A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

And we may herein consider the Sovereign wisdom of the Holy Ghost in bringing forth Truth unto Light according as the state and condition of the Church doth require. And first he proposeth only a naked Story of a Person that was a Type of Christ, and that obscurely and sparingly. Something the Men of the Age wherein he lived might learn by his Ministrations, but not much. For that which was principally Instructive in him for the Use of the Church was not of Force until all his Circumstances were forgotten; and the Church was now to be Instructed, not so much by what he was, as what was Recorded of him, wherein the Scripture superseded all Tradition that might be of him in the World. Yea, the contrivance of any Tradition concerning his Parents, Birth and Death had been contrary to the mind of God, and what Instruction he intended the Church by him. Afterwards when it may be, all thoughts of any Use or Design of this Story in Moses was lost, and the Church was fully satisfied in a Priesthood quite of another Nature, the Holy Ghost in one word of Prophecy Instructs the Church, not only that the thing spoken concerning Melchizedek were not so Recorded for his sake, or on his own account, but with respect unto another Priest which was afterwards to arise, by him Represented; which gave a new Consideration, Sense and Design to the whole Story; but moreover gives it to know that the Priesthood which it then enjoyed was not always to continue, but that another of another Nature was ⟨p. 116⟩to be introduced, as was signified long before the Institution of that Priesthood which they enjoyed, Psal. 110. 4. And as this was sufficient for the Use and Edification of the Church in those days, yet it was left greatly in the dark as to the full Design and meaning of these things. And therefore it is evident that at the Coming of our Saviour, and the accomplishment of this Type, the Church of the Jews had utterly lost all knowledge and Understanding of the Mystery of it, and the Promise renewed in the Psalm. For they thought it strange that there should be a Priest that had no Genealogy, no Solemn Consecration nor Investiture, with his Office.

And we may herein consider the Sovereign wisdom of the Holy Ghost in bringing forth Truth unto Light according as the state and condition of the Church doth require. And first he proposeth only a naked Story of a Person that was a Type of Christ, and that obscurely and sparingly. Something the Men of the Age wherein he lived might learn by his Ministrations, but not much. For that which was principally Instructive in him for the Use of the Church was not of Force until all his Circumstances were forgotten; and the Church was now to be Instructed, not so much by what he was, as what was Recorded of him, wherein the Scripture superseded all Tradition that might be of him in the World. Yea, the contrivance of any Tradition concerning his Parents, Birth and Death had been contrary to the mind of God, and what Instruction he intended the Church by him. Afterwards when it may be, all thoughts of any Use or Design of this Story in Moses was lost, and the Church was fully satisfied in a Priesthood quite of another Nature, the Holy Ghost in one word of Prophecy Instructs the Church, not only that the thing spoken concerning Melchisedec were not so Recorded for his sake, or on his own account, but with respect unto another Priest which was afterwards to arise, by him Represented; which gave a new Consideration, Sence and Design to the whole Story; but moreover gives it to know that the Priesthood which it then enjoyed was not alwas to continue, but that another of another Nature was