A09376:1196
A cloud of faithful witnesses, leading to the heavenly Canaan, or, A commentary upon…A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon…
A cloud of faithful witnesses, leading to the heavenly Canaan, or, A commentary upon the 11 chapter to the Hebrews preached in Cambridge by that godly, and judicious divine, M. William Perkins ; long expected and desired, and therefore published at the request of his executors, by Will. Crashawe and Tho. Pierson, preachers of Gods Word, who heard him preach it, and wrote it from his mouth.A cloud of faithfull witnesses, leading to the heauenly Canaan, or, A commentarie vpon the 11 chapter to the Hebrewes preached in Cambridge by that godly, and iudicious divine, M. William Perkins ; long expected and desired, and therefore published at the request of his executours, by Will. Crashawe and Tho. Pierson, preachers of Gods Word, who heard him preach it, and wrote it from his mouth.
London: printed by Humphrey Lownes for Leo. Greene, 1607London: printed by Humfrey Lownes for Leo. Greene, 1607
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Here then, observe a most wonderful impediment to Abraham's faith: which above all might have hindered him from obeying God; for, how could he choose but reason thus with himself? God hath made unto me many gracious promises, and that which is more he hath said, That in my son Isaac the same must he accomplished: and, in him all the nations of the earth must be blessed. Now then, if I shall kill and sacrifice my son, how shall these promises be accomplished? And reason in this case would say, I see no ⟨p. 332⟩way, but that the promise is gone, and all hope lost. But what doth Abraham in this case? for all this, he doth sacrifice his son, and that by faith; still believing and holding assuredly, that though Isaac were sacrificed and slain, yet in him should all the nations of the earth be blessed.
Here then, obserue a most wonderfull impediment to Abrahams faith: which aboue all might haue hindred him from obeying God; for, how could hee choose but reason thus with himselfe? God hath made vnto me many gracious promises, and that which is more he hath saide, That in my sonne Isaac the same must he accomplished: and, in him all the nations of the earth must be blessed. Now then, if I shall kill and sacrifice my sonne, how shall these promises bee accomplished? And reason in this case would say, I see no ⟨p. 332⟩way, but that the promise is gone, and all hope lost. But what doth Abraham in this case? for all this, hee doth sacrifice his sonne, and that by faith; still beleeuing and holding assuredly, that though Isaac were sacrificed and slain, yet in him should all the nations of the earth be blessed.
Here then we note this special point, wherein the faith of Abraham doth notably appear; That when Abraham's case, in respect of enjoying the promise of GOD, might seem desperate, and void of all hope and comfort, then he believeth: for, when Isaac was dead, in all reason he could have no hope of the accomplishing of Gods promises unto him, because they were made to him in Isaac: Isaac was the man in whom all the nations of the earth should be blessed; and yet when all hope is past in mans reason, then good Abraham set his heart to believe.