The vii. Chapter.
This Melchisedech kyng of Salem (whiche beyng prieste of the moste hye God, met A∣braham, as he returned agayne from the slaughter of the kinges and blessed hym: to whō also Abraham gaue tythes of al thynges) fyrst is called by interpritacion kyng of righte∣ousnes: after that, kyng of Salem (that is to saye kyng of peace) withoute father, with∣out mother, without kynne, and hathe neyther beginnyng of dayes, ueyther yet ende of lyfe: but is likened vnto the sonne of God, and contynueth a priest for euer.
NOwe sens the processe of our wordes hath broughte vs a∣gayne to the mencion of Melchisedech, lette vs consider what a man he was, & by what reason he bare the fygure of our prieste. For wee reade that this Melchisedech king of the Citie called Salem, was au hye pryest of the most hye God, the whiche Melchisedech mette Abraham in hys retourne from the slaughter of the three kynges, and blessed hym for his valiaunte acte, vnto whome Abraham also gaue tythes of all hys goodes. Fyrste Melchisedech by verye interpretacion of name, is called the kynge of ryghteousnesse: then by the tytle of his kyngdome, he is called kyng of Salem, that is to saye, kyng of peace: who, as it is said, had neyther father, nor mother, nor pedigrew, nor begynning of dayes, nor end of lyfe. But of hym it is spoken (whiche verelye agreeth wyth the sonne of god) that he contineweth a prieste for euer. And so farfoorth eueryethyng a∣greeth derye well wyth our hye pryeste Christ, who ordained the kyngdome of ryghtuousnesse, who is the prynce of peace, who, as touchyng his deitye had neither father in earth, nor mother, whose pedigrew no manne is hable to declare, who had neyther begynnyng, nor shall haue ending, whose priest∣hoode continueth for euer, and purifyeth all that beleue in hym vnto the worldes ende. Nowe let vs consider the dignitie of the same Melchisedech and ho we farre he excelled the pristes of Moses lawe Abraham so greate a patriarke dyd not onley vouchesafe to receyue blessyng of hym after he had sleyne the kynges, but also gaue hym tythes of the syoyles.