ForthisMelchizedek, kingof Salem, priestof themost highGod, who metAbrahamreturningfromtheslaughterof thekings, andblessedhim; To whomalsoAbrahamgavea tenth partofall; firstbeing by interpretationKingof righteousness, andafter thatalsoKingof Salem, which is, Kingof peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, havingneitherbeginningof days, norendof life; butmade like untotheSonof God; abidetha priestcontinually. Nowconsiderhow greatthis man was, unto whomeventhepatriarchAbrahamgavethe tenthofthespoils. Andverilytheythat are ofthesonsof Levi, who receivetheoffice of the priesthood, havea commandmentto take tithesof thepeopleaccordingto thelaw, that is, of theirbrethren, thoughthey comeout oftheloinsof Abraham: Buthe whose descent is not countedfromthemreceived tithesof Abraham, andblessedhim that hadthepromises. Andwithoutallcontradictionthelessis blessedofthebetter. Andherementhat diereceivetithes; buttherehe receiveth them, of whom it is witnessedthathe liveth. Andas I may so say, Levialso, who receivethtithes, paid tithesinAbraham. Forhe wasyetintheloinsof his father, whenMelchizedekmethim. IfthereforeperfectionwerebytheLeviticalpriesthood, ( forunderitthepeoplereceived the law,) whatfurtherneed was there that anotherpriestshould riseaftertheorderof Melchizedek, andnotbe calledaftertheorderof Aaron? Forthepriesthoodbeing changed, there is madeofnecessitya changealsoof the law. Forhe ofwhomthese thingsare spokenpertainethto anothertribe, ofwhichno mangave attendanceat thealtar. For it is evidentthatourLordsprangout ofJudah; ofwhichtribeMosesspakenothingconcerningpriesthood. Andit isyetfar moreevident: for thatafterthesimilitudeof Melchizedekthere arisethanotherpriest, Whois made, notafterthe lawof a carnalcommandment, butafterthe powerof an endlesslife. Forhe testifieth, Thou art a priestforeveraftertheorderof Melchizedek. Forthere isverilya disannullingof the commandmentgoing beforefortheweaknessandunprofitablenessthereof. Forthelawmade nothing perfect, butthe bringing inof a betterhope did; bythe whichwe draw nighunto God. Andinasmuch asnotwithoutan oath he was made priest : ( Forthose priestsweremadewithoutan oath; butthiswithan oathbyhim that saiduntohim, The Lordsworeandwill notrepent, Thou art a priestforeveraftertheorderof Melchizedek:) Byso muchwas Jesusmadea suretyof a bettertestament. Andtheytrulyweremanypriests, because they were not sufferedto continueby reason of death: Butthis man, because hecontinuethever, hathan unchangeablepriesthood. Whereforehe is ablealsoto savethem totheuttermostthat comeunto Godbyhim, seeing he everlivethto make intercessionforthem. Forsucha high priestbecameus, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separatefromsinners, andmadehigherthan theheavens; Whoneedethnotdaily, asthose high priests, to offer upsacrifice, firstforhis ownsins, and thenforthepeople's: forthishe didonce, when he offered uphimself. Forthelawmakethmenhigh priestswhich haveinfirmity; butthewordof theoath, whichwas sincethelaw, maketh the Son, who is consecratedforevermore.