A09376:659
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.
Secondly, for the time when Abraham was called: It was when he was 75. years of age, or there-abouts: as is manifest in the Story, Genesis 12.4: therefore we see that God for a long time let him lie in his blindness, and idolatry ere he called him. It is more then likely, that Abraham in that mean time lived civilly, & followed learning & other civill courses: and in that time, it is likely he attained to that measure of knowledge in Astronomy, and other learning, for which, he is renowned in old Writers: But this was the first time that he was called to know and serve the true God in his true service.
Secondly, for the time when Abraham was called: It was when hee was 75. yeeres of age, or there-abouts: as is manifest in the Storie, Genesis 12.4: therefore wee see that God for a long time let him lie in his blindnesse, and idolatrie ere he called him. It is more then likely, that Abraham in that meane time liued ciuilly, & followed learning & other ciuill courses: and in that time, it is likely he attayned to that measure of knowledge in Astronomie, and other learning, for which, he is renowned in olde Writers: But this was the first time that he was called to know and serue the true God in his true seruice.
Here we learn, that though a man persevere in his sins, for a long time, and pass his best years in vanity without repentance, and thereby be in a grievous and fearful estate: yet true believers, and men penitent, must not therefore judge them cast-aways. For, Gods mercy calls a man in his old age, and toucheth the heart when it pleaseth him. Christ in the Parable calls some at the 11. hour, Mat. 20.6: and so God calleth men to grace in their old age. We must therefore spare these sharp & unsavoury censures, which some ⟨p. 174⟩unadvisedly cast upon such men; for charity thinketh not evil,