The works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel College in CambridgeThe works of William Bridge, sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge

Thus I say, the Lord Jesus Christ our great High-Priest, he does not Bless as We bless; he does not bless as the World blesses; he does not bless always as Professors bless; he does not bless always as Godly men Bless; and therefore no wonder that his Blessing is hidden. Children when they are very young, are often blest by their Parents, and they don't mind it, or take notice of it; children of two or three year old: And so it is with many a ⟨p. 86⟩gracious soul, blessed by Jesus Christ, and don't take notice of their fathers blessing. But the Lord Christ doth always bless his people; only, there are several times, special seasons that he gives out his blessing: let me tell ye of those times a little, that so ye may come for his blessing while his hand is in, as it were: so that you may be crowned with spiritual blessings in and from Jesus Christ.

Thus I say, the Lord Jesus Christ our great High-Priest, he does not Blesse as We blesse; he does not blesse as the World blesses; he does not blesse alwaies as Professors blesse; he does not blesse alwaies as Godly men Blesse; and therefore no wonder that his Blessing is hidden. Children when they are very young, are often blest by their Parents, and they don't mind it, or take notice of it; children of two or three year old: And so it is with many a ⟨p. 86⟩gracious soul, blessed by Jesus Christ, and don't take notice of their fathers blessing. But the Lord Christ doth alwaies blesse his people; only, there are several times, speciall seasons that he gives out his blessing: let me tell ye of those times a little, that so ye may come for his blessing while his hand is in, as it were: so that you may be crowned with spiritual blessings in and from Jesus Christ.

First, §1When Christ our High-Priest doth see that a man is weak in Grace, or weak in Gifts, and hath some work, or service for him to do, some employment to call him forth unto; then the Lord Christ doth Bless him. There are Two times especially (as I remember) that the Lord speaks those words concerning man, Increase and Multiply. Once in the beginning, when he had made man and woman; And once in the 9. of Genesis, when he had brought Noah out of the Ark: Why does he rather choose for to speak those words, Increase and Multiply, at these Two times especially, rather than at any other time? In the beginning there was but a little stock of man-kind, and the Lord had a design upon man, to make use of him in the world; and therefore in the beginning says he, Increase and Multiply: but afterward, that the flood had swept away man, Noah and his family being preserved, when he came out of the Ark, the Lord having yet a further design upon man, to use him, he reneweth those words again, Increase and Multiply. So when the Lord Christ sees, that a mans heart is upright, and sincere with him, and he hath some work and service for him to do, then the Lord comes forth and blesses him; O soul, Increase and Multiply, increase in thy Gifts, and Graces, and Multiply. That is one.