The Priesthood being changed; that is, the Priesthood of Levi appointed and exercised under the Law [Greek or Hebrew], translato, mutato; so some read, transferred, 1translated, some changed. The former do not reach the whole sense intended. For the Office of the Priesthood may be transferred from one Person to another, one Family unto another, yea, one Tribe unto another; and yet the Priesthood, as to the kind and nature of it, continue the same. This our Apostle afterwards mentions, ver. 13, 14. as a part of his Argument to prove the Priesthood it self to be changed. But this it doth not absolutely; seeing it is possible that the Office may be transferred from one Tribe unto another, and yet not be changed, as unto its Nature. But the Proof lies in this, That Moses in the Institution of the Priesthood made no mention of the Tribe of Judah, and therefore if that Office be transferred unto that Tribe, it must be of another kind than that before Instituted. And on this Supposition that which he intends to prove follows evidently upon the Translation of the Priesthood. For all the Sacred Services and Worship which the Law required, were so confined, or at least had that respect unto the Levitical Priesthood, as that no part of it, no Sacred Duty could be performed, on a Supposition of taking away the Priesthood from that Tribe and Family. For whereas the whole of their Worship consisted in the Service and Sacrifices of the Tabernacle, God had appointed that whosoever did draw nigh unto the performance of any of these Services that was not of the Seed of Aaron, should be cut off and destroyed. Wherefore upon a Supposition of the ceasing or changing of the Priesthood in that Family, the whole Law of Ordinances became Unpracticable, Useless, and lost its ⟨p. 178⟩Power; especially seeing there was no Provision made in the Law it self for a Priesthood in any other Tribe. Besides such was the contexture of the Law, and such the Sanction of it (Cursed is he who continueth not in all things written in the Law to do them,) that if any thing be taken out of it, if its Order be disturbed, if any Alteration be made, or any Transgression be dispensed withal, or exempted from the Curse, the whole Fabric must of Necessity fall unto the Ground.
The Priesthood being changed; that is, the Priesthood of Levi appointed and exercised under the Law 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, translato, mutato; so some read, transferred, 1translated, some changed. The former do not reach the whole sence intended. For the Office of the Priesthood may be transferred from one Person to another, one Family unto another, yea, one Tribe unto another; and yet the Priesthood, as to the kind and nature of it, continue the same. This our Apostle afterwards mentions, ver. 13, 14. as a part of his Argument to prove the Priesthood it self to be changed. But this it doth not absolutely; seeing it is possible that the Office may be transferred from one Tribe unto another, and yet not be changed, as unto its Nature. But the Proof lies in this, That Moses in the Institution of the Priesthood made no mention of the Tribe of Judah, and therefore if that Office be transferred unto that Tribe, it must be of another kind than that before Instituted. And on this Supposition that which he intends to prove follows evidently upon the Translation of the Priesthood. For all the Sacred Services and Worship which the Law required, were so confined, or at least had that respect unto the Levitical Priesthood, as that no part of it, no Sacred Duty could be performed, on a Supposition of taking away the Priesthood from that Tribe and Family. For whereas the whole of their Worship consisted in the Service and Sacrifices of the Tabernacle, God had appointed that whosoever did draw nigh unto the performance of any of these Services that was not of the Seed of Aaron, should be cut off and destroyed. Wherefore upon a Supposition of the ceasing or changing of the Priesthood in that Family, the whole Law of Ordinances became Unpracticable, Useless, and lost its ⟨p. 178⟩Power; especially seeing there was no Provision made in the Law it self for a Priesthood in any other Tribe. Besides such was the contexture of the Law, and such the Sanction of it (Cursed is he who continueth not in all things written in the Law to do them,) that if any thing be taken out of it, if its Order be disturbed, if any Alteration be made, or any Transgression be dispensed withal, or exempted from the Curse, the whole Fabrick must of Necessity fall unto the Ground.
- 1[Greek or Hebrew]〈non-Latin alphabet〉
