Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-09-20

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PERSON AND OFFICES OF MELCHIsEDEK
REV. J. HARRIS.
1t would be time spent to little purpose to
debate the question who Melchisedek was, if
we take him him to be any one of the patriarchs
contemporary with Abraham. For in that case,
We have no means to determine the question:
Bat if we consider him to be manifestation Of
the Son of God, in his regal and sacerdotal dig
nifty, appearing to Abraham in an assumed like
ness to the man Jesus Christ, in which form He
in the fullness of time appeared then there is
an importance attached to the subject, which
may claim our attention. This believe to be
the truth, and shall enGeavor to prove.
1t seems to accord with good theology to be-
lieve that Christ was actually a Mediator be-
tween God and man, before he was born of the
seed of David according to the flesh, and that
he truly ofhciated assn ch from the period of hui
man transgression. For if not, the world during
four thousand years was without any means Of
reconciliation to God. Now if He from that
period, sat upon His mediatorial throne, He
must likewise have filled all the offices connect
ed with his mediatorial kingdom, consequently,
He was in the patriarchal age, even as now,
prophet, priest and King. From Him, as proph-
OF, went forth the spirit of all true prophecy.
As priest, He was the great High Priest of our
profession. And as King, he was the prince of
the Kings of the earth, seated upon his holy hill
Zion, Head over all things to the Church.
Thus we have solution of some portions of
revealed truth, which would otherwise appear
somewhat dark. For example, the 10th Psalm
and the Saviours expression, " Before Abraham
was | am" Likewise, John lst, 10th, lie
was in the world, and the world was made by
Him, and the world knew Him not" From
which it may be seen that the Redeemer was in
the world and the world knew it not, always
rejoicing in the habitable parts of the earth,
and his delight was with the SONS of men. Ii
it surprising then, that He occasionally appear
ed to the pous patriarchs, in some form suited
to the occasion, but always in the capacity oi
, the angel of the covenant, whether He was man.
| ifest as the voice of the Lord God, walking
among the trees of the garden, OR an angel with
whom Jacob wrestled, or in the burning bush
4 in the pillar Of fire and cloud or as man with
o drawn sword in his hand, as he appeared untC
J, Joshua, when he was about to lead the tribe
y of Israel into their promised Inheritance, wher
he took the title of Captain of the Lord y host
/ 1t is generally believed that Christ did appea
J, on these and like occasions, often in the form
d man, and held intercourse with the favored pa
:, trarchs, on the opening of some importan
J. event. Then is it not reasonable to believe tina
r, He thus appeared to Abraham as King of right
Is eousness, King of Peace, and Priest Of the Mos
ID High God, and as such, received tithes from tn
Or father of the faithful, and bestowed His gra
by cious benediction. And all this seems beaut
n fully to harmonze with Pauls statements an
10 reasoning in his Epistle to the Hebrews. 1t
" evidently Paul's aim, to exalt the Priesthood {
IN Christ, above that of Aaron, and that he dircc
as his arguments to that point, is certain. In dc
IS, ing this he reasons both from the dignity of ii
C. man, nnd his exalted official station, and is So
70, isfed in showing that Christ held the same @
yes fetal station held by that exalted priest of ii
mt Most High God. He shows that the priestho,
'ly was one Of much higher order than that of &
,at Levitical, and that Melchiscdek was far grea
he er man than the patriarch Abraham. 1t mig
of appear doubtful to a Jew, or even to a Chr
ce. tian if this could be said of Shem, or any 9th
ng patriarchs of that age. Let us now consid
rer the Offices held by that great parsonage.
,d- And first Ii kingly dignity, King of rigl
IRE eousness, King of peace, as His name and kir
nd dom denote. There may have been righteo
,ar kings, but Christ, God own auointed, is XII
art Of Righteousness And there may have. be