A09376:725
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.
From hence, we learn a notable doctrine: That God in performing of his promises, giveth not oftentimes the very particular thing promised, but something equivalent, or proportionable to it, or else better. Thus in the fifth commandment, obedient children are promised by God long life, as a reward for honouring their Parents. Now when he takes them away in their best age, as he did Josiah, 2. Kings 22.10. he giveth them eternal life, which is not only proportionable, but far exceeding the thing promised: So here, he promiseth Abraham the land of Canaan; but when it comes to the performance, he gives him a better, even the true Canaan, the kingdom of heaven.
From hence, we learne a notable doctrine: That God in performing of his promises, giueth not oftentimes the verie particular thing promised, but something equiualent, or proportionable to it, or else better. Thus in the fift commaundement, obedient children are promised by God long life, as a reward for honouring their Parents. Now when hee takes them away in their best age, as hee did Iosias, 2. Kings 22.10. hee giueth them eternall life, which is not onely proportionable, but farre exceeding the thing promised: So heere, hee promiseth Abraham the land of Canaan; but when it comes to the performance, hee giues him a better, euen the true Canaan, the kingdome of heauen.
The use hereof, is to teach us wisdom for the true discerning of Gods merciful performance of his promises: ⟨p. 187⟩for he performeth them not always one way unto his children: sometime he giveth the very particular thing promised, as unto the children of Israel, their deliverance out of Egypt: unto Hezekiah, the restoring of his health, and such like. Sometime he giveth not it, but something which shall be as good or better unto his children: as, when they are in some great danger, and crave deliverance, or in some necessity, and have promise of supply; God oftentimes delivereth them not, but giveth them patience, and feeling of his favour in such sort, as is many degrees more comfortable unto them. And herein God heareth their prayers, and performeth his promise to them, to their full contentation.