who were children of Ham, as well as that he was the last representative of the faith of Shem, in the midst of

idolatry - being a "priest of the most high God," - the relation between them will become more clear. It was

the old transferred to the new, and enlarged in it; it was the rule and the promise of Shem, solemnly handed

over to Abram by the last representative of Shem in the land, who thus gave up his authority in the name of

"the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth," "which hath delivered" Abram's enemies into his

hands. It has been well observed, that "Abram's greatness consisted in his hopes, that of Melchizedek in his

present possession." Melchizedek was both a priest and a king, -Abram only a prophet; Melchizedek was

recognized as the rightful possessor of the country, which as yet was only promised to Abram. True, the

future will be infinitely greater than the present, - but then it was as yet future. Melchizedek owned its reality

by blessing Abram, and transferring his title, as it were, to him; while Abram recognized the present, by

giving tithes to Melchizedek, and bending to receive his blessing. Thus Melchizedek, the last representative

of the Shemitic order, is the type of Christ, as the last representative of the Abrahamic order. What lay in

germ in Melchizedek was to be gradually unfolded - the priesthood in Aaron, the royalty in David - till both

were most gloriously united in Christ.

Melchizedek was, however, only a shadow and a type; Christ is the reality and the antitype. It is for this

reason that Scripture has shut to us the sources of historical investigation about his descent and duration

of life, that by its silence it might point to the heavenly descent of Jesus. For the same reason also Abram,

who so soon afterwards vindicated his dignity and position in the language of superiority with which he

declined the king of Sodom's offer of the spoils, bent lowly before Melchizedek, that in his blessing he might

receive the spiritual inheritance which he now bequeathed him. Nor will the attentive reader fail to remark the

language in which Melchizedek spake of God as "the most high," and the "possessor of heaven and earth" -

terms which Abram adopted, but to which he added the new name of "Jehovah," as that of "the most high

God, the possessor of heaven and earth" - a name which indicated that covenant of grace of which Abram

was to be the representative and the medium. It is quite in accordance with this whole transaction that

Abram put aside the offer of the king of Sodom: "Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself."

Assuredly, it had not been as an ally of the king of Sodom, but to vindicate his position, and that of all

connected with him, that the Lord had summoned Abram to the war, and given him the victory. And so

these figures part, never to meet again: the king of Sodom to hasten to the judgment, already lingering

around him; the king of Salem to wait for the better possession promised, which indeed was already