Hereby then we see that to bless signifieth nothing else, but (as I said before) to preach and teach the word of the Gospel, to confess Christ, and to spread abroad the knowledge of him among all the Gentiles. And this is the office of the Priesthood and continual sacrifice of the Church in the new testament,1 which distributeth this Blessing by preaching and by ministering of the sacraments, by comforting the broken hearted, by distributing the word of grace, which Abraham had and which was also his Blessing: which when he believed, he received the Blessing.2 So we also believing the same, are blessed. And this blessing is a great glory, not before the world, but before God. For we have heard that our sins are forgiven us, and that we are accepted of God, that God is our father, and that we are his children, with whom he will not be angry, but will deliver us from sin, from death and all evils, and will give unto us righteousness, life and eternal salvation. Of this Blessing (as I have said) do the Prophets preach in every place, who did not so coldly consider those promises made unto the fathers as the wicked Jews did, and as the popish Schoolmen ⟨p. 114⟩and Sectaries do at this day,3 but did read them and way them with great diligence, and also drew out of those promises whatsoever they prophesied of Christ or his kingdom. So the prophecy of Hoseas. 13. chapter: I vvill redeem them from the power of the grave: I vvill deliver them from death: O death I vvill be thy death: O grave I vvill be thy destruction, and such like places of the other Prophets did all spring out of these promises, in which God promised to the fathers the bruising of the serpents head and the blessing of all nations.4
Hereby then we see that to blesse signifieth nothing els, but (as I saide before) to preach and teach the worde of the Gospell, to confesse Christ, and to spread abroad the knowledge of him among all the Gentiles. And this is the office of the Priesthod and continuall sacrifice of the Church in the new testament,1 which distributeth this Blessing by preaching and by ministring of the sacramēts, by comforting the broken harted, by distributing the worde of grace, which Abraham had and which was also his Blessing: which when he beleued, he receaued ye Blessing.2 So we also beleuing the same, are blessed. And this blessing is a greate glorie, not before the world, but before God. For we haue heard that our sinnes are forgeuen vs, and that we are accepted of God, that God is our father, and that we are his children, with whom he will not be angry, but will deliuer vs from sinne, from death and all euils, and will geue vnto vs righteousnes, life and eternall saluation. Of this Blessing (as I haue said) doe the Prophetes preach in euery place, who did not so coldly consider those promises made vnto the fathers as the wicked Iewes did, and as the popish Scholemen ⟨p. 114⟩and Sectaries doe at this day,3 but did reade them and way them with greate diligence, and also drew out of those promises whatsoeuer they prophecied of Christ or his kingedome. So the prophecie of Hoseas. 13. chapter: I vvill redeeme them from the povver of the graue: I vvill deliuer them from death: O death I vvill be thy death: O graue I vvill be thy destruction, and suche like places of the other Prophetes did all spring out of these promises, in which God promised to the fathers the brusing of the serpentes heade and the blessing of all nations.4
- 1The office of the priesthood of the church of Christ.The office of the priesthod of the church of Christ.
- 2Our blessing is spiritual and not corporal, as the Jews dream.Our blessing is spirituall and not corporall, as the Ievves dreame.
- 3The diligence of the Prophets. Hoseas. 13.14.The diligence of the Prophetes. Hoseas. 13.14.
- 4Genes. 3.
