A09376:729
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.
In the second place, it is to be observed, when God promised this unto Abraham; even then when the land of Canaan was possessed by many mighty Kings: So that it may be here further doubted, how Abraham could take any comfort in this promise, seeing it was at that day held by almost 40. Kings greater and less▪ as we may see in Joshua, Chap. 10.11.12. and further, The people were many, and strong: the Cities were strong walled, and full of huge Giants, Numb. 13.28.29. Yet for all this, he not only believes and obeyeth; but as God promised, so he went to it, and took possession, and died in this faith, that God would perform his promise, and that his posterity should inherit it all, as afterward indeed they did, even from Moses to Christ. If it be asked how this could be: the answer is, that Abraham knew that God was King of Kings, and had the world, and Kingdoms of the world in his hand and disposition: and therefore assured himself, that he could bring to pass what he had promised, and make good his word, notwithstanding all such impediments to the contrary. And as he believed, it came to pass; his posterity came to it, entered as conquerors, upon this gift of God: and, by the power of God, so amazed all these Kings and their people, as some submitted, as the Gibeonites; ⟨p. 189⟩and they that did not, were all slain, and their Countries conquered, as we may read at large in the book of Joshua: all the Stories whereof are briefly comprehended by David in few words, where he saith, We have heard with our ears▪ our Fathers have told us, how thou O Lord drove out the heathen with thy hand, and planted them in: how thou destroyed the people, and made them grow, Psal. 44.1.2.
In the second place, it is to be obserued, when God promised this vnto Abraham; euen then when the land of Canaan was possessed by many mighty Kings: So that it may be here further doubted, how Abraham could take any comfort in this promise, seeing it was at that day held by almost 40. Kings greater and lesse▪ as we may see in Ioshua, Chap. 10.11.12. and further, The people were many, and strong: the Cities were strong walled, and full of huge Giants,