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…

From whence; that is from death: After a sort, or (as it may be read) in some show. This is said, because Isaac in the thought and purpose of Abraham, was but a dead man: for, Abraham was fully resolved with himself upon Gods command, to have sacrificed him; yea, he had gone so far, as to put the sacrificing knife unto his sons throat, and had slain him indeed, had not the Angel of God staid his hand: and therefore when the Angel said, Lay not thy hand upon the child, neither do any thing to him, even then did Abraham in some show receive Isaac from death.

From whence; that is from death: After a sort, or (as it may be read) in some shewe. This is said, because Isaac in the thought and purpose of Abraham, was but a dead man: for, Abraham was fully resolued with himselfe vpon Gods commaund, to haue sacrificed him; yea, hee had gone so farre, as to put the sacrificing knife vnto his sonnes throate, and had slaine him indeede, had not the Angell of God staid his hand: and therefore when the Angell said, Lay not thy hand vpon the childe, neither doe any thing to him, euen then did Abraham in some shew receiue Isaac from death.

Here we learn divers points: 1 That whosoever shall rest on Gods providence, and good pleasure, even in cases of extremity, when he shall be out of all hope with himself; shall at the last have a good issue. This we see to be true by Abraham's example in this place. As we said before, he himself (no doubt) had rather have died ten thousand times, than to have Isaac slain, in whom the promise was made: but yet, believing Gods promise, that that should never change, he rests himself on Gods good pleasure and providence, and goes on in obedience; and so in the end received a blessed issue. This is very clearly set down unto us in the History recorded by Moses. For, when Abraham had gone three days journey in the wilderness, and had built an Altar, then Isaac said unto Abraham, Gen. 22.7, Father, here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? Then Abraham said, My son, God will provide him a lamb for a burnt offering, Vers. 8. And thus yielding himself to Gods good pleasure, and providence, he received his son again; as a dead child restored to life. So, when we are in cases of extremity, when all goes against us, and when we can see no hope of any good issue or end, and all good means seem to fail us; if we can then cast our selves on Gods providence, and roll our selves upon God, we shall have comfort in the end, and a good issue out of all. We do all of us in word acknowledge Gods providence: but when we come to the pinch, that we fall into cases of extremity; then we use unlawful means, and do not with Abraham cast our selves upon God, but seek help of the devil, and wicked men. But all such persons must look for a cursed issue. They therefore, that fear the Lord, being put to any plunge, or extremity, must cast themselves upon God wholly, and wait for his good time and pleasure; and then will the issue be both joyous and comfortable unto their souls.