A Golden Chain

I. Gen. 14. v. 18. When Abraham was coming from the slaughter of the Kings, Melchizedek met him, and brought forth bread and wine: and he was a priest of the most high God. Now this bread and wine (say they) he brought forth to offer for a sacrifice; because it is said he was a priest of the most high God: and they reason thus. Christ was a priest after the order of Melchizedek: therefore as Melchizedek offered bread and wine, so Christ under the forms of bread and wine offers himself in sacrifice unto God. Ans. Melchizedek was no type of Christ in regard of the act of sacrificing, but in regard of his person, and things pertaining thereto, which all are fully expounded, Hebr. 7. the sum whereof is this. I. Melchizedek was both king and priest: so was Christ. II. He was a prince of peace and righteousness: so was Christ. III. He had neither father nor mother: because the scripture in setting down his history makes no mention either of beginning or ending of his days: and so Christ had neither father nor mother: no father, as he was man: no mother, as he was God. IV. Melchizedek being greater than Abraham blessed him, & Christ by virtue of his priesthood blesseth, that is, justifieth & sanctifieth all those that be of the faith of Abraham. In these things ⟨p. 976⟩only stands the resemblance and not in the offering of bread and wine. Again the end of bringing forth the bread and wine, was not to make a sacrifice, but to refresh Abraham and his servants, that came from the slaughter of the Kings. And he is called here a priest of the most high God, not in regard of any sacrifice: but in consideration of his blessing of Abraham, as the order of the words teacheth, And he was the priest of the most high God, and therefore he blessed him. Thirdly, though it were granted, that he brought forth bread and wine to offer in sacrifice, yet will it not follow, that in the sacrament Christ himself is to be offered unto God under the naked forms of bread and & wine. Melchizedek's bread and wine were absurd types of no-bread and no-wine, or of forms of bread and wine in the Sacrament.

I. Gen. 14. v. 18. When Abraham was comming from the slaughter of the Kings, Melchizedech mette him, and brought forth bread and wine: and he was a priest of the most high God. Now this bread and wine (say they) he brought forth to offer for a sacrifice; because it is said he was a priest of the most high God: and they reason thus. Christ was a priest after the order of Melchizedek: therefore as Melchizedek offered bread and wine, so Christ vnder the formes of bread and wine offers himselfe in sacrifice vnto God. Ans. Melchizedek was no type of Christ in regard of the acte of sacrificing, but in regard of his person, and things pertaining thereto, which all are fully expounded,