qualifications were requisite; a priest who should have no recorded genealogy, either on the side of his father or his mother, by which he could claim the priesthod; and should be made "not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." But it was not until the close of the gospel dispensation, that the prefiguration, exhibited in the person of Melchisedec, was fully explained. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews well knew that the Psalm of David was referred to the Messiah by all the Jewish interpreters. He, therefore, assumes that fact, and applies the prophecy at once to "Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec." But the Apostle, with the authority of an inspired writer, informs the Hebrews of many circumstances, which could not have been known, unless they had been revealed by God himself. He informs them, that the Scriptures of the Old Testament indicated the person and offices of Christ by their intentional silence, as well as by what they relate, respecting Melchisedec. He implies, that the brief account given of him designedly omitted all notice of his birth, and family, and death; that he might more accu • αγενεαλόγητος. Heb. vii. 3. Heb. v. 6. vi. 20. Heb. vii. 16. rately resemble Christ, whom he prefigured both in name and office. "For this Melchisedec......first being, by interpretation, king of righteousness, and after that king of Salem, which is king of peace; without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God, abideth a priest continually." t These are points of similarity, which never could have been duly appreciated, unless they had been revealed by the same wisdom which contrived them. But, since they are revealed, they may be made the subject of deep and holy contemplation. They are calculated to give an insight into the design with which God has conducted the affairs of the world; to represent to us the three great divisions, under which the dispensations of the Almighty are classed, as all conspiring to set forth, with different degrees of clearness, "Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Under the patriarchal dispensation, Melchisedec lived, and acted. Under the Mosaic dispensation, a prophecy was delivered of one who should come after his likeness. Under the Christian dispensation, the great King and High Priest of our profession did come; and the precise circumstances of agreement between him and Melchisedec were declared. In Jesus, all those distinctions were displayed fully, which Melchisedec faintly represented. Jesus alone was, truly, "King of righteousness,"" and "King of peace;" and "Priest of the most high God." Jesus alone was the person whose generation no one could declare. Jesus alone was, in his human nature, "without father;" in his Divine nature, "without mother." Jesus alone was a priest, "without descent" from the family of Aaron. Jesus alone, who existed from all eternity, and shall exist for ever, could be said to have "neither beginning of days nor end of life;" to have had no predecessor, no successor, in his meritorious priesthood, but to abide "a priest continually." It forms no part of our present plan, to enlarge upon the supereminent dignity, which the argument of the Apostle ascribes to the priesthood of Christ; nor upon the important consequences resulting from his possession of the sacerdotal character. It is sufficient to have observed, how plainly the Scriptures set forth a designed correspondence between Melchisedec and Christ: a correspondence, not the "Jer. xxiii. 6. x Isai. ix. 6. result of any fancied resemblance observed after the events had come to pass, but certainly foreseen, because predicted in the days of David. In vain should we seek for a fulfilment of these particulars in any other priest and king. They were reserved for Him alone, who, "being made perfect," "became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec."" III. We will now revert to the line of argument, which it has been attempted to pursue, in our whole examination of the principal circumstances in the life of Christ, which have been designedly prefigured. The Spirit of God has adopted a variety of means to indicate his perfect foreknowledge of all events, and his power to control them. This is sometimes declared by express verbal prophecy; sometimes by specific actions performed by Divine command; and sometimes by those peculiar events, in the lives of individuals, and the history or religious observances of the Israelites, which were caused to bear a designed reference to some parts of the Gospel history. The main point, in an enquiry into these historical types, is to establish the fact of a pre * Heb. v. 9, 10. concerted connection between the two series of events. No similarity, in itself, is sufficient to prove such a correspondence. Hence, all those alleged types have been omitted, however probable, which are not mentioned, directly or indirectly, in the holy Scriptures. Even those recorded in Scripture are recorded under very different circumstances. If the first event be declared to be typical, at the time when it occurs, and the second event correspond with the prediction so delivered, there can be no doubt that the correspondence was designed. If, before the occurrence of the second event, there be delivered a distinct prophecy, that it will happen, and will correspond with some previous event; the fulfilment of the prophecy furnishes an intrinsic proof, that the person who gave it, spake by Divine inspiration. It may not, from this fact, follow, that the two events were connected by a design formed before either of them occurred: but it certainly does follow, that the second event, in some measure, had respect to the first; and that, whatever degree of connection was, by such a prophet, assumed to exist, did really exist. If, again, no specific declaration be made, respecting the typical character of any event or person, until after the second event has occurred, which is then declared to have been |