it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also who received tithes, payed tithes in Abraham; for he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedec met him," Heb. vii. 4...10. From which he justly infers, that "perfection" could not be " by the Levitical priesthood," that "there was need" of "another priest, after the order of Melchizedec, and not after the order of Aaron;" who should be "made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life;"" and that seeing the law made nothing perfect," but "the bringing in of a better hope did," "by so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament:" and "this man because he continueth ever hath an unchangeable priesthood." Through him, therefore, let us offer," the calves of our lips," and "present" our "bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service" for "we are not our own, we are bought with a price;" therefore, "let us glorify God in our body, and in our spirit, which are God's."

As the names and employments, so the united offices and dignity of Melchizedec, met in all their lustre in the person of the Son of God: "King of Salem," and "Priest of the most high God." In "derision" of the vain attempts of the heathen, and of the impious confederacy of the kings and rulers of the earth," against the LORD, and against his Anointed," God declares, "I have set my King upon my holy hill of Zion," Psalm ii. 6. He came not indeed in worldly pomp, but in lowliness and meekness, yet the powers and potentates of the earth were made subject and subservient to him. "Wise men from the east were conducted by a star to Jerusalem, and thence to Bethlehem of Judah, to do homage to him at his birth; and poured "their treasures, gold, frankincense, and myrrh," at his feet. Augustus issued" a decree that all the world should be taxed." What was his motive, what his end? We cannot tell; but we know the end which

God had in view by it: namely, to bring into more public notoriety, the several circumstances of Christ's nativity, and to transmit them to the latest posterity, in all their splendor and importance. Thus the haughty master of imperial Rome was constrained of Providence, to render unknown, unintended, involuntary homage to yonder babe in the stable at Bethlehem. "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together, for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done," Acts iv. 27, 28. Is he not then "the blessed and only Potentate; the King of kings, and Lord of lords?" Now especially, exalted as he is, to the "right hand of the Majesty on high. For by him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him.' "And he is before all things, and by him all things consist," Col. i. 16, 17. And, into the kingdom of his glory, when finished, "the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor." Then shall angels and men join in this grand celestial chorus, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever," Rev. xi. 15.

But while his exalted rank as a sovereign removes us to an awful distance, his milder character, as the Apostle and High Priest of our profession," allures us back to his presence, and dissipates our terrors. He is "a merciful and a faithful High Priest," an "High Priest, touched with the feeling of our infirmities:" "a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens," through whom we have encouragement to " come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," Heb. iv. 16. He has by "one offering perfected forever

them that are sanctified," and who having "washed us from our sins in his own blood," shall at length make us "kings and priests unto God and his Father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever," Rev. i. 6. The circumstances relating to Melchizedec, which are concealed, no less than those which are revealed to us, lead directly to similar circumstances in the person and character of our Lord. "Without father, without mother, without descent; having neither beginning of days, nor end of life:" no predecessor; no successor; no limited time of service; no derived title; a dignity not passing from hand to hand, but permanent, inherent, immutable. Such was the type. What is its antitype? "Who shall declare his generation ?" "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God," John i. 1. "Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am, John viii. 58. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, [and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father] full of grace and truth," John i. 14. "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh," 1 Tim. iii. 16. "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last; I am he that liveth and was dead: and behold, I am alive for evermore, amen," Rev. i. 11, 18. "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!" "Slain from the foundation of the world!" The altar which consecrateth "the gift," the priest that presents the sacrifice; the "second temple which eclipses the glory of the "first.' All, and in all. Every thing pointed to him, all endeth in him, and all are infinitely exceeded by him.

Rejoice, christians, in this "more sure word of prophecy," and "take heed unto it, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts," 2 Peter i. 19. Revere the unfathomable depths of the eternal mind.

"Secret

things belong to God; but things which are revealed, belong to us, and to our children." Turn all your inquiries to some good account; remembering that "the end of the commandment is charity," is to inspire veneration and love to God, and good will to men. Seek not to be "wise above what is written:" and "be not wise in your own conceit." In reverence adore an incomprehensible Jehovah, who, by no search is to be "found out unto perfection." Rejoice in hope of that day, when all mysteries shall be unveiled, and the wisdom, the love, and the goodness of God, shall shine conspicuously in every creature and every event; when the honors of a Melchizedec shall be communicated to all and to every one of the myriads of Christ's redeemed. When, such as is the head, shall all the members be, "kings and priests unto God." And let us, by patient continuance in well dong, seek for glory, and honor, and immortality." Amen.

History of Abram.

LECTURE XIII.

And it came to pass, that when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoaking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram. GEN. XV. 17, 18.

THE

HERE is something awfully pleasant, in tracing the manners and customs of ancient times, and of distant nations; particularly in the celebration of their religious ceremonies. Religion, in every age and nation, has been the foundation of good faith, and of mutual confidence among men. The most solemn conventions, and the most explicit declarations have been considered as imperfect, till the oath of God was interposed, and until the other august sanctions of divine worship ratified and confirmed the transaction. It cannot but be a high gratification to every lover of the holy scriptures, to find in the bible the origin and the model of all the significant religious rites of latter ages and of remoter nations; to find in Moses, the pattern of usages described by a Homer and a Titus Livius, as in general practice among the two most respectable and enlightened nations of antiquity, the Greeks and Romans.

Making of covenants is one of the most frequent and customary transactions in the history of mankind. Controversies and quarrels of every sort issued at length in a covenant between the contending parties. The solemn compacts which have taken place between God and man, are known by the same name; and