The Book of Melchisedec I

Chapter 11

Premium narration

And Melchisedec, perceiving by the Spirit which rested upon him that Abram was a man of exceeding faith and righteousness, invited him to dwell among the people of Salem for a time, that he might behold their ways and understand the covenant by which they governed themselves before the Lord.

And Abram entered into the city and marveled exceedingly, for he saw that the people dealt justly one with another, and that no man sought to exalt himself above his neighbor, and that the rich did not despise the poor, neither did the poor envy the rich, for every man administered that which had been entrusted unto him as a stewardship from God.

And Abram said unto Melchisedec: Behold, my lord, I have traveled through many lands and kingdoms, and I have seen the pride of kings and the cruelty of armies; yet never have I seen a people who dwell together in such peace as this nation.

And Melchisedec answered him saying: This peace which thou beholdest is not the peace of men, neither is it the peace which is obtained by the sword or by the power of rulers.

But it is the peace which cometh from the Holy Order of God, even the priesthood which was established from the beginning, after the order of His Son.

And Abram said unto him: I have heard of this order from the records of the fathers, but the fullness of it hath not been revealed unto me.

Therefore I pray thee, teach me concerning this order, that I may know the ways of God more perfectly.

And Melchisedec led Abram into the sanctuary of Salem, where the high priests assembled together, and where the records of the fathers were preserved.

And when they had entered the sanctuary Melchisedec spoke unto Abram saying:

The Holy Order of God is not an order which men establish among themselves.

Neither doth it come by inheritance of kings nor by the authority of princes.

But it is conferred upon those whom the Lord foreordained before the foundations of the world.

For the Lord, who knoweth the hearts of all men, chose certain souls in the beginning because of their exceeding faith and their good works.

And these were called and prepared from the foundation of the world that they might be ministers of righteousness among the children of men.

And Melchisedec looked upon Abram and said:

Thou also wast among those who were chosen in the beginning.

For before thou didst come into the world thou wast known among the noble and great ones.

And thou wast chosen because of thy faithfulness before the throne of God.

Therefore the Lord hath preserved thee through many trials and hath brought thee unto this place.

And Abram was filled with humility when he heard these words.

And he bowed himself before the Lord and said:

O Jehovah, God of heaven and earth, I am but a servant before thee; nevertheless I desire to know thy ways and to walk before thee in righteousness.

And Melchisedec placed his hands upon Abram and blessed him according to the authority of the Holy Order.

And he said:

Abram, thou art a son of the covenant.

Walk uprightly before Jehovah, and remember always the calling which thou receivedst before thou didst come into the world.

For thou shalt become a father of many nations.

And thy seed shall carry the covenant of God among the children of men.

And Abram covenanted before the Lord that he would walk in righteousness and remember the teachings of the Holy Order all the days of his life.

And thus Abram began to understand the mysteries of the priesthood which Melchisedec held.