Out of the same Psalm 109 he urgeth this also, Sit thou on my right hand, shewing that the Levitical tabernacle on earth, was but a shadow of his true Tabernacle in heaven: without which he should not be a Priest at all: 6 Whereas he is of a better Priesthood then they, as also he proveth by the excellence of the new Testament above the old.Out of the same Psalme 109 he vrgeth this also, Sit thou on my right hand, shewing that the Leuitical tabernacle on earth, was but a shadow of his true Tabernacle in heauen: without which he should not be a Priest at all: 6 Whereas he is of a better Priesthod then they, as also he proueth by the excellence of the new Testament aboue the old.✦
But the sum concerning those things which be said, is: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the seat of majesty in the heavens,BVT the summe concerning those things which be said, is: We haue such an high priest, who is sette on the right hand of the seate of maiestie in the heauens,✦Capitulum autem super ea quæ dicuntur : Talem habemus pontificem, qui consedit in dextera sedis magnitudinis in cælis,
2minister of the holies, and of the true tabernacle, which our Lord fixit: pitched, set up and not man.a ∷ minister of the holies, and of the true tabernacle, which our Lord pight & not man.✦sanctorum minister, et tabernaculi veri, quod fixit Dominus, et non homo.
3For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and hostias: sacrificial victims: wherefore it is necessary that he also have some thing that he may offer:For euery high priest is appointed to offer giftes and hostes: wherfore it is necessarie that he also haue some thing that he may offer:¶✦Omnis enim pontifex ad offerendum munera, et hostias constituitur : unde necesse est et hunc habere aliquid, quod offerat.
4if then he were upon the earth, neither were he a priest: whereas there were that did offer gifts according to the Law,if then he were vpon the earth, neither were he a priest: whereas there were that did offer giftes according to the Law,¶✦Si ergo esset super terram, nec esset sacerdos : cum essent qui offerent secundum legem munera,
5that serve the example and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered Moyses, when he finished the tabernacle, See (quoth he) that thou make all things according to the exemplar: pattern, exemplar which was shewed thee in the mount.that c serue the example & shadow of heauenly things. As it was answered Moyses, when he finished the tabernacle, *See (quod he) that thou make al things according to the exampler which was shewed thee in the mount.¶✦qui exemplari, et umbræ deserviunt cælestium. Sicut responsum est Moysi, cum consummaret tabernaculum : Vide (inquit) omnia facito secundum exemplar, quod tibi ostensum est in monte.
6But now he hath obtained a better ministry, by so much as he is mediator of a better testament, which is established in better promises.But now he hath obtained a better ministerie, by so much as he is mediatour of a better testament, which is established in better promisses.✦Nunc autem melius sortitus est ministerium, quanto et melioris testamenti mediator est, quod in melioribus repromissionibus sancitum est.
7For if that former had been void of fault, there should not utique: assuredly, of a truth a place of a second be sought.For ∷ if that former had been void of fault, there should not certes a place of a second be sought.✦Nam si illud prius culpa vacasset, non utique secundi locus inquireretur.
8For blaming them, he saith: Behold the days shall come, saith our Lord: and I will consummabo: complete, bring to fulfilment upon the house of Israel, and upon the house of Juda a new Testament:For blaming them, he saith: *Behold the daies shal come, saith our Lord: and I wil consummate vpon the house of Israel, and vpon the house of Iuda a new Testament:✦Vituperans enim eos dicit : Ecce dies venient, dicit Dominus : et consummabo super domum Israël, et super domum Juda, testamentum novum,
9not according to the testament which I made to their fathers in the day that I took their hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt: because they did not continue in my testament: and I neglected them, saith our Lord.not according to the testament which I made to their fathers in the day that I tooke their hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt: because they did not continue in my testament: and I neglected them, saith our Lord.✦non secundum testamentum quod feci patribus eorum in die qua apprehendi manum eorum ut educerem illos de terra Ægypti : quoniam ipsi non permanserunt in testamento meo : et ego neglexi eos, dicit Dominus.
10For this is the testament which I will dispose to the house of Israel after those days, saith our Lord: Giving my Laws into their mind, and in their heart will I superscribam: write upon, inscribe them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people:For this is the testament which I wil dispose to the house of Israel after those daies, saith our Lord: Giuing my Lawes into their minde, and in their hart wil I superscribe them: and I wil be their God, and they shal be my people:¶✦Quia hoc est testamentum quod disponam domui Israël post dies illos, dicit Dominus : dando leges meas in mentem eorum, et in corde eorum superscribam eas : et ero eis in Deum, et ipsi erunt mihi in populum :
11and every one shall not teach his neighbour, and every one his brother, saying, Know our Lord: because all shall know me from the less to the greater of them:and euery one shal not teach his neighbour, and euery one his brother, saying, Know our Lord: because al shal know me from the lesse to the greater of them:¶✦et non docebit unusquisque proximum suum, et unusquisque fratrem suum, dicens : Cognosce Dominum : quoniam omnes scient me a minore usque ad majorem eorum :
12because I will be merciful to their iniquities, and their sins I will now no more remember.because I wil be merciful to their iniquities, and their sinnes I wil now no more remember.*quia propitius ero iniquitatibus eorum, et peccatorum eorum jam non memorabor.
13And in saying a new, the former he hath made old. And that which groweth ancient and waxeth old, is nigh to utter decay.And in saying a new, the former he hath made old. And that which groweth ancient and waxeth old, is nigh to vtter decay.✦Dicendo autem novum : veteravit prius. Quod autem antiquatur, et senescit, prope interitum est.
Annotationsfrom the original 1582 Rheims New Testament
3Necessary that he also. Even now being in heaven, because he is a Bishop and Priest, he must needs have somewhat to offer, and wherein to do sacrifice: and that not in spiritual sort only, for that could not make him a Priest of any certain order. And it is most false and wicked, to hold with the Calvinists, that Melchisedech's Priesthood was wholly spiritual. For then Christ's death was not a corporal, external, visible, and truly named sacrifice: neither could Christ or Melchisedech be any otherwise a Priest, then every faithful man is: which to hold (as the Calvinists following their own doctrine must needs do) is directly against the Scriptures, and no less against Christ's one oblation of his body upon the Cross, then it is against the daily sacrifice of his body upon the altar. Therefore he hath a certain host in external and proper manner, to make perpetual oblation thereby in the Church: for, visible and external act of sacrificing in heaven he doth not exercise.Necessarie that he also. Euen now being in heauen, because he is a Bishop and Priest, he must needes haue somewhat to offer, and wherein to do sacrifice: and that not in spiritual sort onely, for that could not make him a Priest of any certaine order. And it is most false and wicked, to hold with the Caluinistes, * that Melchisedecks Priesthod was wholy spiritual. For then Christs death was not a corporal, external, visible, and truly named sacrifice: neither could Christ or Melchisedec be any otherwise a Priest, then euery faithful man is: which to hold (as the Caluinists folowing their owne doctrine must needes do) is directly against the Scriptures, and no lesse against Christes one oblation of his body vpon the Crosse, then it is against the daily sacrifice of his body vpon the altar. Therfore he hath a certaine host in external and proper maner, to make perpetual oblation thereby in the Church: for, visible and external act of sacrificing in heauen he doth not exercise.
4If upon the earth. It is by his death, and resurrection to life again, that his body is become apt and fit in such divine sort to be sacrificed perpetually. For if he had lived in mortal sort still, that way of mystical representation of breaking his body and separating the blood from the same, could not have been agreeable. and so the Church and Christian people should have lacked a priesthood and sacrifice, & Christ himself should not have been a Priest of a peculiar order, but either must have offered in the things that Aaron's Priests did, or else have been no Priest at all. For, to have offered only spiritually, as all faithful men do, that could not be enough for his vocation, and our redemption, and state of the new Testament. How his flesh was made fit to be offered and eaten in the B. Sacrament, by his death, see Isychius li. 1 in levit. cap. 2.If vpon the earth. It is by his death, and resurrection to life againe, that his body is become apt and fitte in such diuine sort to be sacrificed perpetually. For if he had liued in mortal sort still, that way of mystical representation of breaking his body and separating the bloud from the same, could not haue been agreable. and so the Church and Christian people should haue lacked a priesthod and sacrifice, & Christ him self should not haue been a Priest of a peculiar order, but either must haue offered in the things that Aarons Priests did, or els haue been no Priest at all. For, to haue offered onely spiritually, as all faithful men do, that could not be ynough for his vocation, and our redemption, and state of the new Testament. How his flesh was made fit to be offered and eaten in the B. Sacrament, by his death, see Isychius li. 1 in leuit. cap. 2.
5Heavenly things. As the Church or state of the new Testament is commonly called Regnum cælorum & Dei, in the Scriptures, so these heavenly things be probably taken by learned men, for the mysteries of the new Testament. And it seemeth that the pattern given to Moyses to frame his tabernacle by, was the Church, rather then the heavens themselves: all S. Paul's discourse tending to shew the difference betwixt the new Testament and the old, and not to make comparison between the state of heaven and the old law. Though incidently, because the condition of the new Testament more nearly resembleth the same, then the old state doth, he sometime may speak somewhat thereof also.Heauenly things. As the Church or state of the new Testament is commonly called Regnum cælorum & Dei, in the Scriptures, so these heauenly things be probably taken by learned men, for the mysteries of the new Testament. And it seemeth that the paterne giuen to Moyses to frame his tabernacle by, was the Church, rather then the heauens them selues: al S. Paules discourse tending to shew the difference betwixt the new Testament and the old, and not to make comparison betwene the state of heauen and the old law. Though incidently, because the condition of the new Testament more neerely resembleth the same, then the old state doth, he sometime may speake somewhat therof also.
10Into their minds. This also and the rest following is fulfilled in the Church, and is the proper effect of the new Testament, which is the grace and spirit of love, graffed in the hearts of the faithful by the holy Ghost, working in the Sacraments and sacrifice of the new law to that effect.Into their mindes. This also and the rest folowing is fulfilled in the Church, and is the proper effect of the new Testament, which is the grace and spirit of loue, graffed in the hartes of the faithful by the holy Ghost, working in the Sacraments and sacrifice of the new law to that effecte.
10Their God. This mutual covenant made betwixt God and the faithful, is that which was dedicated and established, first in the chalice of his blood, called therefore the new Testament in his blood: and which was straight after ratified by the death of the testator, upon the Cross.Their God. This mutual couenant made betwixt God and the faithful, is that which was dedicated and established, first in the chalice of his bloud, called therfore the new Testament in his bloud: and which was straight after ratified by the death of the testator, vpon the Crosse.
11Shall not teach. So it was in the primitive Church, in such specially as were the first founders of our new state in Christ. And that which was verified in the Apostles and other principal men, the Apostle speaketh generally as though it were so in the whole. as S. Peter applieth the like out of Joel, and our Saviour so speaketh, when he saith that such as believe in him, shall work miracles of divers sorts. Christian men then must not abuse this place to make challenge of new inspirations and so great knowledge that they need no Scriptures or teaching in this life, as some Heretics do: with much like reason and shew of Scriptures as the Protestants have to refuse external sacrifice. And it is no less phantastical madness to deny external sacrifice, sacraments, or Priesthood, then it is to abolish teaching and preaching.Shal not teach. So it was in the primitiue Church, in such specially as were the first founders of our new state in Christ. And that which was verified in the Apostles and other principal men, the Apostle speaketh generally as though it were so in the whole. as S. Peter applieth the like out of Ioël, and our Sauiour so speaketh, when he saith that such as beleeue in him, shal worke miracles of diuers sortes. Christian men then must not abuse this place to make chalenge of new inspirations and so great knowledge that they neede no Scriptures or teaching in this life, as some Heretikes doe: with much like reason and shew of Scriptures as the Protestants haue to refuse external sacrifice. And it is no lesse phantastical madnesse to deny external sacrifice, sacraments, or Priesthod, then it is to abolish teaching and preaching.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition. Facsimile available in two scans.