A09376:1248
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 it may be thought, that Isaac did not bless his sons by faith; for if we read the History in Genesis, we shall see, that he blessed them by error, and was deceived therein: for, he was purposed to have blessed Esau, only with the special blessing, when as he gave the same to Jacob unwittingly; how then could he do this by faith? For the answering of this, we must consider two things: First, it is true indeed, that Isaac was blinded overmuch with a fond affection toward Esau, and loved him otherwise then he ought, and therefore was purposed to have blessed Esau with the special blessing. This was a fault in Isaac: but yet it takes not away Isaacs faith, nor makes it to be no faith: But it shows that Isaacs faith was weak, and joined with some infirmity in forgetting Gods particular promises. Secondly, howsoever at the first Isaac erred in his purpose for the blessing of his children, yet afterward he corrects himself for it. For, as we may read in the History, after he had indeed blessed Jacob, supposing it had been Esau, when Esau came for his blessing with his venison, the Text saith, Gen. 27.33, That Isaac was stricken with a marvellous great fear, and said, I have blessed him, and therefore he shall be blessed; correcting his fault in his former purpose: yea, and though Esau sought it with tears, yet he could ⟨p. 352⟩not move Isaac to repent himself of blessing Jacob, Heb. 12.17: wherefore it is undoubtedly true, that he gave these blessings unto his children by faith.
But it may be thought, that Isaac did not blesse his sonnes by faith; for if we reade the History in Genesis, wee shall see, that he blessed them by errour, and was deceiued therein: for, hee was purposed to haue blessed Esau, onely with the speciall blessing, when as he gaue the same to Iacob vnwittingly; how then could he doe this by faith? For the answering of this, we must consider two things: First, it is true indeede, that Isaac was blinded ouermuch with a fond affection toward Esau, and loued him otherwise then he ought, and therfore was purposed to haue blessed Esau with the speciall blessing. This was a fault in Isaac: but yet it takes not away Isaacs faith, nor makes it to be no faith: But it shewes that Isaacs faith was weake, and ioyned with som infirmity in forgetting Gods particular promises. Secondly, howsoeuer at the first Isaac erred in his purpose for the blessing of his children, yet afterward hee corrects himself for it. For, as we may read in the History, after he had indeede blessed Iacob, supposing it had beene Esau, when Esau came for his blessing with his venison, the Text saith,