in declining any share of the fruits of it, for himself?

"And the king of Sodom said to Abram, give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hands unto the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take from a thread even to a shoe latchet; and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say: I have made Abram rich."

That integrity is incorruptible, which considers not life and happiness as consisting in the abundance of the things which a man possessetli; which prizes an honest, though humble independence, above the honors which princes have to bestow. In true dignity of mind, and in generosity of sentiment, Abram is superior to most. We see kings receiving obligations from him, who shows himself above receiving an obligation from any one.

Abram, with so small a band as 318 persons of his own household, and a few friends, pursued, surprised, and discomfited, four confederate kings, with their victorious army, and recovered Lot, his brother's son. Returning from this bold, but successful enterprise, he is met by a prince of a very different character from those whom he had

conquered. They were the sons of violence, sons of blood; his name was Melchizedek, and Melchisalem, king of righteousness, king of peace.

These epithets and titles, were, no doubt, descriptive of the character of this great and good man. He might be designed by Providence to be a memorial to all princes, of what they ought to be; lovers, preservers, and promoters of justice; maintainers, and conservators of peace.

What other of the kings of the earth is to be compared with Melchizedek? Is he not raised up of Providence, to reproach and condemn the potentates of this world; the rule of whose conduct, too often, is not righteousness and law, but humour and caprice; and the end of it is not to bless mankind, but to gratify some passion of their own; who, instead of preserving the nations in peace, and themselves the sons of peace, have, with little intermission, from the commencement of regal power to this unhappy day, involved the human race in wretchedness, violence, and blood? To which of the earthly thrones shall we look for the union of the sanctity of the priesthood with temporal dominion? But there is a Prince, between whom and this king of Salem, the resemblance is so striking, that he who runs may read. When Melchizedek has blessed Abram; he is out of our sight, and is no more to be found. He burst

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upon us like the sun from behind a cloud; he disappears again as quickly, and is to be discerned only in that track of glory which he has left behind him. Blessed type of him who led out his disciples as far as Bethany, and lifted up his hands, and blessed them! And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

The analogy btween Melchizedek and the Messiah is so obvious, that we have only to bring Moses and Paul together, in order to discover its exactness. Their portraits are drawn, as it were at full length, by the masterly hands of a prophet and an apostle, and placed side by side for our inspection.

Scripture is singularly expressive both in what it speaks of Melchizedek, and in what it conceals; and, in both these respects, we may in some measure understand the meaning of what David saith, in spirit, of the Messiah: "Thou art a priest. for ever after the order of Melchizedek."

To whom can the name of king of righteousness and king of peace, be with more strict propriety applied, than to Him, whom God hath annointed over his holy hill of Zion; who reigns in justice and in love? "His name shall be called the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." His titles

arise out of the essence of his nature; the display of them is the object of his mission, the consummation of his plan: "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Acquaintance with God through his Son produces inward tranquillity. The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness, and assurance for ever.

The circumstances relating to Melchizedek 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 nor successor; no limited time of service, but a dignity permanent, inherent, and immutable.

Such was the type; what is the antitype? Who shall declare his generation? In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abram was, I am. A great High Priest who is passed into the heavens, who, by one offering, hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified; and, having washed us from our sins, in his own blood, would make us kings and priests unto God.

Hunter's Sacred Biography: