blacke Feares are alwayes before it yet Fayth looking to God's Omnipotencie seeth an out-gate 2. Christ's Prayers in our behalfe receaue no Repulse but are heard 3. Christ both died and was saved from Death also because it could not keepe dominion over him So shall wee bee saved from Death though wee die Vers. 8. Though Hee were a Sonne yet learned Hee obedience by the thinges which Hee suffered HEE remooveth the scandall of his Crosse by showing the necessitie and vse thereof Albeit Hee was the Sonne yet He learned obedience by those thinges which Hee suffered THEN 1. In the tyme of Christ's deepest humiliation the vnion betwixt his Godhead and Manhead was not loosed hee remayned the Sonne of God still 2. The Excellencie of his person exempted him not from suffering having once taken on our debt 3. Christ knewe what suffering was before hee suffered but hee knew not by experience till hee actuallie suffered 4. Christ's holie Lyfe was a parte of his Obedience to the Father but his Obedience in suffering for our sinnes was Obedience in an higher degree 5. To obey God by way of Action is a common Lesson to everie holie creature but that a sinnelesse and holie person should suffer for sinne was a New Lesson proper to Christ a Practique which never passed but in Christ's person onelie Vers. 9. And beeing made perfect He became the Author of eternall Salvation vnto all them that obey Him 1. THE Suffering of CHRIST is called his Perfection THEN 1. CHRIST though perfect in his person yet hee wanted something to make him perfect in his Office till hee suffered for hee could not satisfie the Father's Iustice till hee suffered nor yet could hee haue fellow-feeling from experience of the miseries of his members 2. After suffering Christ lacketh nothing that may pacifie God or comfort and saue sinners 2. The Fruite followeth Beeing perfected hee is become the Author of Salvation to all that obey him THEN 1. The proper cause of our salvation is to bee sought in Christ perfected by suffering not in anie one parte of his holinesse or obedience in doing or anie part of his suffering but in him perfected by his obedience even to the death of the Crosse. VVee may take Comfort from and make vse of his holie Conception Lyfe and severall Vertues but wee must remember that his accomplished Obedience in doing and suffering is our Ransome joynctlie considered and not anie particular Act looked on alone 2. None should stumble at Christ's sufferinges which perfected him in his Office and lykewyse perfected our Ransome to the Father 3. Christ felt the Bitternesse of his owne sufferinges himselfe but wee got the sweete Fruite thereof even Eternall Lyfe 4. Onelie they who obey Christ can clayme Title to the Purchase of Eternall Lyfe by him Nowe these are they who obey him who in vprightnesse of heart belieue in his promises and ayme to drawe strength out of him for newe obedience Vers. 10. Called of GOD an High Priest after the Order of Melchisedek HEE prooveth that Christ is Author of Eternall Salvation to his Followers from the nature of his Priesthoode which is Eternall not after Aaron's Order but Melchisedecke's THEN The nature of Christ's Priesthoode after Melchisedecke's Order and the Father's authorizing him in the Office is the Evidence of our Eternall salvation to bee had by him with the Father's Approbation Vers. 11. Of Whome wee haue manie thinges to say and harde to bee vttered seeing yee are dull of hearing BEEING to speake more of this Mysterie bee prepareth them by checking their dullnesse and advertising them of the difficuâ—tie of expressing himselfe because of the same THEN 1. Even the Children of GOD are not free of this Disease of slownesse to conceaue Spirituall thinges aright 2. The incapacitie of Auditors will breede even vnto the best Preachers difficultie of expressing their mynde 3. Preachers should rebuke the dullnesse of people to stirre them vp the more Vers. 12. For when for the tyme yee ought to bee Teachers yee haue neede that one teach you agayne which bee the first Principles of the Oracles of GOD and are become such as haue need of Milk and not of strong Meat 1. HEE maketh their Fault the more because by reason of tyme they ought to haue beene Teachers that is both well grounded themselues and labouring to informe others THEN 1. As wee haue had longer tyme to learne so should wee make more progresse in knowledge 2. As wee are rooted in knowledge our selues so ought wee to communicate our knowledge and informe others 2. Hee calleth the Catechizing of the Ignorant the Teaching the first Principles of the Oracles of GOD and compareth it to the giving of Milke THEN 1. Catechizing of the rude and ignorant is the first thing must bee done for making sound Christians 2. There is an order to bee kept in bringing men vnto knowledge The first Principles and fundamentall Doctrines must first bee taught 3. Nothing is to bee taught for grounding men in Religion but GOD'S Oracles that which is in GOD'S Worde onlie 4. The manner of teaching the Principles of Religion should bee easie and playne as Milke for Children Vers. 13. For everie one that vseth milke is vnskillfull in the Word of Righteousnesse For hee is a Babe HEE prooveth them to bee rude in knowledge by the description of one weake in knowledge whome hee calleth a Babe vsing Milke and vnskillfull in the Word of Righteousnesse so called because how to bee righteous is the Summe of the Doctrine of it THEN 1. There are degrees of knowledge in Christianitie Some are weake lyke Babes some more instructed of full age 2. All knowledge in Christianitie is to bee reckoned by acquayntance with the Scripture and Skill therein Not by humane learning Vers. 14. But strong Meat belongeth to them that are of full age even those who by reason of vse haue their senses exercysed to discerne both good and evill 1. HEE descrybeth the well-instructed Christian by his Meate and exercysed Senses The Meate that hee is sitte for is strong Meate that is more profound Doctrine THEN 1. All the Scripture and Doctrine frae it is eyther Milke or stronger Meate but whether this or that yet alwayes it is Foode fitte for nowrishment of mens soules 2. Discretion must bee vsed by Teachers to fitte their Teaching as their people are advaunced for Milke or stronger Meate so as they may best bee fedde 2. For the exercyse of his Senses or Wittes to discerne good or evill hee hath it by vse habite and frequent acquaynting himselfe with Scripture THEN 1. The vse of the Scripture and knowledge gotten thereby is to discerne by it what is good what is evill what is Trueth what is Errour what is right what is wrong 2. Though Scripture bee the Rule yet not everie one can take it vp or make right application of the Rule to the poynct in hand 3. To get a man's Wits exercysed requyreth frequent
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
given to him of the Father 3. Wee are not presented before the Father without our Mediator Christ. 4. Christ and wee his little ones joyned together and separated from the worlde are a pleasant sight for the Father to beholde Vers. 14. Forasmuch then as the Children are part-takers of flesh blood Hee also Himselfe lykewyse tooke part of the same that through death Hee might destroy him that had the power of death that is the Devill 1. HEe giveth farther reasons of his Incarnation And first hee behoved by death to destroy the Devill that had the power of Death and so behoved to bee a Man that hee might die THEN 1. Sinners without Christ are vnder the sentence of death temporall and eternall 2. Satan hath power of Death as the Burrio hath power over the Pitte and Gallowes at death to take them away to torment who are not delivered from his power 3. Christ hath destroyed Satan's power and tyrannie in this poynt in behalfe of all his Elect and true Believers 4. The way how Christ hath overcome Satan is by his owne death ransoming his owne 5. Frae death behoved to bee the way it behoved also Christ to bee a mortall man as well as God that hee might die 2. Agayne hee sayeth Christ tooke parte of flesh and blood with the Children that is with the Elect given to him THEN 1. Loue to the Elect made the Sonne of GOD come downe and make himselfe a Man also 2. CHRIST in his humane nature is as kyndlie a Man as anie of the Elect having flesh and blood and bones as well as wee His flesh and blood is not onelie lyke to ours but is a parte of our substance who is come of the same stocke of Adam and Eue as surelie as ours and not made eyther by creation of nothing or by transsubstantion of some other thing than our substance Vers. 15. And deliver them who through feare of death were all their lyfe tyme subject to bondage ANother Fruit of Christ's death is the deliverie of Believers from the bondage of the feare of death wherein they doe lye before Beliefe THEN 1. There is a naturall feare of Death and the Devill and Hell rooted in all men all wayes albeit not aye felt yet easilie wakened 2. This Feare putteth Men in bondage that they dare not meditate on Death or GOD'S Iudgement or Hell as deserved by themselues 3. CHRIST'S death delivereth his Subjects from the danger of this evill and from the bondage of this feare also 4. None but a Chylde of Christ's can haue solide and true Cowrage agaynst Death neyther is there a Free Man in the worlde except true Christians Vers. 16. For verilie Hee tooke not on Him the nature of Angels But Hee tooke on Him the seed of Abraham HEe insisteth in the Doctrine of Christ's Incarnation because it is the ground of all our Comfort and secludeth the Angels from such a honour as wee haue there-by The Sonne of God tooke on him the seede of Abraham and not the nature of Angels sayeth the Apostle THEN 1. CHRIST hath his proper subsistance and beeing in himselfe before the Incarnation even his owne Divine nature with personall properties existing For hee is the Sonne of GOD the second person of the Godhead before hee tooke on our nature 2. Hee choosed to assume our nature for our deliverie and not the Angels nature for deliverie of such as were fallen of their kynde 3. The nature that hee taketh on is Man's verie nature the seede of Abraham 4. Hee preventeth the personall subsistance of our nature hee assumeth the seede of Abraham 5. Hee maketh an Vnion of our nature with his Divine Nature 6. The way of making the Vnion is ASSVMPTION or TAKING of our nature vnto his owne whereby remayning the same which hee was before to wit The sonne of GOD hee joyneth our nature to himselfe and becōmeth what hee was not before to wit the Sonne of Man 7. Hee assumeth the seed of ABRAHAM that he may bee knowne to be no other but the same Messias which was promised by the Prophets to the Fathers 8. When hee hath assumed Man's nature to His Owne Divine Nature Hee remayneth the same HEE that Hee was before still one person So CHRIST IESVS is the promised Messias the second person of the Godhead verie God from everlasting and verie Man since the conception of the Virgine Marie before his Incarnation having onelie his owne Divine Nature in his person but now since that tyme having our nature also personallie vnited with his Divine Nature so to remayne both God and Man in one person for our good for ever Vers. 17. Wherefore in all thinges it behooved Him to bee made lyke vnto His Brethren that Hee might bee a mercifull and faythfull high Priest in thinges pertayning to GOD to make reconciliation for the sinnes of the people HEe concludeth That Christ behooved to partake both of our nature and punishment or miserie that wee might ceceaue the more good of Him 1. First hee sayeth Hee behooved to bee lyke his Brethren in all thinges that is for substance of nature for naturall properties for sinnelesse infirmiteis for fellowship in Temptations and miseries and in all thinges whatsoever our Good did requyre his making like vnto vs. THEN 1. They who imagine and worship a Christ not lyke to vs in all these thinges wherein the Scripture pronounceth him lyke vnto vs doe misstake the true Christ and worship a false 2. It is verie necessarie that wee conceaue rightlie of Christ's person seeing the Scripture doeth presse the knowledge thereof vpon vs so particularlie 2. Hee showeth the ende of his conforming himselfe vnto vs to bee That hee might bee a faythfull and mercifull high Priest THEN 1. As Christ tooke on our nature so in our nature hee tooke on a speciall Office of Priesthoode to doe vs good 2. In this his Office hee is faythfull and will neglect nothing night nor day that may helpe vs. 3. In our slippes and over-sightes hee will bee mercifull vnto vs. 4. Seeing hee hath conformed himselfe to vs for this ende wee may take his communion of nature and miseries with vs for a Pawne and Pledge to assure vs that hee will both pittie and helpe vs. 3. The extent of his Priesthood hee maketh in generall to bee In all things pertayning to God and in speciall To make Reconciliation for the sinnes of the people THEN 1. If GOD haue anie thing to doe with vs anie Direction or Comfort or Blessing to bestow vpon vs it must come by our high Priest IESVS vnto vs. 2. If hee command vs in anie thing or bee to make covenant with vs or haue controversie to debate with vs our high Priest will answere for vs. 3. If wee haue anie thing to doe with GOD to seeke anie good thing of him or deprecate anie evill or to offer anie Offering of Prayse or Service Christ's Office stretcheth it selfe to all this to doe for vs.
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
He ever liveth to make intercession for them 1. HEE showeth the Fruite of Christ's keeping still the Priesthoode altogether in his owne person to bee The perfect Salvation of all Believers for ever Hee is able to saue to the vttermost them that come vnto GOD through Him THEN 1. Who-so-ever communicateth Christ's Priesthoode with anie other beside his owne person maketh Christ not able alone to saue to the vttermost those that come vnto GOD through Him 2. From this ground also it doeth followe that Christ not onelie beginneth the Believers salvation but perfecteth it also Hee doeth not worke a parte of a man's salvation and leaue the rest to his owne merites or the merites of others but perfecteth it Himselfe even to the vttermoste 3. And if a man joyne anie thing meritorious vnto Christ's Priesthoode or anie Mediator for intercession beside him or seeketh by his owne workes to purchase salvation hee denyeth Christ to bee able to saue him to the vttermoste 2. Hee descrybeth Believers to bee those that come to GOD through CHRIST THEN 1. Christ is the Doore and the Way through which onelie Accesse is gotten to GOD. By Saynctes or Angels there is not a way to come to GOD but by Christ onelie 2. They that come not through Him alone to GOD seclude themselues from the sufficiencie of salvation to bee had in Him 3. The nature of Believing is to make a man come towardes GOD to get communion with Him through Christ. 4. And none but such as come in Fayth to GOD through Christ can take comfort from His Priesthoode or looke for salvation 3. Hee giveth a Reason why perfect Salvation is to bee had for such as come to GOD through CHRIST Because Hee liveth for ever to make intercession for them Hee sayeth not To offer or cause offer vp the Sacrifice of his bodie for them But Hee liveth and is not to bee offered anie more and liveth to make intercession THEN 1. The sacrificing parte is done and ended His intercession hath now the place and by His intercession wee get the Merite of His Death and Passion applyed vnto vs and not by anie newe Oblation 2. If Hee brooke His lyfe Hee will not fayle to intercede for vs who come vnto GOD through Him and not through Saynct or Angell or anie person beside For Hee liveth for ever to make intercession for vs. Vers. 26. For such an High Priest became vs who is holie harmlesse vndefiled separate from sinners and made higher than the Heavens TO the ende hee may force the Hebrewes to forsake the Priesthood of Levi hee draweth a strong Reason from the nature of our Estate vnder the Gospell where-by hee prooveth not onelie that the priests of Aaron 's Order are abolished but also everie sonne of Adam is excluded from the Office of the Priesthood except IESVS CHRIST in his owne person onelie Because everie Priest that wanteth the properties of IESVS CHRIST is vnbeseeming for vs vnder the Gospell A sinfull man might haue beene a Priest vnder the Lawe to praefigure CHRIST before Hee came But nowe no sinfull man may bee a Priest by Office but CHRIST onelie in whom there is no sinne When the sacrifice was a beast then a sinfull man might be a priest But now when the Sonne of GOD is the Sacrifice and hath offered vp himselfe alreadie and is gone in into the Sanctuarie with his owne bloode to make intercession there must bee no more anie sacrificing till hee come out of the Sanctuarie agayne at the Day of Iudgement nor anie priest but he till hee haue ended his Intercession For such an High Priest became vs who is holie harmlesse c. Question But why is it vnbeseeming vs vnder the Gospell to haue a priest without these properties I aunswere The Sacrifice of the Newe Testament is the vnspotted Lambe of GOD IESVS CHRIST holie harmlesse c. Therefore it becommeth vs to haue such a priest who is holie harmlesse and vndefiled For it were vnseemlie that the priest should bee worse than the sacrifice Next our Priest hath our sinnes originall and actuall to remooue and Heaven to open vnto vs And therefore it were vnbeseeming that anie should bee our priest who hath not his owne sinnes altogether remooved nor yet hath gotten entrie as yet into Heaven himselfe 1. In that hee draweth them of necessitie to quyte all mens priesthoode and betake them vnto Christ as Priest onelie WEE LEARNE That our necessities being well weyghed with the insufficiencie of anie beside CHRIST to doe our Turne wee shall bee forced to quyte all priestes but CHRIST onelie For vvhat priest can knowe all our needes all our sinnes all our thoughtes all our desires all our prayers all our purposeâ— and wayt on vpon our businesse with GOD night and day to see that no wrath breake out vpon vs Who can doe this but CHRIST onelie What Man What Saynct What Angell 2. In that hee reckoneth a number of Perfections necessarie to bee in a priest in the tyme of the Gospell all of them in CHRIST and all such as wee stand in neede of WEE LEARNE That all the perfections whereof wee haue neede in a priest are all in CHRIST And the perfections which are in CHRIST wee haue neede of them all and should make vse of them all 3. The first propertie of a priest vnder the Gospell is this Hee must bee holie that is of his owne nature holie in his originall holie THEN No sinful man can be a sufficient priest in the New Testament to doe for vs who wants holinesse by nature 4. The next propertie Our priest must bee harmlesse ill-lesse free from anie originall guiltinesse THEN No man come of Adame by naturall propagation can bee a priest for vs nowe to satisfie our necessities who haue sinne originall in vs. 5. The third propertie Wee haue neede of a priest vndefiled that is free from actuall sinne THEN No priest can suffice vs who are defiled with actuall sinne but CHRIST vvho never sinned 6. The fourth propertie A priest meete for vs must bee free from the pollution of these amongst whom hee converseth THEN Wee who are of polluted lippes and lyues and dwell amongst such a people communicating manie wayes of their guiltinesse can not haue sufficient comfort through anie priest who can bee infected with sinne And hee who is a man of polluted lippes is not meete to bee a priest for vs. 7. The fift propertie A priest meete for vs behooved to haue his Residence in Heaven and haue commaundement over Heaven to open it vnto vs and giue vs entrie THEN None other but CHRIST could suffice vs on whome by nature the Doores of Heaven are closed No priest out of Heaven is meete for vs. Vers. 27. Who needeth not daylie as those High Priestes to offer vp Sacrifice first for his owne sinnes and then for the peoples For this Hee did once when Hee offered vp Himselfe 1. THE sixt propertie of a fit priest
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