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 ...

§. 91. Of the meaning of v. 21.

Heb. 7. 20, 21, 22.

20.

And in as much as not without an oath, he was made Priest.

21.

(For those Priests were made without an oath: but this with an oath, by him that said unto him, The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.)

22.

By so much▪ was Iesus made a surety of a better testament.

A Third argumrnt to prove the excellency of Christs Priest-hood above the Le∣viticall* 1.1 (see §. 1.) is taken from the different manner of instituting the one and the other. Christs institution was more solemn then the Levites. Theirs with∣out an oath, Christs with an oath.

The argument may be thus framed.

That Priest-hood which is established by an oath, is more excellent then that which is without an oath.

But Christs Priest-hood is with an oath, and theirs without; Therefore.

The proposition is implyed by the inference of the 22. verse on the 20. for the 21 verse is included in a parenthesis.

Both parts of the assumption are expresly set down in verse 21.

The copulative conjunction, a 1.2 and, joyneth arguments, and sheweth that this is another argument to prove the point in hand.

This relative phrase, b 1.3 in as much, hath reference to the first clause of the 22. verse, which is as a correlative: and both may be thus joyned together, In as much, by so much. In as much as not without an oath, By so much is Iesus, &c.

These two negatives, c 1.4 not, d 1.5 without, intend a strong affirmation. See Chap. 4. v. 13. §. 76.

It is here taken for granted that Christ was most solemnly instituted a Priest: even by an oath: the oath of God himself: which is the greatest and most solemn manner of institution that can be.

Gods oath importeth two things.

• 1. An infallible certainty of that which he sweareth. See Chap. 6. v. 18. §. 140.* 1.6
• 2. A solemn authority and dignity conferred upon that which he instituted by oath.

Great and weighty matters of much concernment, use to be established by oath. Hereby it appeareth, that Christs Priest-hood is a matter of great moment, and of much concernment. This will appear the more evident, if we consider the person who was Priest, the ends why he undertook the function, and the benefits which accrue from thence.

• 1. The person was the greatest that could be, v. 28. Chap. 1. v. 3. therefore he* 1.7 is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 called a great High-Priest, Chap. 4. 14.
• ...

  2. The ends of Christs Priest-hood were very weighty, and that in reference to* 1.8 God and man.

  To God, for manifestation of his perfect justice, infinite mercy, almighty power, unsearchable wisdome, and other divine attributes, which never

• ...

  were, nor even can be so manifested, as in and by Christs Priest-hood.

  To man, that Gods wrath might be averted, his favour procured, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 purged, he freed from all evill, and brought to eternall happinesse.

• 3. The benefits of Christs Priest-hood are answerable to the foresaid ends. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 what Christ aimed at, he effected to the full: and all for mans good.

• 1. That little which hath been noted, and that much more which might be •…•…∣ved* 1.9 about Christs Priest-hood, much aggravateth all those errors, which are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that function of Christ. Such are most of the controversies betwixt us and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God speaks to his Son as God and man: yet Papists say, that Christ is a Priest 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his humane nature. God saith to his Sonne in the singular number, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to him alone, Thou art a Priest: yet they make many Priests. God made 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Priest after the order of Melchisedec; who was without Father and Mother, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they make ordinary Sons of men to be after that order. God makes his Son 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for ever: yet they substitute others in his room. God gave him to offer up 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sacrifice, and that but once: they every day offer up many sacrifices in their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 God gave him to offer up himself: but they offer up bread and wine upon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that it's the body and blood of Christ. Christs sacrifice was a bloody 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they stile theirs an unbloody sacrifice.
• 2. The weightinesse of Christs Priest-hood should stir us up the more to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 into that mystery, that we may be the better acquainted therewith, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 greater benefit thereby.

These last words, he was made Priest, are not in the originall: yet fi•…•…ly added 〈◊〉〈◊〉 our Translators, to make up the sense, which is better understood in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then in our English.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The third proof of the excellency of Christs Priest-hood.
• a 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.6

  Two ends of Gods oath.
• * 1.7

  Christs Priest-hood a weigh∣ty point.
• * 1.8

  Ends of Christs Priest-hood.
• * 1.9

  Popish errours about Christs Priest-hood.