument is taken from that which in Logick is called a 1.1 the lesse. In s•…•…tting down this confirmation, there is a double difference of per∣sons manifest.

• 1 A difference of the persons that received tithes.
• 2. A difference of the persons who gave tithes: or of whom tithes were received▪

• 1. The persons that received tithes, being the sons of Levi, were of the same 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the other Israelites, who payed tithes, were. But Melchisedec was not so.
• 2. The Levites received tithes of the children of Abraham. But 〈◊〉〈◊〉 re∣c•…•…ived tithes of Abraham himself.

Two arguments out of the Apostles words may be gathered for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 th•…•… former proof of Melchisedecs greatnesse, and thus framed.

• ...

  1. Arg. If among them that are brethren comming from the same stock, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 receive tithes, are in that respect the greater, then much more 〈◊〉〈◊〉, whose descent is not counted among them of whom he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tith•…•…s.

  But the Levites who received tithes of their brethren, were in that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greater then their brethren.

  Therefore Melchisedec, whose descent is not from them of whom •…•…e •…•…∣ceived tithes, must needs be greater.

• ...

  •…•…. Arg. He that receiveth tithes of the head and, stock is greater then they wh•…•… receive tithes of the branches, that sprout out of that head and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

  But Melchisedec received tithes, from Abraham, the father and stock of the Levites, who received tithes of the children of Abraham.

  Therefore Melchisedec is greater then the Levites.

There are that make the first verse to contain an objection against the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 former argument, taken from Melchisedecs receiving tithes of Abraham, to be •…•…∣upon the greater: and an answer to be made to this objection in the sixt verse.

They make the objection to be this.

Object. The sons of Levi, received tithes of the other Israelites: yet were not there∣upon greater: for they were all brethren.

Therefore Melchisedecs receiving tithes doth not argue him to be greater.

In answer to this objection, they say, that the Apostle granteth it to be true of the Levites, that their receiving tithes argued no superiority of them over the other Is∣raelites: but that he denyeth the consequence, namely that thereupon it should fol∣low, that Melchisedecs receiving tithes of Abraham, did not argue him to be grea∣ter then Abraham: and that for two reasons here alleadged. One Because Melchi∣sedec was not counted to be of the same stock that Abraham was. But the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and other Israelites were all brethren of the same stock.

The other, because the Levites had a Commandement to receive tithes; So as their brethren were bound by the Law to pay them. But Abraham was bound by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 such Law. He gave tithes to Melchisedec voluntarily, in testimony of his reverenc•…•…, subjection, and inferiority to Melchisedec: Therefore Melchisedecs receiving of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 may argue a superiority, though the Levites receiving tithes do argue no such thing.

I take the Apostles confirmation of his former argument to be most especially here intended.

Notes

• a 1.1

  A min•…•…ri.