1   For this09Q1352 Melchisedec, the king of Salem, Priest of the God most high, ^note vvho mette Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him:

2   to vvhom also Abrah&abar; deuided tithes of al: first in deede by interpretation,

^note the king of iustice: & then also king of Salem, vvhich is to say, king of peace,

3   09Q1353vvithout father, without mother, vvithout genealogie, hauing neither beginning of daies nor end of life, but likened to the sonne of God, continueth a priest for euer.

4   And09Q1354 behold hovv great this man is, to vvhom also Abraham the Patriarke gaue09Q1355 tithes of the principal things.

5   And certes ^note they of the sonnes of Leui that take the priesthod, haue commaundement to take tithes of the people according to the Lavv, that is to say, of their brethren: albeit them selues also issued out of the loines of Abraham.

6   but he vvhose generation is not numbered among them, tooke tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7   But vvithout al contradiction, that vvhich is lesse,09Q1356 is blessed of the better.

8   And here in deede, ^note men that die, receiue tithes: but there he hath vvitnes, that he liueth.

9   And (that it may so be said) by Abraham Leui also, which receiued tithes, vvas tithed.

10   for as yet he vvas in his fathers loines, vvhen Melchisedec mette him.

11   09Q1357If then consummation vvas by the Leuitical priesthod (for vnder it the people receiued the Lavv)09Q1358 vvhat necessitie vvas there yet an other priest to rise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not to be called according to the order of Aaron?

12   For the priesthod being09Q1359 translated, it is necessarie that a translation of the Lavv also be made.

13   For he on vvhom these things be said, is of an other tribe, of the vvhich, none attended on the altar.

14   For it is manifest that our Lord sprung of Iuda: in the which tribe Moyses spake nothing of ^note priestes.

15   And yet it is much more euident: if according to the similitude of Melchisedec there arise an other priest,

16   vvhich vvas not made according to the Lavv of the carnal commaundement, but according to the povver of life indissoluble.

17   For he vvitnesseth, That thou art09Q1360 a priest for euer, according to the order of Melchisedec. ^note

18   Reprobation certes is made09Q1361 of the former c&obar;maundement, because of the vveakenesse and vnprofitablenesse thereof.

19   For the Lavv brought nothing to perfection, but an09Q1362 introduction of a better hope, by the vvhich vve approche to God.

20   And in as much as it is not vvithout an othe, (the other truely vvithout an othe vvere made priestes:

21   but this09Q1363 vvith an othe, by him that said vnto him: Our Lord hath svvorne, and it shal not repent him: thou art a priest for euer) ^note

22   by so much, is Iesvs made a suretie of a better testam&ebar;t.

23   And the other in deede vvere made priestes,09Q1364 being many, because that by death they vvere prohibited to continue: ^note

24   but this, for that he continueth for euer, hath an euerlasting priesthod.

25   vvhereby he is able to saue also for euer ^note going by him self to God: ^note alvvaies liuing to make intercession for vs.

26   For it vvas seemely that vve should haue such a high priest, holy, innocent, impolluted, separated from sinners, and made higher then the heauens.

27   vvhich hath not necessitie daily (as the priestes) first ^note for his ovvne sinnes to offer hostes, then for the peoples. for09Q1365 this he did once, in offering him self. &cross4;

28   For the Lavv appointeth priestes them that haue infirmitie: but the vvord of the othe vvhich is after the Lavv, the Sonne for euer perfected.

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