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

Again, He is said to be without Beginning of Days and end of Life. And this also is spoken by our Apostle with respect unto the Narration of Moses wherein mention is made neither of the one, nor of the other. And it belongs unto his Conformity unto the Son of God, or that wherein he Represented him; for as unto his Divine Person, the Lord Christ had neither the one nor the other, as the Apostle proves, Chap. 1. 10, 11, 12. from Psal. 102. 25, 26, 27. But on the other side, as to his Humane Nature he had both, he had both beginning of Days and End of Life, both which are upon Solemn Record. Wherefore it should seem that if there be a likeness in these things on the one account, there is none on the other, and so no Advantage in the Comparison.

Considering these Difficulties in the Application of these particulars, some do judge that these Instances do not belong unto the Analogy and Resemblance between Christ and Melchizedek, but are introduced only in Order unto what ensues, namely, He abides a Priest for ever, wherein alone the similitude between him and Christ doth consist. And so they say we find things quoted in the Scripture at large, when only some one passage in it, may be used directly unto the business in hand. But although this will be difficultly proved, namely, that any Testimony is cited in the Scripture, whereof any principal part of it belongs not unto the Matter designed to be confirmed, yet it may be granted that it is so sometimes, when the sense of the whole Context is to be taken in. But there was no Reason on this Ground, that the Apostle should make so many Observations on what was not spoken at all, which in an Ordinary way ought to have been mentioned, if the whole of what he so Observed, was not at all to his Purpose.

Considering these Difficulties in the Application of these particulars, some do judge that these Instances do not belong unto the Analogy and Resemblance between Christ and Melchisedec, but are introduced only in Order unto what ensues, namely, He abides a Priest for ever, wherein alone the similitude between him and Christ doth consist. And so they say we find things quoted in the Scripture at large, when only some one passage in it, may be used directly unto the business in hand. But although this will be difficultly proved, namely, that any Testimony is cited in the Scripture, whereof any principal part of it belongs not unto the Matter designed to be confirmed, yet it may be granted that it is so sometimes, when the sence of the whole Context is to be taken in. But there was no Reason on this Ground, that the Apostle should make so many Observations on what was not spoken at all, which in an Ordinary way ought to have been mentioned, if the whole of what he so Observed, was not at all to his Purpose.