PRIEST.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.—Psalm cx. 4.
Such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.—Hebrews, vii. 26, 28.
Behold, Melchizedek!
And he who for himself and for his seed
Paid tithes to him, and he who thus bespake
His pious Father: “But where is the Lamb
For sacrifice?”—his dignity partake,
Humbly with Isaac and with Abraham,
The eternal priest bowed down in silent prayer.
Messiah thus—
“Ere Abraham was, I am!
And thou, thou priest of Salem, who while-ere
Greeted the faithful from his victory
With sacramental blessing;—thou wert him
Of th’ everlasting Order and Decree,
Whence bread from Heaven, angelic food for man,
And life divine outpoured in blood. With thee
That sacramental ordinance began,
Accomplished now. Be thou a priest for ever:
I swear, nor shall repent. I will—I can—
After thine Order rule, and it shall never
In righteousness and peace, surcease to hold
Sway and dominion when and wheresoever.”
J. A. Heraud.
The priestly brotherhood, devout, sincere,
From mean self-interest and ambition clear,
Their hope in Heaven, servility their scorn,
Prompt to persuade, expostulate, and warn.
There wisdom pure, and given them from above,
Their usefulness ensured by zeal and love,
As meek as the man Moses, and withal
As bold as in Agrippa’s presence, Paul,
Should fly the world’s contaminating touch,
Holy and unpolluted.
Cowper.