HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vers.1-3.-Melchizedek a type of Christ. "For this Melchizedek, King of Salem,• etc. The various extraordinary conjectures as to the personality of Melchizedek "we may safely treat as fancifnl and unneeded. The typology connected with Melchizedek does not require that he him.self should be regarded as any superhuman person, but merely exalts the hum.an circumstances under which he appears into symbols of super- human things. Everything combines to show that Melchizedek was a Canaanitish king who had retained the worship of the true God and combined in his own person the offices of king and priest." 1 And the statements made concerning him in the third verse of our text need not cause us any difficulty. The Levitical priests held their office by virtue of their descent from Levi and Aaron. A clear and unquestionable genealogy was of the utmost importance to them. On the return of the Jews from captivity certain persons were excluded from the priesthood because they could not produce their pedigree (Ezra ii. 61-63). Now, as for Melchizedek, the names of his parents were unknown, his name was not mentioned in the Hebrew genealogies, there was no record of his birth or of hie death, and no mention of the termination of his priesthood. "He comes forth from the darkness like a streak of light, only to disappear immediately in the darkneBS again." He is mentioned in our text as a type of Jesus Christ. L br"ms REGAL CHABAOTER AND FUNCTIONS. " Melchizedek, King of Salem , •• by interpretation King of righteousness, and King of peace." In the reign of the Obrist: 1. .B,ighf.eoUBness is the firm basis of peace. It is true in government as in other things that "the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle.n Stable peace is impossible apart from righteousness. Deep craft, subtle diplomacy, strong naval and military forces, are miserable guarantees for a nation's peace. 'l'he peace and the perpetuity of the reign of Messiah are founded upon its truth and righteousness. 'l'he witness of Scripture to this is most clear and conclusive (see Ps. lxxii. 1-7; lsa. ii. 4; xi. 1-9; xx.x.ii. 17). 2. Righteousness iB joined with peace. Both these qualities characterize his administration. Righteousness is firm, inflexible, almost ~ ,A.lford on Gen. rjv, 18-20. OH, VII, 1-28.] THE EPIS'fLE TO THE HEBREWS.
stern; peace is i:nild, merciful, gentle, In the kingdom of our Lord "mercy and truth meet together, nghteousncss and peace kiss each other." II. IN HIB BAOEllDO'rAL CHARACTER AND FUNCTIONS. Here are eeveral points of analogy. 1. In the authority of hi11 priesthood. "Mclchizedek, priest of God Most High ••. without father, without mother," etc. He was not a priest because he wa,i descended from priests, lilco the sons of Aaron. He received his priesthood direct from God. It was based upon character, not upon pedigree. It was "an independent priesthood, having its root in his own person." Even so was the priesthood of our Lord and Saviour (cf. vers. 13-17; eh. v. 4-G). 2. In the blessings which he bestowed. Melchizedek bestowed upon Abraham a double blessing, and in each portion of it he prefigures the Christ. (1) He ministered to his physical needs. " Melchizedek met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings," and "brought forth brea<l and wine" unto him; bread representing the necessary food of the physical life, and win'-' representing the delights of life-" wine that maketh glad the heart of man." And. our Lord cared for the physical needs of men. He had compassion on the hungry thousands, and fed them; he pitied the afflicted, and healed them ; he sympathized with their social pleasures, and contributed to them by turning water into wine. (2) Melchizedek blessed Abraham spiritually (Gen. xiv. 19, 20). Our Lord confers the richest spiritual favours upon those who believe in him. 'l'he redemption of Jesus Christ is for the whole of man's nature. It is noteworthy that Melchizedek blessed the greatest and best man of his age of whom we have any record. He " blessed him that hath the promises," etc. (vers. 6, 7). Onr Lord blesses the highest and holiest as well as the lowest and most sinful of men. None are so great or so good as to have outgrown the need of his blessing. 3. In the homage which he received. "To whom Abraham divided a tenth part of all . . . unto whom Abraham gave a tenth out of the chief spoils." He did this either as an act of homage to him as a king, and as placing himself under his authority and protection, or as an acknowledgment of his character and position as " priest of God Most High." To our Priest and .King thll mightiest and the weakest, the greatest and the smallest, high and low, rich l\nd poor, shall pay heartiest and humblest homage (see P8. Jx.xii.10, 11, 15, 17). "At the Name of Jesus every knee shall bow," etc. (Phil. ii. 10, 11). 4. In the duration of hia priest- hood. "Abideth a Priest continually." Thie is not to be taken literally as to Melcbizedek. Of him it is true in this way, there is no record of the termination of his priesthood by death or otherwise. As he did not receive it from his ancestors, it was not transmitted to his descendants: he yielded "up his priesthood to no one." But m a higher sense his great Antitype "abidetb a Priest continually." He is "a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." "He ever liveth to make intercession for them that draw near unto God through him."-W. J.