A15013:354
Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the…Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the…
Prototypes, or, The primary precedent presidents out of the book of Genesis showing, the [brace] good and bad things [brace] they did and had practically applied to our information and reformation / by that faithful and painful preacher of Gods word William Whately ... ; together with Mr. Whately's life and death ; published by Mr. Edward Leigh and Mr. Henry Scudder, who were appointed by the author to peruse his manuscripts, and printed by his own copy.Prototypes, or, The primarie precedent presidents out of the booke of Genesis shewing, the [brace] good and bad things [brace] they did and had practically applied to our information and reformation / by that faithfull and painefull preacher of Gods word William Whately ... ; together with Mr. Whatelyes life and death ; published by Mr. Edward Leigh and Mr. Henry Scudder, who were appointed by the authour to peruse his manuscripts, and printed by his owne coppy.
London: printed by G.M. for Edward Langham book-seller, 1640London: printed by G.M. for Edvvard Langham booke-seller, 1640
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.
So now mark the excellency of Abraham's obedience,1 he was obedient for the matter in hard and difficult things, for the manner promptly and readily without gain-saying, speedily and presently without deferring, and universally without excepting, without picking and choosing. If you be able to produce such obedience to justify your faith, that it may appear your faith is a working faith, then have you faith indeed and not in word alone: but if your faith be not accompanied with an obedience of the same kind, though not in the same degree, whereby you are able to yield your selves to God, resolving in all things readily and without delay or murmuring to yield unto him, how are you obedient? how have you faith, such a faith as was Abraham's. All therefore that say they believe as Abraham did, but yet obey not as Abraham did, yea are wilful against Gods Commandments, refusing to do known duties, and to leave known sins, that will not circumcise the foreskin of their hearts, nor leave their country and Fathers house, nor cast out their Ishmaels, nor offer up their Isaacs, all such are believers alone in show and not in deed. Compare your selves with Abraham, and if your obedience be not like his, I say as before, having the same ground, extent, and properties, it is but a counterfeit faith whereof you boast, and no ⟨p. 98⟩true faith. Therefore now be earnest with the living God to work in you true subjection to him, and to make you like Abraham his servant: for God that wrought his heart to such flexibleness, will and can perform the same for you. Pray him to incline your hearts to his statutes, beseech him to write his law in your hearts, and to cause you to keep his Commandments and judgements and do them. And if you find such an obedience, though not so great, yet that which hath the same ground, and strives to attain the same extent and properties, then take comfort, and be not afraid to call your selves sons and daughters of Abraham, for Zacheus was the son of Abraham, when leaving his greediness, he could make restitution and give to the poor.
So now marke the excellency of Abrahams obedience,1 hee was obedient for the matter in hard and difficult things, for the manner promptly and readily without gaine-saying, speedily and presently without deferring, and universally without excepting, without picking and choosing. If you be able to produce such obedience to justifie your faith, that it may appeare your faith is a working faith, then have you faith indeed and not in word alone: but if your faith be not accompanied with an obedience of the same kind, though not in the same degree, whereby you are able to yeeld your selves to God, resolving in all things readily and without delay or murmuring to yeeld unto him, how are you obedient? how have you faith, such a faith as was Abrahams. All therefore that say they beleeve as Abraham did, but yet obey not as Abraham did, yea are wilfull against Gods Commandements, refusing to doe knowne duties, and to leave knowne sinnes, that will not circumcise the foreskin of their hearts, nor leave their countrey and Fathers house, nor cast out their Ishmaels, nor offer up their Isaacs, all such are beleevers alone in shew and not in deed. Compare your selves with Abraham, and if your obedience be not like his, I say as before, having the same ground, extent, and properties, it is but a counterfeit faith whereof you boast, and no