Middletown transcript., 1870-07-02
MELCHIZEDEK.

No person mentioned in Scripture is
enveloped in greater mystery than the be-
ing whose name stands at the head of this
article. He seems to fall in the twinkling
of an eye from heaven, performs one act
which is shrouded in mystery, and disap-
pears to be no more seen on earth at least
under that appellation. Once or twice he
is mentioned during the prophetic period,
but the mystery surrounding him only in
creases. Under the gospel dispensation
the graphic pen of the great Apostle of the
Gentiles gives a particular description of
him, but does not entirely lift the mystery
that covers him as drapery. Common
tators and divincs have attempted to clear
away the mystery, but their explanations
fail to satisfy the intelligent and inquir-
ing mind. TO say that mere man could
be designated King of Righteousness and
King of Peace; that he had no father, or
mother, or de cent, because there was no
record of them; and no beginning of life
or end of days, or no predecessor or sue
cessor, because we have no account of it {;
and that he was made "like unto the Son
of God, and abideth priest continually"
because we have no account of his birth or
death, is scarcely satisfactory. These
statements, it seems to me, can never ap-
ply to mere man; and if applied to the
Lord Jesus Christ, as some have been dis
posed to do, the difficulty is still very
great. Christ, as to his human nature,
had mother; he hal descent, and begin
ming of days and end of life. Who then
can he be? St. Paul in Hebrews is not
speaking of Christ as he appeared in the
flesh, but of that mysterious being who
appeared to Abraham. Now if we sup
pose it was the Eternal Word, the second
person of the Trinity, the difficulty is re-
moved. The Eternal Word may ftly be
styled the King of Righteousness, aud af-
terward the King of Peace Attercard,
IN the fat'lcSs Of tlna2, when he became the
Reconciler, how fifty may he be styled
King Of Peace. Then as to his divine
nature, he had no father or mother, or be-
ginning of, lie or end of days, but was
clothed with body, or the appearance of
one, such as, in the fulness of time, he
should assume in order to fulfill the re-
demptive plan, and, as the Apostle says,
he abldeth priest continually But dill the
Eternal Word ever appear as a man under
the Old Testament dispensation | an
swor, lie did. He appeared to Jacob as
man at Peniel, wrestled with him, and
Jacob said he had seen God face to face.
At Jerico He>appcared to Joshua as
man clad in armour, and said He came as
Captain of the Lords host, and command
ed Joshua to put off his shoes because he
stood on holy ground. There are other
instances af His appearance as a man un-
der the Old Testament dispensation, but
these are sufficient; then if we suppose
lie brought forth bread and wine as typi-
cal OF the eucharist under the gospel dis
pensation, it is moro reasonable than to
suppose that He brought forth bread and
wine for purpose of feeding a hungry and
tantlng army consisting of many hun
dreds, and possibly thousands. Abraham,
like Moses, had most likely requested
God to make him understand his saliva
ton, and how itly such a visit as this
prepares the way for the fuller expana-
ton of Gods design, as vonchsafed in the
sacrifice of Isaac, which plainly typiGed
both the death and resurrection of Christ
and with this view what significance is
couched in the words of Christ to the
Pharisees, "Your father Abraham re-
joiced to see My day; he saw it and was
glad. THAT is, God had made him un-
derstand His great plan of salvation. With
this view how striking the words of Paul,
And blessed him that had the promises !;
and without contradiction the less is bless
ed of the better" No wonder that Mel
chizedek is styled "Priest of the most
high God;' no wonder the Apostle says,
"Of whom it is testified that he ivcth :"
no wonder that the Psalmist and the A
postle should style him ga Priest forev er
after the order of Melchizedek. ."-Rco. R.
Ibbotson.