A09376:1188
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.
Where we note, that true faith will make a man overcome his own nature. Love is the strongest affection in the heart, especially from the father to the child, even his only child: And a man would think it impossible to overcome this love in the parent, unless it were by death; there being no cause to the contrary in the child. But yet behold, Abraham by faith subdued this special love which he bare to his only child: God himself testified of Abraham, that his love to Isaac was great▪ Gen. 22.2. and yet by faith he overcometh this his love.
Where wee note, that true faith will make a man ouercome his owne nature. Loue is the strongest affection in the heart, especially from the father to the childe, euen his onely childe: And a man would thinke it impossible to ouercome this loue in the parent, vnlesse it were by death; there beeing no cause to the contrary in the childe. But yet beholde, Abraham by faith subdued this speciall loue which he bare to his onely childe: God himselfe testified of Abraham, that his loue to Isaac was great▪ Gen. 22.2. and yet by faith hee ouercommeth this his loue.
This point is carefully to be marked, as declaring the great power of true saving faith; for, if faith can overcome created and sanctified nature, then undoubtedly the power thereof, will enable man to overcome the corruptions of his nature, and the temptations of the world: for it is an harder thing to overcome our nature which we have by creation, than to subdue the corruption thereof, which comes in by transgression. And hence such excellent things are spoken of faith: it is called the victory that overcometh the world: 1. John 5.4. And God is said by faith to purify the heart: faith strengtheneth the heart: