whome Perfection was to bee gotten PSALME CX 1. Therefore Perfection could not bee by Aaron's priesthoode FROM THIS WEE LEARNE That vnder the Lawe Remission of sinnes and eternall Lyfe was not obtayned by vertue of anie sacrifice then offered but by the vertue of CHRIST'S Sacrifice and CHRIST'S Priesthoode represented there-by 2. But why could not Perfection bee by that Priesthoode Hee giveth a Reason saying For vnder it the people receaved the Lawe The worde importeth as much as the people were then legalized disciplined after a legall manner that is The Lawe was still vrged vpon them still they were pressed to giue perfect obedience vnder Payne of the Curse still GOD dealt in the externall forme of handeling them as one not satisfied for anie thing that was offered as yet in their name Therefore Perfection could not bee had by that Service For it was evident that neyther GOD was pacified nor their Consciences quyeted by anie thing in that Priesthoode but all were sent to the thing signified and to the tyme which was to come in the Messias manifestation THEN Comparing their tyme and ours for outward manner of handeling as they were legalized that is straytlie vrged by the Yoake of the Lawe vvee are Evangelized that is smoothlie entreated vnder the Gospell GOD laying aside Terrour entreating vs to bee reconciled and to come and receaue Grace for Grace Vers. 12. For the Priesthoode beeing chaunged there is made of necessitie a chaunge also of the Law FROM the chaunge of the Leviticall Priesthood hee inferreth of necessitie the abolishing of the Leviticall Lawe and of our Obligation therevnto THEN 1. The Leviticall Priesthoode and the Leviticall Lawe doe stand and fall together 2. The Leviticall Lawe can not stand with anie other priesthoode than Aaron's it can not stand with Christ's vnder the Gospell 3. Christ's Priesthoode seeing it is another than Aaron's must haue another Law other Ordinances and statutes than Aaron's a Lawe and Ordinances suteable vnto it selfe 4. To vse Leviticall Ceremonies vnder the Gospell is to confound the priesthood of Aaron and Christ. Vers. 13. For hee of whom these things are spoken pertayneth to another Trybe of which no man gaue attendance at the Altar Vers. 14. For it is evident that our LORD sprang out of Iuda of which Trybe Moses spake nothing concerning Priesthood Vers. 15. And it is yet farre more evident For that after the similitude of Melchisedek there aryseth another Priest 1. HEE prooveth that Aaron's Priesthoode is chaunged and the Ordinance thereof because PSAL. CX speaketh of Christ's Priesthood that is fred from the service of the Altar By the Altar hee meaneth the materiall Altar commaunded in the Lawe Another Altar hee knoweth not And Christ's Priesthoode hee declareth to bee fred from the service of this Altar beside which no Lawe could tye it to anie other Altar THEN Christ's Priesthoode is fred from the Altar which GOD commaunded and all the service thereof And who-so-ever will erect another materiall Altar in CHRIST'S Priesthoode and tye his Church vnto it must looke by what Lawe they doe it 2. From Verse 14. WEE LEARNE That Christ's Genealogie was well knowne in the Apostle's tymes and no controversie about it And it sufficeth vs that wee knowe this by the Apostle's Testimonie albeit wee could not lineallie deduce the same 3. Obserue howe hee reasoneth That none of the Trybe of Iuda attended the Altar because Moses spake nothing of that Trybe concerning the Priesthoode THEN Negatiue Conclusions in Matters of Fayth and Dueties followe well from the Scriptures silence It is not warranded from Scripture therefore I am not bound to belieue it The Scripture doeth not requyre anie such thing of mee therefore GOD accounteth it not service to Him to doe it is good reasoning 4. From Verse 15. The Apostle comparing the Proofes of his Argument calleth this last in playne tearmes Farre more evident THEN Of Reasons drawne from Scripture by Consequence some will bee lesse evident some more evident and yet all bee good Reasons and prooue the Purpose stronglie Vers. 16. Who is made not after the law of a carnall commandement but after the power of an endlesse lyfe HEE entereth into a more particular comparison of the Leviticall Priesthoode and CHRIST'S to show the weaknesse of the one in comparison of the other The Leviticall Priestes in their Consecration got a commaundement for the Exercyse of bodilie and carnall Rites some fewe yeares of their mortall lyfe without power to convey the Grace signified by those bodilie Rites But CHRIST in his Consecration is endewed with Power to conferre Grace and Lyfe eternall from Generation to Generation to all that seeke the Benefite of his Priesthoode THEN Wee may bee assured of Christ's power to make the meanes which hee vseth for our salvation effectuall as wee may bee assured of his endlesse lyfe Vers. 17. For Hee testifieth Thou art a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedek HEE prooveth this by Scripture because GOD calleth Him a Priest for ever Therefore Hee hath Power for ever as living for ever to make His owne Priesthoode effectuall So The eternitie of CHRIST'S Priesthoode prooveth it to bee forcible to gâ—ue Eternall Lyfe For if it did not endure in his person it could not giue Eternall Lyfe and peoples heartes would not rest vpon it with anie ground And so it behooved to bee renounced and another Priesthood sought But seeing it is not to bee chaunged but shall endure Then of neede force it hath the thing to giue vs which wee are seeking that is Eternall Lyfe THEN As long as Christ endureth we want not a Priest to heare confession of sinne to giue absolution to blesse vs and giue vs Eternall Lyfe Vers. 18. For there is verilie a disannulling of the Commandement going before for the weaknesse and vnprofitablenesse there-of 1. BY the same wordes of establishing Christ's Priesthoode PSAL. CX hee prooveth that the Leviticall Lawe was to bee abolished when Christ came Because the establishing of Christ's Priesthoode and bringing it to light is the disannulling of the Leviticall THEN There needeth no more to declare That the Leviticall Priesthood and Law is abolished and wee fred from the Ceremonies thereof but the comming of CHRIST and His entering to his Office of Priesthood 2. Hee giveth a Reason of the abolishing of this Priesthoode Because it was weake and vnprofitable Question How can that bee seeing it was ordayned to strengthen the Believers then and was profitable for that ende I aunswere It is called weake and vnprofitable in regarde of anie power to make satisfaction to GOD'S justice for our sinnes or to purchase anie Salvation vnto vs For other wayes as a Meane to leade men for that tyme vnto the MESSIAS who should satisfie for vs it was not weake nor vnprofitable But to pacifie GOD and purchase Salvation as the missbelieving Iewes did vse it it was weake and vnprofitable altogether Agayne being considered as a Meane to praefigure CHRIST it was
joyned with him in his Priesthoode nor Deputie nor Vicar vnder him in it nor Successour to his Office So neyther hath CHRIST anie joyned with him or Substitute or Successour to him in his Priesthoode Vers. 4. Nowe consider howe great this man was vnto whome even the Patriarch Abraham gaue the Tenthes of the Spoyles TO showe CHRIST'S Excellencie hee draweth them to consider Melchidek's excellencie aboue Abraham's that so they might see CHRIST'S Excellencie to bee farre more The reason in force goeth thus 1. If Melchisedek the Type bee more excellent than Abraham much more must CHRIST of whome hee is a Type 2. And if Melchisedek's greatnesse bee not easilie perceaved except there bee a due consideration of it much more CHRIST'S Greatnesse requyreth consideration and is worthie of contemplation 3. If Abraham by paying of Tithes acknowledge Melchisedek's superioritie Much more should all Abraham's Off-spring acknowledge CHRIST'S Superioritie whome Melchisedek typicallie represented by paying of what is due for the mayntaynance of his Service and bestowing on his Ministers who are appoynted to blesse in his Name whether it bee lesse or more which they bestowe in such a manner as it vilifie not nor disgrace their high Employment which CHRIST hath put vpon them and so dishonour him whose Servantes they are Vers. 5. And verilie they that are of the sonnes of Levi who receaue the Office of the Priesthoode haue a commaundement to take Tithes of the people according to the Lawe that is of their Brethren though they come out of the loynes of Abraham HEE prooveth that in Tithes taking Melchisedek was greater than Abraham who did paye Tithes Because for the same respect the Levites by taking Tithes of their Brethren as Priestes had a Superioritie over them for their Office cause who other-wayes were their equalls THEN 1. The Priestlie Office lifted vp the Levites aboue their Brethren who were sprung of Abraham as well as they 2. The commaund of taking Tithes was annexed to the Office of the Priesthoode in token of their Superioritie by Office over them who by nature were at least their equalls Vers. 6. But hee whose Descent is not from them receaved Tithes of Abraham and blessed him that had the Promises Vers. 7. And without all contradiction the lesse is blessed of the better HEE prooveth agayne Melchisedek to bee greater than Abraham and so greater than Levi because hee blessed him and therefore behooved to bee greater THEN 1. Abraham notwithstanding hee hee had the Promises yet got hee the Blessing by Melchisedek in Type and from CHRIST represented by him in Trueth 2. If Melchisedek was greater because hee blessed him as Type Then CHRIST farre more who blesseth in effect Now there are sundrie sorts of Blessings 1. There is a Blessing of Reverence and Worship So Men blesse GOD. This sorte importeth no Greatnesse in the Blesser but Subjection 2. There is a Blessing of Charitie So Men blesse one another by mutuall Prayer This sorte importeth no Superioritie neyther 3. There is a Blessing of Authoritie ordinarie So doe GOD'S Ministers blesse the People in the LORD'S Name 4. A Blessing of Authoritie extraordinarie So Melchisedek blessed Abraham and the Prophets and Patriarches such as by inspiration they were directed to blesse And this Officiall Blessing with Authoritie prooveth Superioritie whether it bee ordinarie or extraordinarie 5. There is a Blessing of Power of it selfe effectuall So blesseth CHRIST and so GOD blesseth Men. FROM THIS 1. The Excellencie of the Office of GOD'S Ministers is evident who are appoynted to blesse the people in GOD'S Name 2. And howe they should bee respected in loue for their Worke sake 3. And howe they should walke worthie of that high and holie Employment lest their sinnes make them vyle and contemptible before the people as in Malachie's tyme Mal. 2.9 Vers. 8. And heere men that die receaue Tithes but there hee receaveth them of whome it is witnessed that hee liveth ANother poynt of Comparison tending to this ende The Levites in their Tithing were mortall men one succeeding another But Melchisedek in type of his Priesthoode and Scripturall beeing and CHRIST in the Trueth of his Priesthoode are immortall And therefore Melchisedek as the typicall priest and CHRIST as the true Priest are greater than Leviticall priestes by as much as Immortalitie is aboue mortalitie THEN Everie Age hath CHRIST for a Priest living in their owne tyme to deale for them with GOD And what Benefite they get by him in their owne tyme hee can make foorth-comming vnto them even for ever Vers. 9. And as I may so say Levi also who receaveth Tithes payed Tithes in Abraham Vers. 10. For hee was yet in the loynes of his father vvhen Melchisedek met him ANother Reason to this same purpose Levi payed Tithes to Melchisedek in Abraham's loynes Therefore Melchisedek is greater in his priesthoode than the Leviticall priestes So was CHRIST in Abraham's loynes will you say I answere CHRIST was the true represented priest even when Melchisedek met Abraham and in Melchisedek's person as type the honour was done to CHRIST in trueth and to his Priesthoode by Abraham And agayne CHRIST was in Abraham's loynes onelie in regarde of the matter of humane nature not for the manner of propagation and so is exempted from the lawe of naturall posteritie 1. Alwayes from this reasoning WEE LEARNE That as receaving Tithes prooveth superioritie in Office So paying of Tithes or Mayntaynance in towne of Tithes prooveth subjection to that Office and Office-bearers which receaue the same And so Mayntaynance of Ministers should bee a Matter of Honouring of them or rather of Him that sent them of its owne proper institution though men turne it into a beggarlie Steepende and count the more baselie of the Office because of the manner of Mayntaynance 2. From the Reason of Levie's paying of Tithes in Abraham's loynes WEE LEARNE That there is ground in Nature for imputation of the Father's deede vnto the Children descended of him by naturall propagation so that as justlie may GOD impute vnto vs Adam's sinnes as to Levi Abraham's Tithes paying Vers. 11. If therefore Perfection were by the Leviticall Priesthoode for vnder it the people receaved the Law vvhat farther neede was there that another Priest should ryse after the Order of Melchisedek and not bee called after the Order of Aaron TO the ende of the Chapter hee showeth a Necessitie of the abolishing of the Leviticall priesthoode and establishing of Christ's One Reason is in this Verse because Perfection was not to bee bad by the Leviticall priesthoode By Perfection is vnderstoode a perfect Satisfaction for our Sinnes and a perfect â—urchase of all that wee haue neede of vnto eternall Lyfe Hee prooveth that such perfection could not â—ee had by Aaron's priesthoode because then there had beene no neede of another priesthoode after Aaron's if perfection could haue beene by his priesthoode But the Scripture showeth that there behooved to aryse a Priest after Melchisedek's Order by
anie Angell 2. The Father hath sayde to Christ Sit Thou on my right hand vntill I make thyne enemies thy Foote-stoole THEN 1. Christ's Kingdome will not want enemies 2. Yea his enemies shall bee such as there shall bee neede of divine wisedome and power to overcome them 3. GOD professeth himselfe Partie agaynst all the enemies of Christ's Church and Kingdome 4. GOD will put them at vnder piece and piece and altogether at length 5. Their opposition and overthrow shall serue to glorifie Christ's Kingdome and Governament they shall bee his Foote-stoole 6. In the meane time of this Battell Christ in his owne Person shall continue equall in Glorie and Majestie with the Father beholding the Victorie brought about and bringing it about with the Father vnto his Souldiours comfort Vers. 14. Are they not all ministring Spirits sent foorth to minister for them who shall bee Heyres of Salvation 1. THE Angels are all ministring Spirites THEN 1. Angels are not bodies but their substance is invisible 2. They are all of them even these that are called Arch-Angels the greatest of them but servantes to Christ and none of them must haue their Master's honour that is anie religious worship of prayer or invocation made to them 2. They are sent foorth for Service or Ministring THEN Their employment is about God's Children to attende vs and serue vs at Christ's direction not to bee served by vs by anie devotion 3. Christ's Subjects are called Heyres of Salvation THEN 1. They are Sonnes 2. And what they get is by Heyrship by vertue of their Adoption and Sonneship not by merit of their workes 3. And they shall surelie get Salvation as an Heritage never to bee taken from them The Summe of Chap. II. FRom the former Doctrine hee inferreth seeing Christ is so glorious let his Gospell bee steadfastlie believed Vers. 1. For if the disobedience of the Law given by the Ministerie of Angels was punished Vers. 2. Farre more the disobedience of the Gospell so gloriouslie confirmed Vers. 3.4 For Christ is greater than the Angels even as Man and hath all thinges in subjection to him Vers. 5. As David witnesseth speaking of elected Men with their Head the Man Christ Vers. 6.7.8 And albeit wee see not that subjection yet fullie accomplished Vers. 8. Yet it is begun in Christ's personall exaltation And for his short humiliation vnder the estate of Angels by suffering wee must not stumble For it is both glorious to himselfe and profitable for vs Vers. 9. For God's glorie requyred that our salvation should bee wrought by sufferinges of the Mediator Vers. 10. And to this ende hee behoved to bee part-taker of our nature as was foretolde Vers. 11.12.13 That hee might take on our due punishment that is Death Vers. 14. And deliver his owne from the feare thereof Vers. 15. And herein wee haue a Priviledge aboue the Angels in that hee tooke on our nature and not theirs Vers. 16. And by his sufferinges a ground of so much greater Comfort in Him Vers. 17.18 The Doctrine of Chap. II. Vers. 1. Therefore wee ought to giue the more earnest heede to the thinges which wee haue heard lest at anie tyme wee should let them slip 1. THerefore wee ought to giue heede c. From the Excellencie of Christ's Person hee vrgeth the Beliefe of his Doctrine THEN 1. CHRIST must bee esteemed of as becommeth the Excellencie of His Person 2. The way howe CHRIST will bee respected of vs is by respecting His Doctrine And the Excellencie of His Person should procure our reverend receiving of His Word and steadfast holding of it 2. Hee will haue vs to take heede lest wee should let it slip The word is borrowed from rent and leking Vessels or sandie ground THEN 1. The Gospell is a precious Liquor worthie to bee well keeped And wee of our selues are as rent Vessels readie to let it slip when wee haue heard it or lyke sandie ground which keepeth not the rayne 3. For this wee ought to giue the more earnest heede THEN The Conscience of the worth of CHRIST and His Gospell and of our owne vnfitnesse to retayne it should sharpen our Vigilancie and Attendance to keepe it else wee will doubtlesse let it slip 4. Hee sayeth not lest shortlie but lest at anie tyme. THEN It is not sufficient to belieue the Word for a whyle and for a whyle to remember it but wee must gripe it so as never to quyte iâ— by misregarde or misbeliefe For Fayth and loue of the Trueth is the good memorie that speciallie hee requyreth heere Vers. 2. For if the word spoken by Angels was steadfast and everie transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward 1. HEe reasoneth from the Law spoken by Angels THEN The Angels were employed in giving of the Law they did blow the Trumpet they from GOD vttered the Word to Moses 2. The word spoken by them was steadfast THEN What GOD delivereth by the Ministerie of Messengers is authorized and ratified by GOD. 3. Everie transgression was punished THEN The punishment of transgressours of His Law is a proofe of GOD'S authorizing the Doctrine 4. Hee calleth the Punishment a just Recompense THEN There is no evill befalleth sinners more than they doe deserue None hath cause to complayne of injustice Vers. 3. How shall wee escape if wee neglect so great Salvation which at the first began to bee spoken by the LORD and was confirmed vnto vs by them that heard Him 1. HOw shall wee escape The Apostle joyneth himselfe with them in the Threatning THEN So should Preachers threaten their people as willing to vnderlye the same punishment except they flee the sinne for which they threaten others 2. Hee reasoneth from the punishment of the Law breaking to proue the punishment of misbelieving the Gospell THEN 1. The not-embracing of the Gospell is a greater sinne than the breach of the Law The despysing of Forgiuenesse is much worse nor the making of the fault 2. Examples of judgement vpon Transgressours of the Law are Evidences of greater judgementes to come on the misregarders of the Gospell 3. Hee calleth the Gospell so great a Salvation because of the free Offer of Remission of sinnes and eternall Lyfe in it THEN The greatnesse of the Benefit to bee gotten by the Gospell aggreageth the sinne of the misregarders of it 4. Hee sayeth not If wee reject denye or persecute the Gospell but if wee neglect THEN The neglect of the Doctrine of the Gospell the carelesse receiving of it the not-studying to know it is sufficient to draw downe heavier judgementes than ever fell on the breakers of the Law albeit a man bee not an Vnder-myner or open Enemie to the Gospell 5. Hee descrybeth the Gospell to bee that Doctrine which Christ himselfe preached and his Apostles from him THEN Wee are not bound to belieue anie more for Gospell than that which is made cleare vnto vs by His Apostles word And the misregarding of other doctrine which is not
giue Perfection which is CHRIST Vers. 11. And so both the Priesthoode and all the Ordinances thereof are abolished by the MESSIAS who behooved to bee of another Trybe than LEVI Vers. 13.14 And of another Order also Vers. 15. Bodilie shadowes were in the Priesthoode of LEVI but endlesse Trueth in CHRIST Vers. 16. As DAVID'S words doe prooue Vers. 17. By which also it is prophesied That AARON'S Priesthoode shall bee disannulled vvhen CHRIST'S Priesthoode is come because it was not able to doe mens turne vnder the Law as CHRIST'S doeth vnder the Gospell Vers. 18.19 And GOD obliedged not Himselfe to make AARON'S Priesthoode stand as Hee sware to establish CHRIST'S Vers. 20.21 And so the Covenant vnder the MESSIAS is declared to bee better than vnder LEVI Vers. 22. Agayne the Priesthoode of LEVI had sundrie Office-bearers but CHRIST hath none in His Priesthoode with Himselfe nor one after Himselfe Vers. 23.24 Therefore Hee is able alone to worke out our Salvation throughlie Vers. 25. For such a Priest haue wee neede of who needeth not offer vp daylie His Sacrifice for Hee hath offered one and never more Vers. 26.27 And no wonder for vnder the Lawe mortall men might bee Priestes but vnder the Gospell onelie the Sonne of GOD is Priest and that for evermore Vers. 28. The Doctrine of Chap. VII VERS 1. FOr this Melchisedek King of Salem Priest of the moste High GOD who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kinges and blessed him BY saying FOR hee giveth a reason why hee calleth CHRIST a Priest after the Order of Melchisedek because such a one was Melchisedek His type therefore such a one behooved CHRIST in Trueth and Substance to bee as the type imported Hee should bee 1. Hee repeateth from GENES XIV 18.19.20 as much as served to resemble anie thing in CHRIST but never a word toucheth bee of Melchisedek's bringing foorth of Bread and Wyne to Abraham THEREFORE He did not account this anie typicall action having anie resemblance of that which was to bee done by CHRIST his Anti-type for then should hee not haue fayled to marke it seeing hee observeth the mysterie of his name and place of dwelling which is lesse 2. Melchisedek and the Church in Salem where Melchisedek was Priest were not of Abraham's Familie THEREFORE Albeit GOD did choose Abraham's Familie as the Race wherein hee was to continue the ordinarie Race of his Church yet had hee Churches and Saynctes beside 3. This meeting of Abraham and entertayning him and his companie with Bread and Drinke being the exercyse of an ordinarie Vertue SHOWETH That it is the duetie of all men and namelie of Kinges Great men and Church-men to countenance and encowrage according to their place and power those who hazard themselues in GOD'S Service and good Causes 4. To come to a particular Comparison of the Type and the Trueth 1. As Melchisedeck was both King and Priest in his Kingdome So is CHRIST King and Priest in his Kingdome to care for the Religion and outward conversation of his Subjectes to see to the Weall of their Soules and Bodies both amongst men and towardes GOD in this lyfe and heere-after 2. As Melchisedeck is the blesser of Abraham the Father of the Faythfull in the Type So is CHRIST in Trueth the Blesser of Abraham and all the Faythfull the Fountayne of all Blessing in whom alone everie one is blessed who getteth Blessing Vers. 2. To whome also Abraham gaue a tenth parte of all first beeing by interpretation King of Righteousnesse and after that also King of Salem which is King of Peace 1. TO goe on in the Comparison As Melchisedek the Type was honoured by Abraham's paying of Tythes vnto him So is CHRIST to bee honoured by all Abraham's Children by giving of their Substance and worldlie Goods what is sufficient to mayntayne the honour of his Kingdome amongst them 2. Praesuppose the Type were layde asyde yet this thankefull Meeting that Abraham gaue to the man whose Office was to blesse him in the Name of the LORD doeth TEACH All the Faythfull Abraham's true seede a duetie of Thankfulnesse to GOD'S Servantes set over them to blesse them in the Name of the LORD even to honour them by giving of their Goods for their sufficient mayntaynance 3. As Melchisedek the Type is by interpretion King of Righteousnesse So is CHRIST in Trueth King of Righteousnesse 1. For the personall Righteousnesse in himselfe 2. Because hee is the Righteousnesse of his Subjectes made of GOD vnto vs Righteousnesse by imputation 3. Because hee frameth his Subjectes piece and piece vnto a righteous Disposition by sanctifying them 4. As Melchisedek the Type is King of Salem that is King of Peace So is CHRIST in Trueth King of Peace to his Subjectes by reconciling them to the Father by giving Peace of Conscience within themselues by making all the creatures at peace with them and all thinges turne together for their Good and by working still on their eternall Welfare and Blessednesse vntill hee perfect it 5. As Melchisedek was first King of Righteousnesse and then King of Peace in the Type So is CHRIST in Trueth in this Order First King of Righteousnesse to his Subjectes to take away their sinnes and to giue them Righteousnesse And then King of Peace because hee giveth them his peace as the Fruite of Righteousnesse This is the Order of his Kingdome Righteousnesse and Peace and Ioye in the holie Ghoste Vers. 3. Without Father without Mother without Descent having neyther beginning of dayes nor ende of lyfe but made lyke vnto the Sonne of GOD abydeth a Priest continuallie MELCHISEDEK certaynlie was a verie man King and Priest in such a Citie if wee consider him in his naturall beeing But if wee consider him in his Scripturall beeing as hee standeth in Scripture vnder this name hee hath neyther Father nor Mother beginning nor ende There is no more mention of him what hee was or of whome hee came or of his death but these three Verses of Genes XIV As then hee is in typicall beeing in Scripture So is CHRIST in Trueth in his personall beeing as GOD without Mother as Man without Father as GOD without beginning as GOD and Man without ending of lyfe 2. As Melchisedek looking howe hee standeth in his Scripturall beeing abydeth a Priest continuallie so that where-so-ever hee is named in Scripture there hee is ever found a Priest also and never a worde of his laying downe of the Priesthoode Even so is CHRIST'S Priesthoode vnseparable from his person hee abydeth a Priest continuallie in reall accomplishment 3. By saying hee is made lyke vnto the Sonne of GOD HEE GIVETH VS TO VNDERSTAND That GOD'S Purpose was in those particulars so to descrybe him as hee might resemble the Person and Offices of the Sonne of GOD And so is a Type of GOD'S owne appoyntment 4. And if he was made a lyklie Type of CHRIST in his Office of Priesthode then it followeth as Melchisedek had neyther anie
profitable still till CHRIST came namelie for that ende and vse But when Hee is come no ende nor vse more for it but that iâ— should bee abolished having served the Turne wherevnto it was ordayned THEN 1. Leviticall Ceremonies what-so-ever vse they might haue had before CHRIST are weake and vnprofitable after His comming 2. It is evill reasoning to say such Rites and Ceremonies were vsed before CHRIST came therefore they may bee vsed now also Vers. 19. For the Lawe made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better Hope did by the which we draw nigh vnto GOD. HEE prooveth That those Rites were weake Because the Lawe whether Morall or Ceremoniall could not perfect anie thing that is justifie sanctifie and saue anie man 1. They served as a Pedagogue to leade a man to CHRIST for expiation of Sinne and purchase of Salvation but could not effectuate this by themselues And this maketh good the Aunswere to the Question in the former Verse THEN To seeke to bee perfected justified and saved by workes is to seeke that by the Lawe which could never bee brought to passe by it 2. What then doeth perfect all Hee aunswereth The bringing in of a better Hope perfecteth all That is CHRIST then boâ—ed for and looked vnto who is that Better Thing â—â—en the Ende and the Signification of those Legall Ordinances being brought in vnto Believers Hee dâ—eth perfect all THEN 1. What the Believers could not get vnder the Lawe by their outward service they got it by CHRIST hoped for and believed into 2. The Believers of olde rested not on the shadowes but had the Eye of their Hope on CHRIST 3. Hee commendeth this Better Hope that is CHRIST'S Priesthoode hoped for vnder the Lawe Because by it wee drawe nigh vnto GOD. Nowe Drawing nigh importeth a distance before drawing nigh and agayne Drawing nigh was the Priests prerogatiue vnder the Lawe THEN By Nature and without CHRIST wee are Aliens from GOD and farre away from Him But by CHRIST wee get Libertie to come nigh not onlie is GOD'S people but as Priestes through CHRIST to offer our Spirituall Oblations The Priestes Priviledge of olde is common to Belâ—evers now Vers. 20. And in as much as not without an Oath Hee was made Priest Vers. 21. For those Priests were made without an Oath but This vvith an Oath by Him that sayde vnto Him The LORD sware and will not repent Thou art a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedek Vers. 22. By so much was IESUS made a Suretie of a better Testament 1. HEE goeth on to compare the Leviticall Priesthoode with CHRIST'S Two Comparisons are heere conjoyned First Leviticall Priestes were made without an Oath onelie by way of simple Ordinance and Direction GOD leaving rowme to himselfe howe long hee pleased to holde on the Direction and when hee pleased to chaunge it But CHRIST was made Priest with an Oath that hee should never bee chaunged THEN 1. When GOD gaue foorth the Ceremoniall Lawe hee reserved rowme to himselfe to chaunge it yea gaue evidence that hee was to chaunge it for hee obliedged the people during his will but not himselfe 2. But for CHRIST'S Priesthoode GOD is bound with an Oath Never to chaunge it and it leaneth on his nature which can not alter nor repent and vpon his Oath vvhich can not bee violated 2. Another Comparison betwixt the Leviticall Covenant and the Evangelicall Covenant As farre as the Oath is aboue the chaungeable commaundement by so much is the Newe Covenant better than the Covenant vnder the Lawe TEHN 1. There was a Covenant or Testament vvhereby Believers were saved as well vnder the Lawe as vnder the Gospell 2. The Covenant now though in substance of Salvation one with the former yet in the manner of downe-setting the Articles and the forme of it is better than the Covenant then more cleare more free more full more largelie extended and more firme 3. CHRIST is heere called Suretie of this Covenant THEN 1. CHRIST must see the Covenant keeped and bee good for it 2. GOD hath CHRIST to craue for our performance of the Covenant and wee haue CHRIST to craue for GOD'S parte of the Covenant Yea and CHRIST to craue to giue vs grace to performe that which GOD requyreth of vs in his Covenant 3. IESVS is content to bee Suretie and the Father hath consented and ordayned and made him Suretie So it resteth onelie that wee bee content also and make much of CHRIST that hee may doe all our Worke for vs and all GODS Worke in vs. Vers. 23. And they truelie were manie Priestes because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death Vers. 24. But this Man because He continueth ever hath an vnchaungeable Priesthoode ANother Excellencie of Christ's Priesthoode aboue the Leviticall which may bee braunched out in these particulars following 1. The Leviticall Priestes were manie both at one tyme and one after another by reason whereof that Priesthoode was weakened whyle one parte of the Office for such a tyme was in the handes of this man and another parte for another tyme was in the handes of that man And because one man could not bee readie to take the Sacrifices from all the people therefore severall men behooved to take severall partes of the burden But in Christ's Priesthoode there is but one Man even Himselfe His Priesthoode is vndivided no man beareth a parte of the burden with him Hee alone attendeth all mens Sacrifices by himselfe Hee is at leasure for everie man's employment at all tymes in the greatest throng of Sacrifices THEN As long as CHRIST is at leasure no reason to employ another to carrie our Prayers 2. The Leviticall Priesthoode did passe from one person to another Death made interruption But CHRIST'S Priesthoode can not passe from his owne person to anie other neyther Death nor anie other infirmitie can interrupt his Office THEN 1. To make anie Priest by speciall Office in the New Testament beside CHRIST is to vent the Priesthood of CHRIST and make it imperfect lyke AARON'S which for the same reason That it had manie Priestes was weake and imperfect and inferiour to CHRIST'S 2. To make Priestes by Office in the New Testament to offer vp anie corporall sacrifice is to make CHRIST'S Pristhood separable from his owne person vvhich is agaynst the nature of CHRIST'S Priesthood which can not passe from one to another for so importeth the worde 3. To make pluralitie of Priestes in Christ's Priesthood Vicars or Substitutes or in anie respect part-taker of the Office with him is to praesuppose that Christ is not able to doe that Office alone but is eyther dead or weake that hee can not fulfill that Office contrarie to the Text heere which sayeth Because hee continueth ever hee hath an vnchaungeable Priesthood or a Priesthood which can not passe from one to another Vers. 25. Wherefore Hee is able also to saue them to the vttermost which come vnto GOD by Him seeing
for vs Hee must haue no neede to offer Sacrifice for his owne sinnes THEN Neyther LEVI nor anie sinfull Man after him can bee a priest vnder the New Testament but CHRIST onelie who never sinned and so had never neede to offer for Himselfe 2. The seaventh propertie Hee must not haue neede to offer daylie for the peoples sinnes who must bee our priest For if hee should offer the second daye then the first dayes Sacrifice should bee declared vnsufficient Or else why offereth hee agayne after that which is sufficient THEN 1. The Priest of the Newe Testament needeth not to offer oftener nor once 2. And if CHRIST'S Sacrifice were offered oftener nor once or daylie Hee could not bee a fit priest for vs nor offer a perfect sacrifice for vs for the oft offering should declare the former offeringes vnsufficient and imperfect 3. Hee giveth a Reason why Christ needed not to offer vp oftener Because hee hath offered vp himselfe once for the sinnes of the people THEN 1. CHRIST was both the Priest and the Sacrifice in His owne Offering 2. CHRIST'S Sacrifice can not bee offered vp by anie but Himselfe another nor CHRIST'S selfe can not offer vp CHRIST 3. Betwixt the comming of CHRIST and the wryting of this Epistle which was sundrie yeares after CHRIST'S Ascention the Apostle knew no Offering of CHRIST but that onlie once vpon the Crosse and yet tymes out of number was the SACRAMENT of the LORD'S Supper celebrated before this tyme. 4. In that hee maketh that once offering the Reason of his not offering daylie it TEACHETH VS That the perfection of that once offered sacrifice maketh the repetition needlesse and whosoever maketh it needfull that CHRIST bee offered daylie maketh both CHRIST an imperfect Priest and His sacrifice imperfect also Vers. 28. For the Lawe maketh Men High Priestes which haue infirmitie but the worde of the Oath which was since the Lawe maketh the Sonne who is consecrated for evermore HEE giveth a speciall Reason why it beseemeth not vs vnder the Gospell to haue a sinfull man for our priest because this is the verie difference betwixt the Lawe and the Gospell 1. The Lawe maketh Men which haue infirmities high priestes But the worde of the Oath which was since the Lawe maketh the Sonne and none but the Sonne who is consecrated for evermore THEN The Scripture knoweth no priest but the Leviticall priestes of AARON'S posteritie for the tyme of the Lawe or else that one priest which was made by an Oath for the tyme of the Gospell Beside these the Apostle acknowledgeth none nor were there anie other in his tyme in the Church 2. Hee maketh the difference of the Lawe and the Gospell to stand amongst other thinges in the difference of priestes so as the Gospell can not admit such pristes as the Lawe admitted THEN To haue priestes nowe after the similitude of the priestes vnder the Lawe were to remooue the difference which GOD hath made betwixt the Lawe and the Gospell 3. The Differences as the Apostle setteth them downe heere are 1. The Course taken about priests vnder the Lawe was alterable they were made without an Oath the Law-giver declaring it to bee his will to chaunge that Course when hee sawe it fitte But the Course taken about the priestes of the Newe Testament is with an Oath and so can not bee changed THEN To make a priest in the Gospell who is not consecrated by an Oath to abyde for evermore in the Office but may bee changed and another come in in his place is contrarie to the institution of the Evangelicall Priesthood 2. The next Difference hee maketh this The Lawe admitteth Men in the plurall number a pluralitie of priestes but the Gospell admitteth no pluralitie of priestes but the Sonne onelie to bee priest Melchisedek's Order in the Type hath no priest but one in it without a Suffragane or substituted priest Therefore CHRIST the true Melchisedek is alone in his Priesthoode without Partner or Deputie or Suffragane THEN To make pluralitie of priestes in the Gospell is to alter the Order of MELCHISEDEK sworne with an Oath and to renounce the March set betwixt the Lawe and the Gospell 3. The third Difference The Lawe maketh men priestes but the Evangelicall Oath maketh the Sonne of GOD Priest for the Gospell THEN To make a man priest nowe is to marre the Sonne of God's priviledge to whome the priviledge onelie belongeth 4. The fourth Difference The Law maketh such priestes as haue infirmitie that is Sinfull Men who can not make the sacrifice which they offer effectuall to pacifie nor the Blessing which they pronounce to come nor the instruction which they giue forcible to open the Eyes But the Evangelicall Oath maketh the Sonne who is able to saue to the vttermost all that come to GOD through Him THEN To make a sinfull and weake man a Priest nowe is to weaken the Priesthoode of the GOSPELL and make it lyke the Law 5. The fift Difference The Lawe maketh men Priestes which haue infirmities over whome Death had power that they could not bee consecrated but for their short lyfe tyme. But the Evangelicall Oath maketh the Sonne whome the Sorrowes of Death could not holde and hath consecrated Him for evermore THEN As long as CHRIST'S Consecration lasteth none must meddle with His Office 6. The last Difference The Lawe instituting Priestes was not GOD'S Last Will but might suffer Addition But the Evangelicall Oath is since the Lawe and GOD'S last and vnchaungeable Will THEREFORE To adde vnto it and bring in as manie Priestes nowe as did serue in the Temple of olde is to provoke GOD to adde as manie Plagues as are written in GOD'S Booke vpon themselues and their Priests also The Summe of Chap. VIII THIS is the summe of all that I haue spoken Wee haue no priest nowe but CHRIST who is equall in Glorie to His Father in Heaven Vers. 1. The Offerer of His owne Bodie signified by the Tabernacle Vers. 2. For everie priest must offer some-thing therefore so must Christ Vers. 3. But the Typicall Sacrifice Hee could not offer by the Lawe albeit Hee were on earth Vers. 4. Because Hee is not of the Tribe of LEVI whose proper Office was to meddle with the shadowes Therefore Hee must bee the Offerer of the Substance that is of His owne Bodie signified by the shadowes Vers. 5. And so now Hee hath taken the Office over the Levites head and hath an Office more excellent than they and is Mediator of a better Covenant than the Covenant which was in their tyme Vers. 6. For if that Covenant had bene perfect another had beene needlesse Vers. 7. But another Covenant was needfull and GOD promised to make a Newe one Vers. 8. A better Covenant than that olde which the people brake Vers. 9. For in this Covenant GOD vndertaketh to make vs keepe our parte of it Vers. 10.11 And to pardon where wee fayle Vers. 12. Now when GOD promised a Newe
Covenant Hee declared the other to bee olde and to bee abolished when the Newe came Vers. 13. The doctrine of Chap. VIII VERS 1. NOw of the thinges which wee haue spoken this is the summe We haue such an High Priest vvho is set on the Right Hand of the Throne of the Majestie in the Heavens 1. THE Apostle accommodating himselfe to helpe the capacitie and memorie of the Hebrewes and vrging the speciall Poynct of his Discourse is worthie of imitation 2. In saying Wee haue such an High Priest who is set downe on the Right Hand c. hee setteth foorth the Glorie of Christ's person that hee may commende His Priesthood THEN 1. The Glorie of CHRIST'S Office is not seene till the Glorie of His Person bee seene 2. The Glorie of His Person is not seene till His glorious Soveraygnitie and Governament of the Worlde bee seene 3. Yea the Glorie of CHRIST is not rightlie seene till His Equalitie with the Father in Glorie bee seene and acknowledged 3. In saying that Christ as high Priest is set downe on the Right hand of the Throne hee giveth vs to VNDERSTAND That CHRIST as in His Divine Nature Hee is vndivided from the Father in Glorie and Dominion So in His Humane Nature Hee is exalted to the Fellowship of Divine Glorie with the Father Because of the Vnion of the Humane Nature with the Divine in one Person of the Mediator The two Natures still remayning distinguished but not divided nor separated the one from the other 4. Hee noteth the place of this Glorie to bee in the Heavens wherein hee preferreth Christ aboue the Leviticall Priestes for their Priesthoode is onelie exercysed on Earth but Christ's in Heaven AND THEREFORE When wee will employ our high Priest wee haue no earthlie Citie to seeke Him in but in the Heaven the onelie Place and Palace of His residence Vers. 2. A Minister of the Sanctuarie and of the true Tabernacle vvhich the LORD pitched and not man 1. FOR all this Glorie yet Christ is still called heere a Minister TO SHOW VS That His High Honour hindereth Him not to doe His Office for our Good 2. Hee is called a Minister of the Sanctuarie or of the holie thinges for the worde will agree with both and both tende to one purpose for the holie thinges were all tyed to the Sanctuarie and hee that was Minister of the Sanctuarie was Minister of the holie thinges also and that in name of the Saynctes Nowe the Sanctuarie or the holie thinges which heere is spoken of is the thing signified by the Sanctuarie and by the holie thinges And so taking all the significations of the worde together WEE ARE TAVGHT That CHRIST in his Glorie is not ydle but as a faythfull Agent in the heavenlie Sanctuarie taking the care of all the holie thinges which his saynctes and people are commaunded to present procuring and giving foorth all holie and spirituall thinges from heaven to his saynctes vvhich their estate requyreth 3. Hee is called a Minister of the true Tabernacle which GOD pitched and not man That is The Minister of his owne Bodie miraculouslie formed by GOD not after the ordinarie manner of other men signified and represented by the Typicall Tabernacle THEN The Tabernacle and Temple vnder the Lawe was but the shadowe and Christ's Bodie was the true Tabernacle For 1. As the symboles of GOD'S presence was in the typicall Tabernacle So the fulnesse of the Godhead dwelleth bodilie in Christ. 2. As the typicall tabernacle had inclosed in it all the holie thinges the Candle-sticke Table of Shew-bread Laver Altar c. So hath the humanitie of Christ or Christ the Man all holinesse and perfection the fulnesse of all good and all holie thinges in him Light Foode Washing and Reconciliation and all in himselfe that out of his fulnesse wee may all receaue Grace for Grace 3. As the Tabernacle in the outmost Coveringes seemed but base yet had better stuffe within So our LORD when hee dwelt in the tabernacle of his flesh amongst vs was found in forme as a man and in the shape of a servaunt but inwardlie was full of Grace and Trueth 4. In calling Christ's Bodie The true Tabernacle which GOD builded and not man hee teacheth vs To make vse of Christ in trueth as the Church of olde made vse of the Tabernacle in the Type That is In him seeke GOD Towardes him turne the Eye of our soule when we seeme to our selues to bee farre remooved to the ende of the earth In him offer all our spirituall sacrifices In him seeke our Washing our Foode our Light our Comfort In him as his Priestes make our Abode and daylie Dwelling In him let vs liue and breathe 5. In so calling Christ he appropriateth the sacrifcing of his Bodie to himselfe in his owne person as the personall and proper Act of his Priesthoode for the offering of the which Sacrifice once and never oftener as HEBR. vij 27. showeth hee keepeth still the style of the onelie Minister of the true Tabernacle as his owne incommunicable Prerogatiue AND THEREFORE Who-so-ever presumeth to offer his Bodie presumeth also to take his place Vers. 3. For everie High Priest is ordayned to offer Giftes and Sacrifices vvherefore it is of necessitie that this Man haue some-what also to offer HEE prooveth That Christ is the Minister of the Tabernacle of his owne Bodie by offering it vp because it behooved him seeing hee is a Priest to offer vp some-thing eyther the typicall Oblations or else his owne Bodie represented by them But the typicall Oblations hee could not offer according to the Lawe not beeing a Levite Therefore hee behooved to offer vp himselfe represented by the typicall Oblations THEN The Apostle acknowledgeth no Priest but eyther the Leviticall priest or the Priest that offereth vp his owne Bodie And who-so-ever pretendeth to haue the Office of a priest nowe vsurpeth eyther the Office of the Levite or Christ's Office Vers. 4. For if Hee were on earth Hee should not bee a Priest seeing that there are Priestes which offer Giftes according to the Lawe 1. HEE prooveth That Christ can not offer vp the typicall Oblations Because hee can not bee a Priest on earth albeit hee were on earth Because Priesthoode on earth is proper to the Levites onlie For they are the onelie Priestes by Lawe on earth and haue praescrybed to them by Lawe what they should offer Question You will aske mee heere Was not Christ a Priest when hee was on earth I aunswere Yes How then sayth the Apostle here If he were on earth hee should not bee a Priest I aunswere Because albeit hee began his Priesthoode vpon earth yet hee could not brooke his Office of Priesthoode on the earth For as the high Priest who was the Type carried the Sacrifice once a-yeare through the Court and before the Sanctuarie killed the Sacrifice and then tooke the bloode thereof in vnto the Holiest of all and presented himselfe there before the LORD
with the bloode to intercede for the people and there remayned during the tyme of Intercession appoyncted to him So Christ carrying his Sacrifice out of the Citie offered vp his Bodie on the Altar of his Godhead to his Father and by his owne bloode entered into the heavenlie Sanctuarie and sate downe on the Right hand of the Majestie on high and there hee liveth for ever to intercede for vs having then ended his Sacrifice as this Apostle prooveth Chap. vij 17 and Chap. ix 25.26 And having no Sacrifice nowe to offer on earth it is with reason that the Apostle sayeth If Hee were on earth Hee should not bee a Priest WHENCE WEE LEARNE 1. That Christ is not nowe on the earth nor in anie place thereof and therefore if anie man say to vs Loe heere hee is Loe there hee is wee must not belieue him it is a false christ hee showeth vs and not the True as CHRIST himselfe fore-warneth MATTH XXIV 23 2. That it is impossible that Christ should nowe bee on the earth for then should hee lose his Priesthoode which is impossible For if hee were on earth hee should not bee a Priest sayeth the Apostle heere 3. That Christ's Priesthoode is onelie discharged nowe in heaven seeing hee can not bee a Priest on earth 2. His Reason is They are Priestes which offer Giftes according to the Lawe THEN Everie Priest who brooketh his Priesthoode on earth must offer Giftes according to the Law as the Apostle heere reasoneth And such Priestes as those Christ hath abolished having chaunged the Priesthoode and the Lawe also THEREFORE There can bee no Priest by Office on earth at all with GOD'S allowance Vers. 5. Who serue vnto the Example and Shadowe of Heavenlie thinges as Moses was admonished of GOD when hee was about to make the Tabernacle For see sayeth Hee that thou make all thinges according to the Patterne showed vnto thee in the Mount HEE descrybeth the proper vse of the Leviticall Priestes to serue vnto the Example of heavenlie Thinges THEN 1. The Incarnation of Christ his Death and the Benefites thereof signified by Leviticall Shadowes are heavenlie thinges in regarde of their heavenlie Fruites and Effectes and other heavenlie Respectes and are with an heavenlie Mynde to bee looked vpon 2. The Ceremonies of the Lawe were not ydle Rites but Examples and Figures of Christ and his Graces by the which men were led then as by the hand to Christ vvho was to come 2. From EXOD. XXV 40 hee prooveth they were Shadowes of heavenlie thinges because the Patterne in the Mount represented the heavenlie thinges and Moses Tabernacle represented the Patterne in the Mount Therefore it represented heavenlie thinges And vnto this Patterne was Moses tyed THEN 1. GOD would not no not in the tyme of Types suffer anie devyse of man to come in for representing anie thing heavenlie Much lesse will hee nowe 2. Those which himselfe ordayneth hee will haue observed and none omitted Vers. 6. But nowe hath Hee obtayned a more excellent Ministerie by howe much also Hee is the Mediatour of a better Covenant which was established vpon better Promises 1. THE offering of the Typicall Oblations hee hath made proper to the Levites Nowe the offering of the true Sacrifices and service belonging therevnto hee appropriateth to Christ and calleth it A more excellent Ministerie THEN 1. The offering of the thing signified by the Leviticall Types is more excellent than all their Offeringes 2. This Ministerie is proper vnto Christ onelie in his owne person 2. From this hee preferreth the Mediatourship of Christ to the Typicall The Promises and the Covenane nowe to the Covenant then His reasoning is As the Ministerie is so is the Mediatour The Ministerie is more excellent in offering vp himselfe than the shadowes Therefore the Mediatour is more excellent nowe than the typicall of olde THEN The offering of Christ's Bodie which is the more excellent Ministerie is still annexed to the Person of the Mediatour onelie And who-so-ever intrudeth himselfâ— into that excellent Ministerie of offering vp Christ's Bodie intrudeth himselfe also into the Office of the Mediatour 3. In comparing the Covenant then and nowe hee maketh this the better Because the Promises are better WHENCE WEE LEARNE 1. That there was a Covenant betwixt GOD and his Church of olde vnder the Lawe And so Reconciliation to bee had with GOD then 2. That how-so-ever in substance of Grace both the Covenantes agreed yet the forme of this Covenant vnder the Gospell is better Because the expresse conditions are better the Promises are more spirituall and more free of strayte conditions Vers. 7. For if that first Covenant had beene faultlesse then should no place haue beene sought for the second TO cleare the abolishing of the olde Covenant hee prooveth it not to bee faultlesse Because a Newe Covenant was promised in place thereof Not that anie thing was wrong in that Covenant but because it was imperfect and all thinges needfull not expressed in it clearlie WHENCE WEE LEARNE 1. That the LORD'S proceeding with his Church hath ever beene from the lesse perfect to the more perfect till Christ came 2. That where ever GOD addeth or altereth what hee once did institute by so doing hee showeth That before his Addition hee had not expressed all his Mynde as in the tyme of the Olde Testament 3. When once hee hath perfected his course taken with his Church as nowe hee hath done vnder the Newe Testament hee altereth the matter no more Vers. 8. For finding fault with them hee sayeth Beholde the dayes come sayeth the LORD when I will make a Newe Covenant with the House of Israell and the House of Iudah 1. HEE prooveth That there was an imperfection in the Olde Covenant Because GOD sound fault with the people vnder it THEN The imperfection of the Covenant of olde was especiallie in default of the parties with whome it was made who by their inabilitie to fulfill it or beholde the drift of it made it vnable to saue themselues 2. In the wordes of Ierem. xxxj 31 the LORD promiseth to make a Covenant afterwardes with the house of Israell and Iudah THEN 1. The partie in the Newe Covenant is not all Man-kynde but the Church of the Newe Testament the spirituall Israell and Iudah 2. This Covenant was not brought to light of olde but had its owne tyme of manifestation 3. Even then the Church was made wyse of the imperfection of the Olde Covenant that they might learne to looke through the outward forme of it to a better 4. The Hope and Too-looke which they had towardes the Newe Covenant helde vp their heart that they without vs and our Priviledges should not bee perfected Vers. 9. Not according to the Covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I tooke them by the hand to leade them out of the land of Aegypt because they continued not in My Covenant and I regarded them not sayeth the LORD 1. THE Prophet
perfectlie expiated all their sinnes 3. Hee hath not made Purchase of some Graces vnto them onelie for a certayne tyme so as Hee will let them bee taken out of His Hand afterwardes and perish but Hee hath PERFECTED them for ever 4. Hee hath not appoyncted anie offering for them to bee made by anie other after Him But hath made ONE Offering HIMSELFE for them which satisfieth for ever so as the Father craveth no more offering for expiating their sinne for ever For GOD hath set foorth CHRIST to bee a Propitiation through Fayth in His Bloode ROM lij 25 That is GOD maketh it manifest by His Gospell that Hee is pacified in CHRIST towardes them that belieue in His Bloode that belieue in Him crucified Vers. 15. Whereof the holie Ghost also is a Witnesse vnto vs For after that Hee had sayde before Vers. 16. This is the Covenant that I will make with them after those dayes sayeth the LORD I will put My Lawes into their Hearts and in their Myndes will I wryte them Vers. 17. And their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more HEE prooveth that it is needlesse there should bee anie repetition of a sacrifice for sinne in the New Testament Because Remission of sinnes purchased by Christ's death who is the Testatour is still in force continuallie in Christ's Kingdome there beeing an Article of the Covenant for Remission of sinnes to the Confederated And if Remission of sinnes bee no Oblation for sinne can bee vers 18. 1. Hee sayeth that the holie Ghost is Witnesse vnto vs of this Trueth That Christ can not bee offered agayne THEN 1. Wee who doe teach this Doctrine and deny anie more offering of Christ as a sacrifice haue the holie Ghoste testifying for vs. 2. The holie Ghoste is Author of the Scripture and doeth speake vnto vs there-by 2. Hee declareth the Newe Covenant to bee of the holie Ghosts making and calleth Him THE LORD Wherein hee teacheth vs 1. That the holie Ghoste it a distinct person of the Godhead bearing witnesse by Himselfe to the Church of the Trueth 2. And one in essence with the Father and the Sonne even the LORD IEHOVAH Author of the Newe Covenant with the Father and the Sonne Vers. 18. Now where Remission of these is there is no more offering for sinne FROM this Article of Remission of sinnes in the Newe Covenant hee concludeth No more offering for sinne but once vnder this Covenant Because sinne is expiated QVEST. Howe then could there bee Remission of sinne vnder the Lawe where there was daylie offering for sinne Or if there was Remission howe could there bee offering for sinne I ANSWERE There is a Remission granted vpon Suretie given for Satisfaction to bee made for the partie remitted and there is a Remission granted for Satisfaction alreadie made for the partie remitted The Remission that the Fathers vnder the Lawe had was of the first sorte Vpon Promise of the Mediatour to come and to satisfie And with Remission of this sorte a typicall sacrifice might stand for signifying that the true expiatorie Sacrifice was not yet payed but was comming to bee payed But the Remission that wee get vnder the Gospell is vpon Satisfaction alreadie made by the true Expiatorie and Satisfactorie Sacrifice of IESVS CHRIST done and ended with the personall suffering And this sorte of Remission is it whereof the Apostle heere speaketh and it admitteth no manner of offering for sinne neyther typicall offering because Christ is come and hath fulfilled what the typicall sacrifice did signifie neyther the repeating of the true Expiatorie Sacrifice of Christs Bodie because then Christ behooved to suffer daylie and die daylie after that hee hath made satisfaction And beside these two sortes of offering the â—ewish bloodie sacrifices typicall and the true Expiatorie bloodie Sacrifice of Christ's Bodie on the Crosse the Scripture acknowledgeth none So the meaning of 〈◊〉 Apostle in these wordes must bee this Where Remission of sinnes is alreadie purchased by offering of the true Expiatorie Sacrifice as nowe it is vnder the New Covenant there no more offering can bee for sinne anie more THEN 1. The Apostle acknowledgeth no vse for anie sacrifice vnder the Newe Testament after Christ's Ascention else his Reason should not holde 2. The sacrifice which is offered to wit the Bodie of IESVS hath alreadie suffered for sinne so that nowe the Remission of those that is of sinne and iniquitie ALL SORT of the Elects sinnes is obtayned there-by alreadie 3. Not onelie NO SACRIFICE is anie more to bee offered for sinne vnder the Newe Covenant but also No OFFERING sayeth hee bloodie or vnbloodie is to bee offered 4. That Church which pretendeth to offer anie Offering for sinnes of quicke or dead nowe vnder the Gospell professeth That no Remission of sinne is to bee had in such a Church Because vvhere there is Remission of sinne there is no more offering for sinne sayeth the Apostle expresslie Vers. 19. Having therefore Brethren boldnesse to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of IESUS FROM the by-past Doctrine of Christ's Excelcellencie and Riches of Grace which commeth vnto vs through him hee draweth Exhortations for vse-making of this Doctrine in soundnesse of Fayth and the Fruites there-of vnto the ende of the Epistle And first hee exhorteth To seeke vnto Communion with GOD in Heaven through Christ vsing the tearmes of the Ceremoniall Lawe but mixed with wordes touching the Excellencie of the thing signified aboue those Ceremonies to showe the Hebrewes That those Ceremonies had nothing in themselues but did serue to represent Christ and his Benefites And so to drawe them from those shadowes vnto the trueth of that which once beeing signified by them is nowe manifested in Christ. To make the Exhortation to bee the better receaved bee setteth downe sundrie Priviledges of the Faythfull vers 19.20.21 From which hee inferreth his Exhortation vers 22. For the first Priviledge hee sayeth Wee haue libertie to enter into the Holiest That is Into Heaven 1. In that hee maketh this Priviledge proper to the societie of Christians himselfe and others hee teacheth vs 1. That so long as men are without Christ they are debarred out of Heaven no Doore nor Way open but the flaming Sword of GOD'S Iustice to keepe out everie one that shall preasse to enter before Christ bring them But such as come to Christ by Fayth Heaven is opened vnto them and the Doore cast vp for them to enter in who were exyled before 2. Next hee commendeth this Priviledge by calling the Place The Holiest the Place where GODS HOLINESSE dwelleth represented by the Sanctuarie where nothing can enter but that which is holie Teaching vs there-by That the Faythfull are so washen from their sinnes through Fayth in Christ that GOD will admit them into the Place of His Dwelling into His Heavenlie Sanctuarie by Fayth nowe and Fruition heere-after 3. Hee commendeth this Priviledge by calling it a Libertie The word properlie signifieth Libertie to speake