A15013:408
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.
1Now I proceed to tell of his sins and offences, for such is the state of mortal men in this life, that it shall be found true of every man, which S. James tells us, in many things we offend all. Doubtless he arrogateth greater perfection to himself, then ever the word of God hath attributed to any mere man since Adam, that conceiveth himself to be quite free from all evil corruptions, and from the breaking out of corruptions.
1Now I proceede to tell of his sinnes and offences, for such is the state of mortall men in this life, that it shall be found true of every man, which S. Iames tells us, in many things we offend all. Doubtlesse he arrogateth greater perfection to himselfe, then ever the word of God hath attributed to any meere man since Adam, that conceiveth himselfe to be quite free from all evill corruptions, and from the breaking out of corruptions.
- 1Abrahams faults before his calling. James. 3.2.
1The first fault of Abraham was that in which he lived before his calling by God out of Ur of the Chaldees, for it is manifest in the 24. of Josh. v. 2. that the Fathers in old time, even Terah the Father of Abraham and of Nahor, and consequently the sons themselves, being so brought up of their Fathers, served other gods. Here then is a sin in Abraham, that he took up the religion of his Fathers without making any diligent inquiry into the matter, whether the religion and gods were true or not. And this is a fault common to all mankind, they take their religion on trust, serving those gods which they find in the places where they dwell to be worshipped and served, and labour not to find out and serve the true God alone, who is only worthy to be served, yea if it fall out that the true God be served amongst them, they cleave not to him out of judgement and well grounded knowledge, that he is the only true God, but alone out of common custom, because all men do so, and this their religion becometh but a vain religion, and is of no force to their salvation. Indeed it was not so strange a thing that Abraham should be thus carried away after false gods, according as he was led by the common example, seeing at that time they had not the word of God written by Prophets and Apostles, to direct and guide them in this matter. But for us whom God hath so far favoured as to give us the clear light of his holy word, it is a most grievous sin to be led wholly by custom and example, and not to build and ground our selves upon that light which God hath ministered unto us. And the true cause, why men do follow such false guides in matter of Gods worship, is the blindness of their minds, and carnallnesse of their hearts, and the secret atheism which is in them, by which they are not thoroughly and certainly persuaded, that there is a God at all, and therefore