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

Fourthly, The Privilege of the Priests in taking the Tenth of all is amplified ¹by the consideration of the Persons of whom they took them: Now these were not Strangers or Foreigners, but their own Brethren. And these also were so their Brethren as that they had a right unto, and were partakers of the same Original Privilege with themselves, which did not exempt them from the Duty of paying Tithes of all unto them, took Tithes of their Brethren, though they came out of the Loins of Abraham. Abraham first received the Promises, and was an equal common Spring of Privileges to his whole Posterity. The Priests were not more Children of Abraham than the People were. The whole People therefore being so, and thereby equally interested in all the Privileges of Abraham or the Church of Believers, it is manifest how great the Honour and preeminence of the Priests were in that they took Tithes of them all. And this the Apostle declares to strengthen his Argument for the Greatness and Excellency of Melchizedek in that he received Tithes of Abraham himself. And we may learn, (1.) That it is Gods Prerogative to give Dignity and Preeminence in the Church among them which are otherwise equal, which is to be acquiesced in. Our common Vocation by the word, states us all equally in the same Privilege, as all the Children of Abraham were in that respect in the same Condition. But in this common state, God makes by his Prerogative a three-fold difference among Believers; as to Grace, as to Gifts, as to Office. For, (1.) Although all true Believers have the same Grace in the kind thereof, yet some much excel others in the degrees and exercise of it. As one Star differeth from another, that is, excelleth another in Glory, so here one Saint excelleth another in Grace. This both the Examples of the Scripture, and the Experience of all Ages of the Church doth testify. And this dependeth on the Sovereign Pleasure of God. As he is Gracious unto whom he will be Gracious, so when, and how, and in what measure he pleaseth. Some shall have Grace sooner than others, and some that which is more eminent than others have. Only he that hath least, shall have no lack, as to making of him meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light; and he that hath most, hath no more than he shall find need of and exercise for.

Fourthly, The Priviledge of the Priests in taking the Tenth of all is amplified ¹by the consideration of the Persons of whom they took them: Now these were not Strangers or Foreigners, but their own Brethren. And these also were so their Brethren as that they had a right unto, and were partakers of the same Original Priviledge with themselves, which did not exempt them from the Duty of paying Tithes of all unto them, took Tithes of their Brethren, though they came out of the Loins of Abraham. Abraham first received the Promises, and was an equal common Spring of Priviledges to his whole Posterity. The Priests were not more Children of Abraham than the People were. The whole People therefore being so, and thereby equally interested in all the Priviledges of Abraham or the Church of Believers, it is manifest how great the Honour and preeminence of the Priests were in that they took Tithes of them all. And this the Apostle declares to strengthen his Argument for the Greatness and Excellency of Melchisedec in that he received Tithes of Abraham himself. And we may learn, (1.) That it is Gods Prerogative to give Dignity and Preeminence in the Church among them which are otherwise equal, which is to be acquiesced in. Our common Vocation by the word, states us all equally in the same Priviledge, as all the Children of Abraham were in that respect in the same Condition. But in this common state, God makes by his Prerogative a three-fold difference among Believers; as to Grace, as to Gifts, as to Office. For, (1.) Although all true Believers have the same Grace in the kind thereof, yet some much excel others in the degrees and exercise of it. As one Star differeth from another, that is, excelleth another in Glory, so here one Saint excelleth another in Grace. This both the Examples of the Scripture, and the Experience of all Ages of the Church doth testifie. And this dependeth on the Soveraign Pleasure of God. As he is Gracious unto whom he will be Gracious, so when, and how, and in what measure he pleaseth. Some shall have Grace sooner than others, and some that which is more eminent than others have. Only he that hath least, shall have no lack, as to making of him meet for the Inheritance of the Saints in Light; and he that hath most, hath no more than he shall find need of and exercise for.