A09376:1215
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.
But what is Abraham's argument, whereby he moves himself to obey God? Surely this; He reasoned that God was able to raise up Isaac from the dead. One part of his reason ⟨p. 340⟩he takes for granted, which here he conceals: for this promise was made unto him, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. Now this he takes for granted, that God will never change his promise. From whence he reasoneth thus: God is able to raise up Isaac my son from the dead to life again; and therefore I will sacrifice my son according to his commandment: for, this I know certainly, that in Isaac shall my seed be called, seeing God hath promised that, as well as he commandeth this other.
But what is Abrahams argument, whereby hee moues himselfe to obay God? Surely this; Hee reasoned that God was able to raise vp Isaac from the dead. One part of his reason ⟨p. 340⟩he takes for graunted, which heere hee conceales: for this promise was made vnto him, In Isaac shall thy seede be called. Now this he takes for graunted, that God will neuer change his promise. From whence hee reasoneth thus: God is able to raise vp Isaac my sonne from the dead to life againe; and therefore I will sacrifice my sonne according to his commaundement: for, this I knowe certainly, that in Isaac shall my seede be called, seeing God hath promised that, as well as he commaundeth this other.
In this example, we see a means set down unto us to induce us to obey God in all hard and difficult cases imposed by God: which is a point to be considered carefully of every one of us. For, say that any of us shall be so touched in conscience for our sins, that we even despair of our own salvation, what must we do in this case? we must take Abraham's course, and dispute with our selves for our selves, & we must draw our arguments from the promise of God, and from the power of God; we must join the promise and power of GOD together. As for example: thus we must say; God hath made this promise, this I have heard, and I do believe it, that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,