what he was designed for; which designation is more particularly declared in the ensuing testimony.

$4. Obs. 1. The office of the high priesthood over the church of God was an honor and glory to Jesus Christ. There was a glory upon him from the nature of the work itself; so it was prophesied, Zech. vi, 13, "He shall build the temple of the Lord, and shall bear the glory." The work was no less than the "healing of the breach" made between God and the whole creation by the first apostasy. Sin had put variance between God and all his creatures, Gen. iii, Rom. viii, 20. No way was left (without this wondrous plan) but that God must be perpetually dishonored, or all creatures everlastingly cursed. How great, how glorious a work must it needs be, to put a stop to this entrance of confusion; to lay hold on the perishing creation, running headlong into eternal ruin, and to preserve it, or at least some portion, some first fruits of it, from destruction? Herein then was the Lord Jesus Christ exceedingly glorious in his priestly office, because in the discharge of it he was the only means of restoring the eclipsed glory of Jehovah, and of more advantageously displaying its adorable lustre; the greatness of which work no heart can conceive. Moreover, he has a glory with which he is delighted, that all his saints, in all parts of the world, do severally and in their assemblies, with all humility, love, and thankfulness, worship, bless, praise, and glorify him, as the author and finisher of their recovery to God, and eternal salvation. Every day do they come about his throne, cleave to him, and live in the admiration of his love and power. And this glory will be full at the latter day, and will so hold to all eternity, when all his saints from the beginning to the end of the world shall be gathered to him, and shall abide with him,

adoring him as their head, and shouting for joy while they behold his glory. For these and the like reasons it was that our blessed Savior, knowing how unable we are in this world to comprehend his glory, as also how great a part of our blessedness consists in the knowledge of it, makes that great request for us, that, after we are carried through our course of this transitory life, we may, as a principal part of our rest and reward, "be with him where he is, to behold his glory," John xviii, 24.

$5. Obs. 2. Relation and love are the fountain and cause of God committing all authority over the church to Jesus Christ. By this expression of relation and love, "thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee," doth the apostle prove that God called him to be the High Priest of the church. To the same purpose himself speaketh, John iii, 35, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand." And this relation to God manifested itself in all he did in the discharge of his office; for, saith the evangelist, "we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth," John i, 14. Now the relation intended is, that one single eternal relation of his being the Son of God, the only begotten of the Father. And as God declares the greatness of this work which none could effect but his Son, he who was God with himself, John i, 1, 2; so it is the will of God "that all men should honor the Son as they honor the Father," John v, 23. The "love" intended is twofold; the natural and eternal love of the Father to the Son, and his delight in him, as participant of the same nature with himself, and his actual love towards him, on account of his infinite condescension and grace, in undertaking this work, wherein his glory was so eminently concerned, see Phil. ii, 6—11.

VERSE 6.

As he saith also in another place, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek.

$1. The connexion of the words. $2. The manner of introducing this testimony. 3. The testimony itself. §4. The manner of Christ's call compared with that of Aaron. $5. Observation.

§1. THIS verse gives us a farther confirmation of the call of Christ to his office, by another testimony taken from Psal. cx, 4. And that the whole psalm was prophetical of Jesus Christ, I have proved before, against the exception of the Jews, both in our exercitations and exposition on the first chapter. The subject matter also spoken of, or the priesthood of Melchisedec, with the "order" thereof, the apostle expressly resumes and handles at large, chap. vii, where it must be considered. There is, therefore, only one thing here to be inquired into, viz. how far, or wherein they give testimony to the assertion-that "Christ did not glorify himself to be made an high priest, but that he was designed thereto of God even the Father." There are two things in the words: (1.) The manner of the introduction of this new testimony. (2.) The testimony itself.

§2. The first; "as he saith in another:" (xaws nai) in the same manner, as he had said in Psal. ii, "Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee." So great and important a truth had need of solemn confirmation. The thing signified is principally here intended; and (λɛy) he saith, refers immediately to God the Father himself. That which the apostle designed to prove, is, that Christ was called and constituted an high priest by the authority of God the Father, by his

immediate speaking to him. The Holy Ghost by the mouth of David speaks these things to us, but he doth only therein declare, what the Father said to the Son; and that was it which the apostle intended to prove. "He (God) saith (ev lepw) in another," that is (aλ) psalm, Psal. cx.

§3. Secondly, the testimony itself, or the words of the Father to the Son, whereby the apostle's assertion is confirmed; "thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." It was sufficient for the apostle at present to produce these words only; but he will elsewhere make use of the manner how they were uttered, with the "oath of God," as in the psalm; "The Lord hath sworn and will not repent, thou art a priest," &c, And these words of verse 4th in the psalm, indissolubly depend on the first verse; "The Lord said unto my Lord;" that is, God the Father said to the Son, with respect to his incarnation and mediation. And this word "thou art," is (verbum constitutivum) a “constituting word," wherein the priesthood of Christ was founded. And it may be considered, (1.) As declarative of God's eternal decree, with the covenant between Father and Son, whereby he was designed to this office; as demonstrative of his mission to the discharge of his office; including also a supposition that God would prepare a body for him, wherein he might exercise his priesthood, and which he might offer to him. On the whole, it is undeniable from this testimony, that God called and appointed him to be a priest, which was to be proved.

$4. Thus Christ was called of God as was Aaron; that is, immediately, and in an extraordinary manner, which was necessary in the first erection of that office. But yet, as to the special manner of his call, it was every way more excellent and glorious than that of

Aaron. There was no need of any outward ceremony to express it; it consisted in the words of God spoken immediately to himself; which being present, effective, authoritative, and not merely declarative of what God would do by them was he called and made priest, and they are expressive of infinite love and acquiescence. "Thou art my Son, thou art a priest for ever." They were spoken also with the solemnity of an oath, "the Lord hath sworn." He was not, therefore, only called of God, as was Aaron, but also in a way far more eminent and glorious.

$5. We may hence observe; that in all things wherein God hath to do with mankind, Jesus Christ should have an absolute pre-eminence. It was neces sary that some things should be made use of to reveal and exhibit him, which must, as appointments of God, and effects of his wisdom, be precious and excellent. But yet, it is in his person, that he hath the transcenddant pre-eminence; because, there was in all the typical prefigurations a natural imperfection, so that they could not perfectly represent him. So Aaron was called in an extraordinary manner, to prefigure his call to his priesthood; but that call was accompanied with much weakness and imperfection. The principal dignity of all these representations depended on their respect and relation to him, which exalts him infinitely above them. And so also is it with all the means of grace, whereby at present he is exhibited, and the benefits of his mediation communicated to us.