Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 7:8

8 And here men that die , receive tithes: but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth .

His greatness as to his Priesthood above the Levitical, is proved from its Immortality. Immortal is greater and better than Mortal; such is his Order of Priesthood. This Argument he brings in to heighten the former, and so connects it to it. The Particle [non-Latin text not transcribed] here, if referred to time, notes during Moses's Oeconomy, while the Levitical Law lasted; if it refer to place, it notes Ierusalem in the Land of Cana[illegible: 1 letter]n, where the Temple was, in that habitation of the Israelitish Church the Levitical Priests were not only as to their Nature and Persons withering and decaying, ceasing to be on Earth, tho they had the honour to decimate their Brethren, but as to their Order and Office Mortal, they were no better than the tithed and blessed by them, in prospect of Death. Aaron himself the first of the Order died, and so did all his Successors as well as Israel.

But how much better is Melchisedec and his Order? [non-Latin text not transcribed] there, may refer either to the place where his Business was transacted with Abraham near Salem; or to the place of Scripture-record concerning him; either Gen. 14.18, 19, 20. where there is no account of his Death; or in Psalm 110.4. By the Prophet David is the Testimony born, that his Order is for ever; That Melchisedec as to his Order and Office of Priesthood now liveth and subsisteth in the Son of God incarnate, and continueth for ever. It is suggested by a great Light in the Church, as if Melchisedec was translated as Enoch was, and so continued a Priest to the very Moment of his Translation; and that neither his Person nor Priesthood died, but liveth for ever: but in this the Scripture is silent. Another refers it immediately to Christ, reading it thus; Here, i. e. in this World, they receive Tenths, or are Priests; but there, i. e. within the innermost of the Veil, whither the Forerunner is for us entred, Iesus: supplying this out of ch. 6.19, 20. Here, is to be understood, not who receiveth Tithes, but who is, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. He saith this Sense is to be found in so many words in v. 23, 24, 25. where those who receive Tenths, and die, v. 8. are no other Men than those many Priests who were not suffered to continue by reason of Death, v. 23. Nor he of whom it is witnessed that he liveth, v. 8. can be any other than Iesus, who, v. 24. is the Man that continueth for ever; and v. 25 is everliving.