Christ, and of other Priests of the new Testament.the blessing might be rightly celebrated, about Abraham by Melchisedech the Priest, the image of Christs Sacrifice consisting in bread and wine went before, which thing our Lord perfecting and performing, offered bread and the chalice mixt with wine, and he that is the plenitude, fulfilled the veritie of the prefigured image.
Eusebius Cesariensis. li 5. Demonst. Euang. c. 3. Euen as he who was Priest of Nations was neuer seen to offer corporal sacrifices, but only bread & wine, when he blessed Abraham; so first our Lord & Sauiour himselfe, then priests that come from him, exercising the spiritual office of Priesthood in al Nations, after the Ecclesiastical ordinances, doe represent the mysteries of his bodie and healthful bloud, in bread and wine: which mysteries Melchisedech knew so long before by diuine spirit, and vsed as representations of things to come.
S. Ambrose li. 5. de Sacramen. c. 1. We know the figure of the Sacraments went before, in Abrahams times, when Melchisedech offered Sacrifice.
Idem in cap. 5. Heb. It is cleere that oblations of cattle are vanished, which were in Aarons order, but Melchisedechs institution remayneth, which is celebrated al the world ouer in administration of the Sacraments.
S. Hierome Epist. ad Marcellam vt migret Bethleem: Haue recourse to Genesis, and you shal find Melchisedech, King of Salem, Prince of this citie, who euen then in figure of Christ offered bread and wine, and dedicated the Christian mysterie in our Sauiours bodie and bloud. Idem Epist. ad Euagrium: Melchisedech offered not bloudie victims, but dedicated the Sacrament of Christ in bread and wine, a simple and pure sacrifice. Idem. Quest. in Gen. c. 14. Our mysterie is signified in the word of Order, not by Aaron in immolating brute victims, but in offering bread and wine, that is, the bodie and bloud of our Lord Iesus. Idem in c. 26. Matthei: Melchisedech the Priest of God most High, by offering bread and wine, prefigured the Mysterie of the Eucharist.
S. Chrisostom ho. 25. in Gen. Seeing the figure, thinke also I pray thee of the veritie. Ho. 36. After that Melchisedech King of Salem brought bread and wine (for he was Priest of God most High) Abraham receiued his oblations.
S. Augustin Epist. 95. Melchisedech bringing forth the Sacrament (or mysterie) of our Lords table, knew how to figurate his eternal Priesthood. Idem li. 16. c. 22. ciuit. There first appeared that sacrifice, which is now offered to God by Christians in the whole world. Idem li. 17. c. 17. li. 18. c. 35. and vpon the Psalme. 109. li. 1. contra aduers. Leg. & prophet. c. 20. Ser. 4. de Sanctis Innocentibus. But it is bootles or nedles to cite more places, or more Authours: for whosoeuer wil not submit their iudgements to these, would not, it is like, belieue, if their owne Maisters, should rise againe and warne them, lest they be damned for their incredulitie.
Caluin contemneth al the ancient fathers in ca. 9. Heb.19. Blessed him.) Caluin (in cap. 7. v. 9. Heb) Musculus (locis com. c. de Missa Papist.) and some other Protestants, to auoid the connexion of Melchisedechs Priesthood and bringing forth of bread and wine, wil needs haue these words, Bible 1579.He was a Priest, referred only to that which followeth, he blessed Abraham. Heretical translation.And some English translaters for this purpose haue corrupted the text, by changing And into Therfore, saying thus: And he was a Priest of the most High God, therfore he blessed him. Which is also a false glosse. For Melchisedech did not blesse Abram because he was a Priest, for Abram was also a Priest, but because he was a greater Priest then Abram: which S. Paul vrgeth saying: The greater blesseth the lesse.Heb. 7.
Iosue 8. & 22.
3. Reg. 8.Without al contradiction that which is lesse, is blessed of the better, concluding therupon that Melchisedech was greater then Abraham. Againe, other Superiours that are not Priests may blesse their inferiours. As Iosue and Salomon blessed the people, and parents blesse their children.
Paying of tithes is the law of nature.20. Gaue tithes.) This is an other prerogatiue of Melchisedech, that Abram payed tithes to him, which S. Paul likwise explicateth (Heb. 7.) and proueth
