A Christian Dictionary, Dictionary 1 · Part 20
B. L.
Blacknesse. sig:
Afflictions, or Persecutions, which diminish the outward beauty and glory of the Church. Cant: 1, 4. I am blacke ô Daughters of Ierusalem. S…e Blacknesse in Canticles.
Blasphemy sig: pro
An hurtfull word, or any euill speech.
2 EueryEvery reproachfull word, tending to the hurt and disgrace of any other mans name and credite. Titus 3, 2. Speake euill of no man. In the Originall, it is [Blaspheme no man.] Likewise, in 1. Pet: 4, 4. Therefore speake they euill of you. This is blaspheming of men. Mark: 3, 2. And blasphemies where-with they blaspheme.
3 A word vttered vntounto the reproch of God, of his Religion, of his Word, Ordinances, Creatures, or Workes. Rom: 2, 24. For the name of God is blasphemed amongst the Gentiles through you. Tim: 6, 1. Examples of this kinde of blasphemy, we hauehave in Acts 14, 11: and 25, 19. where Festus called Gods Religion, Superstition. 2. Kinges 18, 35. This is the blaspheming of God.
4 A malicious reproachfull word, vttered against the knowne truth of the Gospell: This knowledge of the Gospell, because it is had by the effectuall enlightning of the spirit; therefore, the sin of one who maliciously reproacheth this truth once knowne, is named blasphemy against the Spirit, that is, not against the person, but against the work of the spirite in man, illuminating his soule to see the truth of Saluation. This is Blaspheming agaynst the Spirit.
A more ample description of the sinne against the Holy-ghost, for help of weake tempted Christians.
Blasphemy against the spirit, it is a Sinne not in deeds and actions, but in a reproachful word (Mark 3, 30) vttered not out of feare, nor other infirmitie, as Peter did, and sicke and franticke personnes may do; but out of a malicious hatefull heart. 1. Cor: 16, 22. and Heb: 10, 26. Not by one that is ignorant of Christ, as Paule was being a blinde Pharisie; but by one enlightned through the Holy-Ghost with the knowledge of the Gospel (Heb: 6. 4.) Not of rashnes, but of set purpose, to despite Christ his known Doctrine and workes (Heb: 10, 29)▪ Being accompanyed with an vniuersal defection, or falling away from the whole truth of God (Heb: 6, 6) Also with a generall pollution and filthinesse of life (Mat: 12, 45. 2. Pet: 2, 20) Finally, being vnremissible, because such as commit this sin, cannot repent (Mat: 12, 32. Heb: 6, 6.) How are the Papists out of the way touching this point, in that they wil hauehave this Blasphemy to hauehave six parts or signes; whereof the chiefe is finall impenitency, which doo accompanie eueryevery sin in the wicked. Sée their note on Math. 12, 45.
To Blesse. sig:
To giuegive thankes, or to praise God in a solemne manner, Mat: 26, 26. And when he had blessed that is, when he had giuen thankes, as it is in Luke 22, 19. 1. Cor: 11, 24. And in al places where the Saints are said *We blesse God wl eo we praise him. God blesseth vsus, either when be sendeth good things vntounto vsus, or remooueth euill thinges from vsus, or turneth all to our good: wee blesse one an other by our mutuall prayers.to blesse God, there it is meant, of their Thankesgiuing, and of speaking well of God. The Papistes, by blessing, vnderstand not a solemne blessing, by giuing thankes to GOD, to the consecrating or preparing the Creatures to an holye action; but an operatiue blessing of the bread, making it to bee the body of Christ substantially and corporally: Sée the Annot. on Math. 26, 26.
2 To wish and pray for good thinges to others. Gen: 48, 20. Iacob blessed the sonnes of Ioseph. Such was the Priests blessing the people in the Law, and parents blessing their children, euen their good Prayers to God for their welfare.
3 To encrease that which is little, and to make it much, as when God is sayde to hauehave blessed the Widdow of Sarepta her Oyle & Meale in her Cruse. 2. Kings 17, 16. And when Christ blessed the fiue Loaues and two Fishes in the Gospell. This blessing was operatiue indeede, and wrought a sencible multiplication of the Loaues, and Fishes; so was there not a sencible mutation of the Bread and Wine into the body and bloode of Christ by that blessing. Mat: 26.
4 To giuegive good things vntounto vsus, and to doo vsus good in prospering our affayres and labors. Psalme 67, 1. God be mercifull vntounto vsus, and blesse vsus: & verse 6. Prou: 10, 22. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich. Thus the word Blesse is taken in good part.
5 To flatter and please ones selfe, and to boast of his doings to others. Psal: 10, 2. The couetous blesseth himselfe. Heere it is taken in euill part.
6 The contrary, namely, *This is vsual in other tungs: as in Greeke, E…ym…, and E…m…mined, good Names, for worse things, as Furies, &c. Old Latines for Nothing would say Well: Italians call loathsome diseases, Gods disease.cursing, an Euphismos, when vnseemly things are spoken in seemly words. Iob: 1, 5▪ Least my sonnes hauehave blessed God. (so it is in the Originall) that is; Blasphemed. 1. Kings 20, 10. He hath blest God and the King (so it is in the Originall) for he hath Blasphemed. Heere also it is taken in ill part.
To Blesse abundantly sig:
To heape benefits plentifully vponupon one. Heb: 6, 14. Surely I will aboundantly blesse thee.
Blessed. sig:
All them which be in the estate of an happy life, which consists in Gods louelove and fauour. Some bee such by nature, as Adam in Paradise had naturall happinesse: Some are blessed by grace, as all the godly, euen heere in this life. Mat: 5, 2, 3, 4. Some are blessed by glory, as the glorifyed Saints in Heauen. Reuel: 14, 13.
Blessednes sig:
The happy condition of such as are in the fauour of God, hauing their sinnes forgiuen them by saith in Christ. Rom: 4, 6. Blessed is the man whose sinnes be forgiuen.
Blessing. sig:
Gods prospering of vsus, and of our affayres and labours, when all hauehave good successe, and turne to our good Psal: 3, 8. His blessing is vponupon his people.
2 All good thinges, be they spirituall or bodily, earthly or heauenly. They are in Scripture phrase called Gods blessings, euen eueryevery good guift from God to men. Eph: 1, 4. Blessed be God, who hath blessed vsus with all spirituall blessings. Deut: 28, 2. All these blessings shall come vponupon thee; blessed shalt thou bee in thy Cattle, &c.
3 A gift from man to man. Gen: 33, 11. I praythee take my blessing.
Cup of Blessing. sig:
Cup of Thankesgiuing, which we take with giuing of thankes to God for the guift of his sonne. 1. Cor: 10, 16.
Blinde. sig: pro
Such as by byrth or casualty lacke their naturall sight.
2 Such as be ignorant and lacke knowledge, which is the eye of the minde. Rom: 2, 20. A guide to the blinde. Math. 15, 14. The blinde leade the blinde.
To make Blinde. sig:
To keepe men from seeing the truth, when the light of it is set before them. Psal: 69, 23. Let their eyes be blinded.
2 To encrease Ignoraunce, for the abuse of former knowledge, as happened to them spoken of. 2. Thess. 2, 11. and Esay 6, 10.
Blindnesse. sig:
Want of knowledge; or ignoraunce in matters of Saluation, eyther in whole, as in all natural men. Eph: 4, 18. Thorow the ignorance that is in them: or in part, as in men regenerate, who doo see and know but in part. 1. Cor: 13, 12. We know in part we see, as in a glasse.
Bloud. sig:
Death or slaughter, Psal: 51, 14. Deliuer mee from bloud. Math: 27, 24. I am innocent of the bloud of this man. Gen. 4, 10. Will I require his bloud.
2 Reuenge or punishment due for the shedding of blood. Math: 27, 25. His blood be vponupon vsus & our children.
3 Cruelty. Habak. 2, 12. Woe vntounto him that buildeth a Citty with blood. Esay 1, 5. Your hands are full of blood.
4 The slaine man. Iosh. 20, 5. If the auenger of blood pursue after him.
5 The price of bloud. Actes 1, 13. The fielde of bloud, that is purchased with the price of blood.
6 Cause of their owne destruction, Acts 18, 6. Your blood be vponupon your owne head.
7 The vnpure beginnings of our birth and conception. Iohn 1. 13. Not of blood. Ezek. 16, 6.
8 The first man, of whom all men came as of the first stocke. Acts 17, 26. God hath made of one blood all mankinde.
9 The iuice of the Grape. Gen: 49, 11. And his Cloake in the blood of Grapes.
To betray innocent Bloud. sig:
To deliuer by Treason, an innocent person vntounto death. Mat. 27, 4. Betraying the Innocent bloud.
Bloud of▪ Christ. sig:
The death and whole sufferinges of Christ. One part of his sufferings being put for all. Eph: 1, 7. By whom we hauehave redemption through his blood. And often in the Romans, and Hebrewes, and throughout Paules Epistles, is the bloud of Christ (one part of his sufferinges) put Sinecdochically for the whole sufferings, visible and inuisible. Therefore it is absurd to stick to the Letter, concluding from thence, that Christs outward visible suffering were sufficient. For from the Letter of Scripture, it wil follow, that if this blood-shedding was enough, therefore his flesh might be spared, and all the paines felte therein; also his soule, with the heauinesse and sorrow thereof, whereof there was as great need as of the rest. For Christ suffered nothing in vaine, & our soule hauing sinned, yea, and that principally, it was therefore to be redeemed no lesse then our bodies.
Blood of the Couenant. sig:
The blood of Beasts sacrificed vnderunder the Law, as signe and pledge of the olde Couenant, which was administred in figures, prefiguring or being type of the bloud of Christ, wherewith the New Couenant is ratified. Exod: 24, 8. Then Moses said, Behold the bloud of the Couenant.