An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

2. Of our blessing of God. And these differ exceedingly. For God blesseth us efficiently by exhibiting his mercies to us. We bless God, not by adding any good to him, but declaratively only. Gods benedicere is benefacere, his words are works: but our blessing (as Aquinas on the place) is only recognoscitium, and expressivum, an acknowledgement only, and celebration of that goodness which God hath.

2. Of our blessing of God. And these differ exceedingly. For God blesseth us efficiently by exhibiting his mercies to us. We bless God, not by adding any good to him, but declaratively only. Gods benedicere is benefacere, his words are works: but our blessing (as Aquinas on the place) is only recognoscitium, and expressivum, an acknowledgment only, and celebration of that goodness which God hath.

3. There is mans blessing of man; and that is two-fold, either Charitativè, Matth. 5. 44. which is to be done to our very enemies, Psal. 129. 8. Thus Job 31. 20. speaketh of it by way of comfort, that the poor whom he had refreshed, blessed him. Or Potestativè, and that is, when Parents and Ministers, such as are in Office and Power, do bless their Inferiors; and this God doth more solemnly ratify and confirm. Thus the Priests, Numb. 6. 23, 24. were in a solemn manner to bless the people; and in this sense the Apostle argueth, The less is blessed of the better, Heb. 7. 7. And because by blessing the greatness of a thing is set forth; hence it is used sometimes for consecrating, 1 Sam. 9. 13. Samuel is said to bless the Sacrifice. So