In the 5th Chapter, the Apostle carries on the subject of the Priestly Office of Christ, knowing it to be of such vast importance to the Church. He shews the commission of Jesus to act as High Priest, and they, the Hebrews, well knew that no man had a right to this Office but he that was called of God, as was Aaron. So our dear Lord was called to it in the Covenant, in which the Father glorified him, and as God-Man Mediator, called him Son, and told him he should be a Priest for ever, after a peculiar Order, that is, of Melchisedec: his own Order, not of Levi or Aaron’s, but his own divine Order.—The Apostle then complains of these Believers, they were dull of apprehension, or else he would tell them many more very great things; but they had had the Gospel preached to them nearly thirty years, yet had made little or no progress in the things of God. He complains that they were but babes in knowledge, unskilful, weak, and had got no further than the first principles of the christian Religion, which he begs they will leave, and press after greater lessons in the School of Christ, namely, The final Perseverence of God’s elect, though they might backslide, and even some of them go such sad lengths, as even to give up their profession for a time, that nothing short of the precious blood of Christ applied to their hearts by the Spirit, could ever renew them to Gospel repentance. Ministers could not—they could not do it themselves—but a sight of Christ, put to open shame for them, would ever accomplish it. The Apostle proceeds to stimulate them to persevere in the good ways of God, notwithstanding their weakness, sins, infirmities, strange feelings, and at times, want of confidence—no heart to pray or believe, but all deadness, darkness, and sorrow; amidst all oppositions, yet to keep on, encouraged by this, that a covenant God had provided every needful mercy in Christ; that he has covenanted with him, and all his seed in him, that they might have hope in his faithfulness, and not in their own feelings or experience, which would waver, or change. But for the further encouragement of that hope, he would have them remember, that Christ is their Head and Representative—that the Father’s love is the same to them as to him; that Christ and they are one; that they are beheld in him complete; and that as their High Priest, he is perfect—done a perfect Work; that he ever lives, and that his great Work he is now doing in heaven, and will live to do for ever, is simply, to bless his people, as he blessed their father, Abraham, when he returned from battle. And now, oh ye believing Hebrews, _Consider how great this man was to whom Abraham gave a tenth part of the spoil_.