Sacrilege sacredly handled. That is, according to Scripture onely. Diuided into two parts: 1. For the law. 2. For the Gospell. An appendix also added; answering some obiections mooued, namely, against this treatise: and some others, I finde in Ios. Scaligers Diatribe, and Ioh. Seldens Historie of tithes. For the vse of all churches in generall: but more especially for those of North-Britaine.

CHAP. VI.

§. V.

THe Verbes vsed in both the Types: as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the pre∣sent time, of Leui, notwithstanding they were dead and gone. &c.]

Obiect. Not yet Leui dead and gone: for in the Apostles dayes diuers Priests were still among the Iewes.

Answ. How I vnderstand this, is sufficiently set downe, Cap. 6. §. 6. Dead and gone they were euen then in Law, though not yet buried; as all the rest of their Ceremonies. And if Paul had not held them then for dead, He had not written this Epi∣stle, thrusting out Leui in this whole seuenth Chapter, and re∣uiuing the Priest-hood of Melchisedec, and Chap. 8.13. pro∣claiming both Priest-hood and Tabernacle to be finished, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. In that he saith a new (Testament) he hath abro∣gate the olde: now that which is disanulled and waxed old, is ready to vanish away.

Ibidem S. V.

THerefore must 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 be supposed in praesenti, to Mel∣chisedec.]

Obiect. Wherefore must it? No nec••ssitie in Grammer will craue it. And the reason you subioyne, seemeth not of consequence, to wit (Seeing hee presently liueth) since Tithing now 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not the point the Apost. vrgeth, but being greater. Also, the verb which the Apostle himselfe subioyneth, is not a present, but a preterit 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; which testifieth clearely, if he had expressed the verbe which falleth to be repeated to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he had expres∣sed it in the same preterit time, and not in the present. Whereof this also may be a witnesse, that vers. 9. in one and the same clause speaking of Leuies Tithing, he vseth the present participle 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: and speaking of Melchisedec, he vseth the foresaid preterit, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: as though he would say, Hee (Leui) that now taketh Tithes, was then Tithed by Melchisedec.

Answ. This argument is but Grammaticall, and so, but pro∣bable: the Conclusion must rest vpon the point of Diuinitie. And Si quae non prosint singula; iuncta inuent. Yet my Grammer-grippe was thus grounded, that in one and the same enuntia∣tion, Grammarians vsually put all in the same Case, Number, and Times: and seeing heere, vers. 8. Paul hath two words (and so all) in the present time of Melchisedec, I held it good Gram∣mer, that those that were subaudite, in the same verse, should be of the same times too: specially seeing the truth holdeth alike in both. In summe, thus: Aaron dying, Blesseth, Titheth: Melchisedec Liuing Blesseth, Titheth. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 then, Heere, is not referred to the day of Pauls writing this, but, to the Law and time of it: and so the preterit verbs had marred nothing in Aa∣ron, if it had pleased the Apost••e to vse them; nor yet the pre∣sent verbes applied to Melchisedec.

Where you say the Apostles selfe subioyneth preterit verbs; that is, but in the 6. and 9. vers. in the former, prouing Melchi∣sedec a greater Priest then Leui, because he Blessed and Tithed a greater person then did Leui: and in the latter verse to proue,

that euen Leui himselfe was then Tithed by Melchisedec. But heere vers. 8. where his greatnesse is onely proued from Perpe∣tuitie in Dying Tithing, and Liuing Tithing, heere (I say) Paul vseth onely verbes of the present time; for perpetuall things must be euer present. So Paul was Grammaticall enough in both. Now, to his Theologie.

Albeit those preterit verbes, were onely proper for Melchi∣sedec the Type, who onely once Tithed Abraham; yet, seeing these verbes de praesenti 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, are onely perfectly true of Christ the Veritie; they must (I say) binde Tithing in praesenti vpon Christ. If not so, I would faine see clearely out of this 8. vers. how Melchisedec hath any prerogatiue aboue Leui in these notes Dying and Liuing, ioyned with Tithing: for if we doe binde all these things vpon the onely Type, then wee lose the Veritie, Christ: and as for the Types, Leui (as is said) Tithing two thousand yeeres, surpasseth that Melchisedecs one dayes Tithing in the prerogatiue of time. Further, in v••rtue of Christ the Verity, though not yet then in the flesh, yet may he be said euen then in Melchisedec his Type and Atturney, to haue Tithed Abraham; and by his Type Leui, to Tithe vnder the Law; as now, when he is gone vp to the Father, to Tithe vnder the Gospell (as is said) Chap. 6. §. 10. So Tithing and Blessing are euer in Christ de praesenti, how the particular practi∣ses in his Types passe de praeterito. And so is hee in all things 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. And Dauids Prophecie pro∣ueth all these true, euen of his Priesthood. For the preterit, Hee hath sworne. For the Future, And will not repent. And f••r the present, Thou art a Priest for euer, after the Order of Mel∣chisedec. So Christ before his Incarnation, was, now is, and e∣uer shall be, a Priest: and therefore, all accessorie to that Priest∣hood, (though not Eiusdem Ordinis, & Ordinationis) must Blesse and Tithe: euen as did the Inferiour Leuites, who were not properly Sacerdotes, yet ex Sacerdotio Leuitico.

But vers. 13. (as is said in the Treatise) cleareth all. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉: I pray, how will you exclu e Tithing from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, seeing it is relatiue of all these things vrged in the whole preceding verses? I confesse, there be different degrees of the

points compared; and Blessing, is aboue Tithing, but the one must not thrust out the other, Hac oportet facere, & illa non omit∣tere: yea, Tithing is the very Hand-maid of Blessing: for none may Blesse as Gods Minister, but hee may also Tithe for his Maintenance. So, though Tithing had been out heere, it had come in! therefore seeing it is in, and (in the proofe of time) onely it in, I pray put it not out.