A15013:674
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.
Two things show dominion of sin in a man, one where he refuseth to know though he have due means of knowledge, and a certain working of knowledge offering to convince his conscience, another, when though he do know, yet he resolves to persist in all evil, or at least remains irresolute and doth not determine to leave, but stands as it were unsettled in his will at least for some time. If any of you find himself so disposed, it is certain, that sin ruleth in him and he is not under grace. Wherefore you must diligently prove your hearts in this respect, if you desire ever to enjoy the comfort of knowing your selves to be upright. Now then learn to lend a dutiful ear to the Word of God, and see the sins that it begins to show you, and put on a full and settled resolution of not adventuring to commit them any more. And if any find himself so subdued to the authority of God in all things, that he seem ready to entertain the light of truth and to obey it, and will not struggle and strive against the light in any thing, then may he assure himself, that his heart is true within him, and that the Lord will surely accept him and forgive his unpurposed offences and sins of mere weakness ⟨p. 200⟩and frailty. Indeed in some one or two things that are too too gross as adultery here, a man may be prepared to yield to truth, and yet not have an honest heart to God, but he that in all things doth thus submit himself, is surely good before the Lord. And so much for Abimelechs obedience to God, in that he receiveth his commandments here with faith and present obedience, which we shall also do, if we seriously consider his promises of life to the obedient and threatenings of death to the disobedient, till we work our hearts to a firm and steadfast belief of them.
Two things shew dominion of sinne in a man, one where he refuseth to know though he have due meanes of knowledge, and a certaine working of knowledge offering to convince his conscience, another, when though he doe know, yet he resolves to persist in all evill, or at least remaines irresolute and doth not determine to leave, but stands as it were unsetled in his will at least for some time. If any of you finde himselfe so disposed, it is certaine, that sinne ruleth in him and he is not under grace. Wherefore you must diligently proove your hearts in this respect, if you desire ever to enjoy the comfort of knowing your selves to be upright. Now then learne to lend a dutifull eare to the Word of God, and see the sinnes that it beginnes to shew you, and put on a full and setled resolution of not adventuring to commit them any more. And if any finde himselfe so subdued to the authority of God in all things, that he seeme ready to entertaine the light of truth and to obey it, and will not struggle and strive against the light in any thing, then may he assure himselfe, that his heart is true within him, and that the Lord will surely accept him and forgive his unpurposed offences and sinnes of meere weakenesse