especial Grant or Personal Priviledge, either before or above the Law. Whereas therefore Melchisedec as is here declared, had no Interest in the former, it must be with respect unto the latter that he had this Right, which Argues his Dignity. So God may and doth sometimes communicate of his Favour and Priviledges thereby, by especial exemption, and not by an Ordinary Rule or Constitution. I do not at all know, nor can it be proved, that God is now by his VVord or Law or Constitution, Obliged to give no Ministry unto the Church, but by virtue of an Orderly outward Call according to the Rule. It is true, we are obliged to keep our selves unto the Rule and Law in the Call of Ministers so far as we are able; but whether God hath bound himself unto that Order, I very much Question. Yea, when there is any great and Signal Work to be done in the Church, it may be such as the Church cannot or will not call any unto, even such a Reformation of Persons as may prove a dissolution of its Constitution, if God raise, Gift and Providenti∣ally call any unto that work, assisting them in it, I should not doubt of the Lawful∣ness of their Ministry, as granted unto them by especial Priviledge, though not Communicated by external Rule and Order. It is good ordinarily to be Genealo∣gised into the Ministry by established Rule; but God can by virtue of his own Soveraignty grant this Priviledge unto whom he pleaseth. And let not any imagine that such a Supposition must needs immediately open a Door unto Confusion; for there are unvariable Rules to try Men and their Ministry at all times whether they are sent of God or no. The Doctrine which they teach, the Ends which they pro∣mote, the Lives which they lead, the Circumstances of the seasons wherein they appear, will sufficiently manifest whence such Teachers are.
2. Having thus described Melchisedec, and manifested on what Account the things mentioned were ascribed or did belong unto him, he mentions the things themselves, which were two. (1.) That he received Tithes of Abraham. (2.) That he Blessed him. In both which he demonstrates his Greatness and Dignity. (1.) By the Consideration of the Person of whom he received Tithes, it was Abraham himself. (2.) By an especial Circumstance of Abraham; it was he who received the Promises, from whence the whole Church of Israel claimed their Priviledges.
(1.) He received Tithes of Abraham. The Levitical Priests received Tithes of those who came out of the Loyns of Abraham, which was an Evidence of their Dignity by Gods Appointment. But he received them of Abraham himself, which Evidently declares his Superiority above them, as also herein above Abraham him∣self. And the Apostle by insisting on these things so particularly, shews, (1.) How difficult a matter it is to dispossess the minds of Men of those things which they have long trusted unto and boasted of. It is plain from the Gospel throughout, that all the Jews looked on this as their great Priviledge and Advantage, that they were the Posterity of Abraham, whom they conceived on all accounts the greatest and most Honourable Person that ever was in the VVorld. Now although there was much herein, yet when they began to abuse it, and trust unto it, it was Ne∣cessary that their Confidence should be abated and taken down. But so difficult a matter was this to effect, as that the Apostle applies every Argument unto it, that hath a real force and evidence in it, especially such things as they had not before considered, as it is plain they were utterly Ignorant in the Instructive part of this story of Melchisedec. And we see in like manner, when Men are possessed with an inveterate conceit of their being the Church, and having all the Priviledges of it en∣closed unto them, although they have long since forfeited openly all Right thereunto, how difficult a thing it is to dispossess their minds of that pleasing presumption. (2.) That every Particle of Divine Truth is Instructive and Argumentative when it is rightly used and improved. Hence the Apostle presseth all the Circumstances of this Story, from every one of them, giving light and evidence unto the great Truth which he sought to Confirm.
2. That it might yet farther appear how great Melchisedec was, who received Tithes of Abraham, he declares who Abraham was in an instance of his great and especial Priviledge. It was he who received the Promises. This he singles out as the greatest Priviledge and Honour of Abraham, as it was indeed the Foundation of all the other Mercies which he enjoyed, or Advantages that he was entrusted withal. The Nature of this Promise, with the Solemn manner of its giving unto Abraham, and the Benefits included in it, he had at large declared, Chap. 6. ver.