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

Sundry of the Ancients had an apprehension that the Lord Christ derived his Genealogy from both the Tribes of Judah and Levi, in the Regal and Sacerdotal Offices, as he who was to be both King and Priest. And there is a Story inserted in Suidas, how in the days of Justinian the Emperor, one Theodosius, a principal Patriarch of the Jews, acquainted his Friend, one Philip, a Christian, how he was enrolled by the Priests in their Order, as of the Linage of the Priests, by the Name of Jesus the Son of Mary and of God; and that the Records thereof were kept by the Jews at Tiberias to that very time. But the whole Story is filled with gross effects of Ignorance and incredible Fables, being only a Dream of some Superstitious Monastic. But the Ancients grounded their imagination on the Kindred that was between his Mother and Elizabeth the Wife of Zechariah the Priest, who was the Daughter of Aaron, Luke 1. 5. But this whole conceit is not only false, but directly contradictory to the Scope and Argument of the Apostle in this place. For the Authors of it would have the Lord Christ so to derive his Genealogy from the Tribe of Levi, as thence to be entitled unto the Priesthood, which yet it could not be, unless he was also proved to be of the Family of Aaron. And to assign a Priesthood unto him as derived from Aaron, is openly contradictory unto the Apostle in this place, and destructive of his whole Design, as also of the true real Priesthood of Christ himself; as is evident unto any one, who reads this Chapter. The Alliance and Kindred that was between the Blessed Virgin and Elizabeth was doubtless by an Antecedent intermarriage of those Tribes, as Elizabeth's Mother might be Sister unto the Father or Grand-father of the Holy Virgin. And this was not only Lawful between the Tribes of Judah and Levi or the Regal and Sacerdotal Families, whence Jehoshabeath the Wife of Jehoiadah, was the Daughter of Jehoram the King, 2 Chron. 22. 11. as some have imagined; but such Marriages were usual unto, and Lawful among all the other Tribes, where Women had no Inheritances of Land, which was expressly provided against by a particular Law. And this very Law of Exception doth sufficiently prove the Liberty of all others.

Sundry of the Ancients had an apprehension that the Lord Christ derived his Genealogy from both the Tribes of Judah and Levi, in the Regal and Sacerdotal Offices, as he who was to be both King and Priest. And there is a Story inserted in Suidas, how in the days of Justinian the Emperour, one Theodosius, a principal Patriarch of the Jews, acquainted his Friend, one Philip, a Christian, how he was enrolled by the Priests in their Order, as of the Linage of the Priests, by the Name of Jesus the Son of Mary and of God; and that the Records thereof were kept by the Jews at Tiberias to that very time. But the whole Story is filled with gross effects of Ignorance and incredible Fables, being only a Dream of some Superstitious Monastick. But the Ancients grounded their imagination on the Kindred that was between his Mother and Elizabeth the Wife of Zechariah the Priest, who was the Daughter of Aaron,