-Bs Tov diva-everlasting priesthoods: that is, priesthoods continuing throughout their dispensations respectively; though these dispensations were of very unequal duration. Of the truth of this representation there can be no doubt whatever indeed it is impossible that it should be false, because it resolves itself into two matters of fact. The first fact, is that Melchisedec, Aaron, and Messiah, had each a priesthood hy, sis Tov ava, for ever: of this the language of the divine Spirit is the evidence. The second fact, is that these priesthoods were of very unequal length: Melchisedec's lasting only during his own life; Aaron's lasting during the Horeb covenant, say from his consecration at Mount Sinai till the burning of the temple at Jerusalem by Vespasian; but Christ's lasting from his incarnation to eternity. Now whenever terms expressive of duration, are applied to the offices or official functions of these priests, such terms must be understood relatively to their respective dispensations. With this idea in view, let us proceed to compare the synonymous expressions on this subject.

1.

x. 1. The Jewish priests

offered up sacrifices year by : εις το διμηκες.

year continually.

vii. 3. Melchisedec abideth

a priest continually.

εις το διηνεκες.

That is the priesthood and ministration of Melchisedec continued throughout his dispensation, and the priesthood and ministrations of the Levitical priests continued throughout their dispensation. But who would infer that their dispensations are of equal duration.

2.

vii. 16. Jesus was not made a priest "after the law of a carnal commandment:" -viz., the law of the Jewish priesthood.

vii. 23. The Jewish priests were many, " because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death."

8 κατα νόμος σαρκικής εντολης γεγονεν.

δια το θανατω κωλύεσα θαι παραμένειν.

66

vii. 8. Among the Levites

men that die,” received – αποθνησκοντες ανθρωποι. tythes.

The law of the Jewish priesthood was similar to, and founded upon, the law of man's animal nature; or, in the apostle's language, it was "the law of a carnal commandment." For as, by the law of man's animal nature, one generation dies, and is succeeded by another; so, by the law of the Levitical priesthood, the death of a priest made room for a successor. Hence under that law no priest was permitted to continue throughout the whole dispensation, "by reason of death:" being mortal men they died, and transmitted their priesthood to successors. But Jesus was not made a priest after the similitude of that law; for then, officiating only during a part of his dispensation, he must have surrendered up his priesthood into the hands of a suc

cessor.

3.

vii. 3. Melchisedec "abideth a priest continually.

μενει ιερευς εις το διηνεκες.

vii. 8. It is testified of him

"that he liveth."

μαρτυρόμενος ότι ζη.

vii. 17. After his simili

tude Jesus is made a priest εις τον αιώνα. "for ever."

In the foregoing class of quotations, Paul was seen demonstrating the contrast between the priesthoods of Jesus and of Aaron. In the class now under review, we behold him drawing the parallel between Jesus's priesthood and Melchisedec's. And the similitude, in the latter instance, is as marked and striking, as the contrast is in the former. Melchisedec was a priest (as ro awva) through a whole dispensation according to the power (wns axalaλurs) of an endless life, that is, a life not

ending during the dispensation. It is therefore testified truly of him (or 2) that he liveth to the end of his dispensation: and abideth a priest (815 To dinvexes) continually throughout that dispensation. After the order, pattern, or similitude, was Jesus constituted a priest. And because he is a priest (sis Tov ava) for a whole dispensation, he hath (arapaßarov v ispoduvny) an unchangeable, or intransmissible priesthood, one which will never descend to a

successor.

It is hoped that the subject has been placed in a clear and satisfactory view. A solicitude, which may perhaps be smiled on as finical, has been shown to place the phrases of kindred sense side by side, that they might interchangeably irradiate each other. And the one, simple, meaning which they convey is the proof of the justness of our interpretation. The phrases which have suffered much by criticism are those, which respect Melchisedec. The phrases (815 Tov avα)" for ever" (eve iegeus sis to dinvexes) "abideth a priest continually" -(MagTugyuevos órs 2n) "of whom it is witnessed that he liveth (κατα δυναμιν ζωης ακατάλυτο, as it respects Melchisedec) "according to the power of an endless life." These phrases have all