That which the Apostle proposeth in the first place and in general as the Object of this Enquiry and consideration, is [Greek or Hebrew], Quantus iste erat; the word 1respects Greatness and Excellency in any kind. Nunc quantus Achilles, Quantus erat Julius Caesar, and the like. And this Greatness of Melchizedek respected neither the endowments of his Person, nor the largeness of his Dominion, nor his Riches or Wealth, in which sense some are said to be Great in the Scripture, as Job, Barzillai, and others; but it regards alone his Dignity with respect unto his Office, and his Nearness unto God on that account. That which these Hebrews insisted on as their Chief and Fundamental Privilege in Judaism, and which they were most unwilling to forgo, was the Greatness of their Predecessors, with their nearness unto God in Favour and Office. In the first way as to Divine Love and Favour, they Gloried in Abraham, and opposed the Privilege of being his Children on all Occasions unto the Person and Doctrine of Christ, John 8. 33, 53. And in the latter they thought Aaron and his Successors to be preferred above all the World. And whilst they were under the Power and Influence of these Apprehensions, the Gospel could not but be ungrateful unto them, as depriving them of their Privileges, and rendering their Condition worse than it was before. To undeceive them in this matter, and to demonstrate how unspeakably all those in whom they trusted, came short of the true High Priest of the Church, he calls them to consider the Greatness of him, whose only eminence consisted in being a Type or Representative of him. Wherefore the Greatness of Melchizedek here proposed unto earnest Consideration, is that which he had in Representing Jesus Christ, and his nearness unto God on that Account. And it were well that we were all really ⟨p. 123⟩convinced, that all true Greatness consists in the Favour of God, and our nearness unto him, on the Account of our Relation unto Jesus Christ. We neither deny nor undervalue any Mans Wealth or Power hereby. Let those who are Rich and Wealthy in the World be accounted and called Great, as the Scripture sometimes calls them so. And let those who are High in Power and Authority be so esteemed, we would derogate nothing from them which is their due:
That which the Apostle proposeth in the first place and in general as the Object of this Enquiry and consideration, is 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, Quantus iste erat; the word 1respects Greatness and Excellency in any kind. Nunc quantus Achilles, Quantus erat Julius Caesar, and the like. And this Greatness of Melchisedec respected neither the endowments of his Person, nor the largeness of his Dominion, nor his Riches or Wealth, in which sence some are said to be Great in the Scripture, as Job, Barzillai, and others; but it regards alone his Dignity with respect unto his Office, and his Nearness unto God on that account. That which these Hebrews insisted on as their Chief and Fundamental Priviledge in Judaism, and which they were most unwilling to forgo, was the Greatness of their Predecessors, with their nearness unto God in Favour and Office. In the first way as to Divine Love and Favour, they Gloried in Abraham, and opposed the Priviledge of being his Children on all Occasions unto the Person and Doctrine of Christ, John 8. 33, 53. And in the latter they thought Aaron and his Successors to be preferred above all the VVorld. And whilst they were under the Power and Influence of these Apprehensions, the Gospel could not but be ungrateful unto them, as depriving them of their Priviledges, and rendring their Condition worse than it was before. To undeceive them in this matter, and to demonstrate how unspeakably all those in whom they trusted, came short of the true High Priest of the Church, he calls them to consider the Greatness of him, whose only eminence consisted in being a Type or Representative of him. Wherefore the Greatness of Melchisedec here proposed unto earnest Consideration, is that which he had in Representing Jesus Christ, and his nearness unto God on that Account. And it were well that we were all really ⟨p. 123⟩convinced, that all true Greatness consists in the Favour of God, and our nearness unto him, on the Account of our Relation unto Jesus Christ. We neither deny nor undervalue any Mans Wealth or Power hereby. Let those who are Rich and Wealthy in the World be accounted and called Great, as the Scripture sometimes calls them so. And let those who are High in Power and Authority be so esteemed, we would derogate nothing from them which is their due:
- 1[Greek or Hebrew].〈non-Latin alphabet〉.
