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…

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 1 Cor. 10. 15. The Cup of blessing which we bless; Though we must not understand it of a Popish consecration, although there [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew], may seem to be one thing. And because those who did bless others, did commonly come with presents and gifts; hence it is that [Greek or Hebrew], is used for gifts, and the fruit of liberality, 2 Cor. 9. 5, 6. The Hebrew word to bless is observed by an Antiphrase, to curse; so it's used three or four times in the beginning of Job; and 1 King. 21. Eustathius (saith Aretius) observeth also that [Greek or Hebrew] is sometimes used for [Greek or Hebrew]. The Heathens indeed had a superstition, that they thought an ill omen in words: hence was their [Greek or Hebrew], expressing terrible things by graceful names, as [Greek or Hebrew], when they cursed, so they called it Morbus sacer•: But the Scripture doth not attend to that superstition. It is for gravity's sake that it useth such an expression. Though a learned man maketh that phrase in Job, to be a Metonymy of the consequent, because those do sometimes depart from others, to whom they used to wish well, saying, valere. Afterwards that word came to be used for a renouncing of all former friendship; so he thinketh the word to bless might signify, that is, to renounce God, and not own his worship more. But come we to the Observation, which is,