When Abram returned from the slaughter of the Assyrians, in
his way to Hebron, he was met at Shaveh, or King’s Dale, afterward the
valley of Jehoshaphat, between Jerusalem and Mount Olivet, by
Melchizedek, king of Salem, the most ancient quarter of Jerusalem, a
priest of the most high God, who gave him bread and wine, and blessed
him in the name of the most high God, Creator of heaven and earth;” to
whom Abram in return piously gave tithes, or the tenth part of all the
spoils as an offering to God, Heb. vii, 2. This Canaanitish prince was
early considered as a type of Christ in the Jewish church: Thou art a
priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek,” Psalm cx, 4. He
resembled Christ in the following particulars: 1. In his name,
_Melchizedek_, King of Righteousness;” 2. In his city, _Salem_, Peace;”
3. In his offices of king and priest of the most high God; and 4. In the
omission of the names of his parents and genealogy, the time of his
birth and length of his life, exhibiting an indefinite reign and
priesthood, according to the Apostle’s exposition, Heb. vii, 5. The
import of this is, that he came not to his office by right of
primogeniture, (which implies a genealogy,) or by the way of succession,
but was raised up and immediately called of God to it. In that respect
Christ is said to be a priest after his order.” Then, again, that he had
no successor, nor could have; for there was no law to constitute an
order of succession, so that he was a priest only upon an extraordinary
call. In this respect our Lord’s priesthood answers to his, because it
is wholly in himself, who has no successor. An infinite number of absurd
opinions have been at different times held respecting this mystic
personage, as that he was Shem, or Ham; or, among those who think he was
more than human, that he was the Holy Ghost, or the Son of God himself;
absurdities which are too obsolete to need refutation.
his way to Hebron, he was met at Shaveh, or King’s Dale, afterward the
valley of Jehoshaphat, between Jerusalem and Mount Olivet, by
Melchizedek, king of Salem, the most ancient quarter of Jerusalem, a
priest of the most high God, who gave him bread and wine, and blessed
him in the name of the most high God, Creator of heaven and earth;” to
whom Abram in return piously gave tithes, or the tenth part of all the
spoils as an offering to God, Heb. vii, 2. This Canaanitish prince was
early considered as a type of Christ in the Jewish church: Thou art a
priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek,” Psalm cx, 4. He
resembled Christ in the following particulars: 1. In his name,
_Melchizedek_, King of Righteousness;” 2. In his city, _Salem_, Peace;”
3. In his offices of king and priest of the most high God; and 4. In the
omission of the names of his parents and genealogy, the time of his
birth and length of his life, exhibiting an indefinite reign and
priesthood, according to the Apostle’s exposition, Heb. vii, 5. The
import of this is, that he came not to his office by right of
primogeniture, (which implies a genealogy,) or by the way of succession,
but was raised up and immediately called of God to it. In that respect
Christ is said to be a priest after his order.” Then, again, that he had
no successor, nor could have; for there was no law to constitute an
order of succession, so that he was a priest only upon an extraordinary
call. In this respect our Lord’s priesthood answers to his, because it
is wholly in himself, who has no successor. An infinite number of absurd
opinions have been at different times held respecting this mystic
personage, as that he was Shem, or Ham; or, among those who think he was
more than human, that he was the Holy Ghost, or the Son of God himself;
absurdities which are too obsolete to need refutation.