without any such solemnity. Moreover, as we before hinted, there was no successor to Melchizeclec in his priestly office ; which intimated, that Christ should have none in his; but that his priesthood should be everlasting: whereas the Levitical priests could not continue in their office by reason of death. From all this it appears, that Christ's priesthood was intended to supersede that which was appointed by the law; and con- sequently, that the law itself, which was so intimately connected with the priesthood, was to yield to the dispensation which Christ should introduce. For if Melchizeclec's priesthood, which was only typical, was superior to that of Levi, much more must Christ's priesthood be superior ; because the things which exalted the person and office of Melchizedec, were merely figurative and shadowy ; whereas those which dignify the person and office of the Lord Jesus, are real and substan- tial ; he is really in his person the eternal God, and will execute to all eternity the office he has undertaken1.
Behold, then, how deep a mystery is contained in that which appears at first sight so unimportant! O that we may all bear it in mind, and present to him, not a portion of our property only, but " our bodies and our souls also to be a living sacrifice unto God!"]
To improve this subject, we would earnestly entreat of you these two things :
1. Study the Scriptures with earnest prayer to
God for the teaching of his good Spirit —
[In every part of God's word there are many important truths which cannot be discerned, unless God be pleased to " open our eyes to see them, and our understandings to under- stand them." We do not mean by this observation to refer to mysteries merely, but to great practical truths. We may un- derstand the letter of Scripture, and yet be extremely ignorant of its spirit. Take, for instance, such an expression as this, " God is love : " What, I ask, can we understand of it without humble meditation and prayer? Yet if we have meditated and prayed for ever so long a time, there would still be un- searchable riches in those words to reward our continued search ; yea, eternity itself will not suffice to explore their full meaning. Exactly as we might have meditated a thousand years upon the text, and not found out the truths which by the light of subsequent revelations we discover in them, so it is with ten thousand other passages, which we cannot duly comprehend or feel, till God is pleased to reveal them to us by his Spirit. The Bible is " a sealed book;" and neither
5 See the whole seventh chapter to the Hebrews.