A09376:1054
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.
It is here said, that those Patriarchs increased in faith: But it may be demanded how, and by what means they did attain hereto? Answer. In the book of Genesis, we may find three ways, whereby they were confirmed in the faith, and did grow up in grace. The first means was from God himself; for, when he had made his covenant with Abraham, mercifully renewing the same, during his life as occasion served sundry times, he stayed not there, suffering it to die with Abraham: but when Abraham was dead, God renewed his covenant with Isaac and Rebekah: and with Jacob also after them. Now the tongue of man cannot utter, what a wonderful furtherance it was unto their faith, to have the Lord himself to renew his gracious promises unto them. The second means of increasing their faith ▪ was, their holy conversing one with another: for, the manner of the Patriarchs, was to teach and instruct their children, and to nurture them up in the true worship and fear of God; by which means they did not only implant Gods promises in the hearts of their children, but were themselves confirmed in the same: for, he that teacheth another from a feeling heart, greatly strengtheneth his own soul. Now God himself doth testify this thing of Abraham, 1saying: I know him, that he will command his sons and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and judgement. Now look what Abraham herein did to Isaac, that no doubt did Isaac unto Jacob. The third means to increase their faith was, from each one to himself: for they gave themselves often times in their own persons to muse & meditate upon the promises of God:2 so it is said of Isaac, that he went out to pray or to meditate in the field towards evening: and we may persuade our selves it was concerning this and other promises of ⟨p. 281⟩God, and the accomplishment thereof. And we need not to doubt, but that Abraham and Jacob did the like.
It is here said, that those Patriarchs encreased in faith: But it may be demaunded how, and by what meanes they did attaine hereto? Answer. In the booke of Genesis, we may finde three wayes, whereby they were confirmed in the faith, and did growe vp in grace. The first meanes was from God himselfe; for, when he had made his couenant with Abraham, mercifully renuing the same, during his life as occasion serued sundry times, he stayed not there, suffering it to die with Abraham: but when Abraham was dead, God renued his couenant with Isaac and Rebecka: and with Iacob also after them. Now the tongue of man cannot vtter, what a wonderfull furtherance it was vnto their faith, to haue the Lord himselfe to renue his gracious promises vnto them. The second meanes of encreasing their faith was, their holy conuersing one with another: for, the manner of the Patriarchs, was to teach and instruct their children, and to nurture them vp in the true worship and feare of God; by which meanes they did not only implant Gods promises in the hearts of their children, but were themselues confirmed in the same: for, hee that teacheth another from a feeling heart, greatly strengtheneth his owne soule. Now God himselfe doth testifie this thing of Abraham,