§. 14. Of Ministers blessing the people.
MEchisedec being considered in generall as a Minister of God, giveth instance, that Ministers of the word have power to blesse Gods people: to blesse th•…•…, I say, not onely with a meer desire and prayer, but also with a declaration of Gods blessing them. Thus much is intended in this charge of Christ to his Discipl•…•…, When ye come into an house, salute it, (Matth. 10. 12.) Hereby is meant the fore•…•…id kind of blessing, as appears by this consequence, If the house be worthy, let your 〈◊〉〈◊〉 come upon it; For this end did God prescribe an expresse form of blessing to the Priests under the Law, Numb. 6. 23. The Apostle useth a blessing (•…•… Cor. 13. 1•…•…) which the Christian Church to this day observeth: so it doth Christs ble•…•…ng Luk. 11. 28.
Ministers stand in Gods room, and are to people in his stead, and as his mou•…•… as was shewed before.
Such a Ministeriall blessing is of singular use to strengthen the faith of Gods peo∣ple, and to settle their conscience. The calling and function of a Minister 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much hereunto.
As Ministers are to be conscionable in performing their duty herein, so people must have this in high account: and not lightly esteem of it, as too many do. Ho•…•… usuall is it for many to depart from the congregation, before the Ministers ble•…•…ng be pronounced, and so goe away without the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.