Ver. 4, 5—1. It will be fruitless, and to no' advantage, to pro- pose or declare the most important, truths of the gospel, if those to whom they are proposed do not diligently inquire into them. 2. The sovereign will, pleasure, and grace of God, is that alone which puts a difference among men, especially in the church. 3. Whereas even Abraham himself gave the tenth of all to Melchisedec, the highest privilege exempts not any from the obligation unto and performance of the meanest duty. 4. Opportunities for duty which render it beautiful ought diligently to be embraced 5, When the instituted
488 SUMMARY OF DOCTRINAL AND [CHAP. VII. 6.
use of consecrated things ceaseth, the things themselves cease to be sacred or of esteem. 6. Rule, institution, and command, without regard to unrequired humility, or pleas of greater zeal and self- denial, unless in evident and cogent circumstances, are the best pre- servatives of order and duty in the church. 7. It is. the duty of those who are employed in sacred ministrations to receive what the Lord Christ hath appointed for their supportment, and in the way of his appointment. 8. It is God’s prerogative to give dignity and pre-eminence in the church among them which are otherwise equal, and this must be acquiesced in. 9. No privilege can exempt per- - sons from subjection unto any of God’s institutions, though they were of the loins of Abraham.
Ver. 6-10.—1. We can be made partakers of no such grace, mercy, or privilege in this world, but that God can, when he pleaseth, make an addition thereunto. 2. It is the blessing of Christ, typified in and by that of Melchisedec, that makes promises and mercies effectual unto us. 38. Free and sovereign grace is the only foundation of all privileges. 4. It is a great mercy and privilege, when God will make use of any in the blessing of others with spiritual mercies. 5. Those who are appointed to bless others in the name of God, and thereby exalted unto a pre-eminence above those that are blessed by his ap- pointment, ought to be accordingly regarded by all that are so blessed by them. 6. Let those who are so appointed take heed that, by their miscarriage, they prove not a curse to them whom they ought to bless. 7. In the outward administration of his worship, God is pleased to make use of poor, frail, mortal, dying men. 8. The life of the church depends on the everlasting life of Jesus Christ. 9. They who receive tithes of others, for their. work in holy administrations, are thereby proved to be superior to them of whom they do receive them. 10. It is of great concern to us what covenant we do belong to, as being esteemed to do therein what is done by our representa- tive in our name.
Ver. 1].—1. An interest in the gospel consisteth not in an out- ward profession of it, but in a real participation of those things wherein the perfection of its state doth consist. 2. The pre-eminence of the gospel state above the legal is spiritual and undiscernible unto a carnal eye. 3. To look for glory in evangelical worship from out- ward ceremonies-and carnal ordinances, is to prefer the Levitical priesthood before that of Christ. 4. Put all advantages and privi- leges whatever together, and they will bring nothing to perfection without Jesus Christ.
Ver. 12.—1. Notwithstanding the great and many provocations of them by whom the priesthood was exercised, yet God took it not — away until it had accomplished the end whereto it was designed.
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CHAP. VII. 19.] PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. 489
2. The efficacy of all ordinances or institutions of worship depends on the will of God alone. 3. Divine institutions cease not without an express divine abrogation. 4. God will never abrogate or take away any institution or ordinance of worship, unto the loss or dis- advantage of the church. 5. God in his wisdom so ordered all things, that the taking away of the priesthood of the law gave it its greatest glory. 6. How it is a fruit of the manifold wisdom of God that it was a great mercy to give the law, and a greater to take it away. 7. If under the law the whole worship of God did so de- pend on the priesthood, that that failing or being taken away, the whole worship of itself was to cease, as being no more acceptable before God; how much more is all worship under the new testament rejected by him, if there be not a due regard therein unto the Lord Christ, as the only high priest of the church, and to the efficacy of his discharge of that office. 8. It is the highest vanity to pretend use or continuance in the church from possession or prescription, or pretended benefit, beauty, order, or advantage, when once the mind of God is declared against it. .
Ver. 13.—1. It is our duty, in studying the Scripture, to inquire diligently after the things which are spoken concerning Jesus Christ, and what is taught of him in them. 2. All men’s rights, duties, and privileges, in sacred things, are fixed and limited by divine institution. 8. Seeing Christ himself had no right to minister at the material altar, the re-introduction of such altars is inconsistent with the per- petual continuance of his priesthood.