A09376:1291
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.
3▪ Circumstance. The parties whom he blessed; namely, the two sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim. Hereof we may read at large, Gen. 48.8, 9, &c. where among many things, observe this one: Joseph brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, unto Jacob his father, that he might bless them, as he lay on his bed. Now, Josephs mind was, that Manasseh (the elder) should have the chiefest blessing; and therefore, he set Manasseh at Jacob's right hand, and Ephraim (the younger) at his left: But Jacob being to bless them, lays his hands a-cross, putting his right hand on Ephraims head, and the left on the head of Manasseh; whereby, he gave the birth-right (which was a principal prerogative) unto Ephraim, contrary to Josephs desire. Unto Manasseh he gave a blessing also, but far inferior to Ephraims. Now, here we may not think, that Jacob did this upon any fond affection (as parents oftentimes do, because they love one child better than another) but he ⟨p. 367⟩did it after a special manner; by the direction and instinct of Gods spirit, which so appointed it: For, when Jacob blessed them, he knew not (of his own knowledge, by the benefit of his senses) which was Ephraim, and which Manasseh. Again, look as Jacob gave the blessings at this time, the principal unto Ephraim, and the lesser to Manasseh; so afterward they came to pass: For (as we may read) the tribe of Ephraim was far more populous, and more glorious than the tribe of Manasseh. And therefore, in the books of the Prophets (Hos. 4.16. and 5.9. and 6.4, &c.) we shall find that the name of Ephraim is given to all the ten tribes; and they are called by that name, because it was the most noble tribe of all, and the most valiant, and (as it were) the shelter of all the rest. Yea further, of this tribe came (1. Chron. 7.27.) Jehosuae, that noble captain; and (1. King. 11.26.) Jeroboam, and many other mighty Kings of Israel.