everlasting Priest-bood] The word everlasting, as the words for ever, when applied to the Ceremoniall Law, and Priest-hood, import not either a duration of time without end, or a perpetuitie without interruption; for both that Law and Priest-hood expired when Christ the end of both (prefigured by them) was exhibited, but a long continuance of time; and so it was in the High-priest-bood of Phinehas the sonne of Eleazar; for though for a time, for the fallings of part of them who were to succeede him in it, the Priest-hood passed over from the line of Eleazar to the line of Ithamar his brother, in Eli his sonne, nephew, and great grand-child; yet afterward they of Elies race being corrupted, and the other reformed, it returned to the posteritie of Phinehas againe; which returne began in Davids time, who equally accepted of Abiathar of the posteritie of Eli, and of Zadok of the stock of Phinehas (2 Samuel 15:35. & 1 Chron. 15. 11.) and was protected by Solomon when he put downe Abiathar, who was the posteritie of Ithamar, and Eli; and set up Zadok in his stead, who had for his Ancestors in bloud, Eleazar, and Phinehas, 1 Kings 2:11. to whose Family when it was restored, it there continued (as some make the measure) to the coming of Christ; but certainely it held out a great while, whether we consider the person of Phinehas, who was yet alive at the Battell betwixt the Benjamites and the rest of the Israelites, Judg. 20. 28. or his posteritie, who had a succession of the Priest-hood (except for the interposition fore-mentioned) even after the captivie, Ezra 7. 1, &c. untill or very neere the approach of our Evangelicall Highpriest after the order of Melchisedec, (as our Saviour is called, Heb. 5. vers. 6.) See Annot. on Chap. 20. vers. 16.