A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 13. Of Saints pious salutations.

MElchisedecs foresaid blessing of Abraham was in general, a congratulation, and salutation: and it sheweth how Saints should carry themselves one towards another, when they first meet, even with wishing well one to another, and blessing one another: when Boaz came to see his reapers, he said, The Lord be with you, and they answered him, The Lord blesse thee, Ruth. 2. 4. This phrase, we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord, (Psal. 118. 26.) implyeth, that it was usuall, especially for such as belonged to the house of the Lord, to blesse those that came to them.

In that such holy wishes are denyed to unworthy ones, it appeares that it was ve∣ry usuall to blesse those whom they deemed worthy. The denyall hereof is thus expressed, Neither do they which go by, say, the blessing of the Lord be upon you: we blesse you in the name of the Lord, Psal. 129. 8.

This kind of salutation, is both a testification of mutual love, and also a meanes of preserving it.

• 1. Commendable in this respect is the common practise of Christians, who use to salute one another with these or such like speeches, God save you; The Lord be with you. Then especially are they most commendable, when they come from the heart.
• •…•…. What may be thought of the usuall imprecations of many, when they meet

• one another. They are such as I am ashamed to name. Let them well weigh 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doome thus expressed, As he loved cursing, So let it come unto him: as he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 not in blessing, so let it be far from him. &c. Psal. 109. 17, 18. See more hereof in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whole Armour of God, on Eph. 6. 18. Treat. 3. Part. 2. §. 57, 58.