A09376:1189
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.
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: Acts 15.9: And through faith we are kept by the power of God unto salvation. 1. Pet. 1.5.
This point is carefully to be marked, as declaring the great power of true sauing faith; for, if faith can ouercome created and sanctified nature, then vndoubtedly the power thereof, will inable man to ouercome the corruptions of his nature, and the temptations of the world: for it is an harder thing to ouercome our nature which wee haue 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 victorie that ouercommeth the world: 1. Iohn 5.4. And God is saide by faith to purifie the heart: faith strengtheneth the heart: Acts 15.9: And through faith we are kept by the power of God vnto saluation. 1. Pet. 1.5.
Is this the power of faith to overcome nature, and the ⟨p. 330⟩corruptions thereof? then howsoever religion be received, and faith professed generally among us, yet undoubtedly there is little true faith in the world: for, even among the professors thereof, how many be there that subdue the sins of their lives, and suppress the works of their wicked nature? surely very few. Now where corruption beareth sway, and sin reigneth, there sound faith cannot be: for, if faith were sound in men, it would purify their hearts, and cleanse the corruptions thereof: and bring forth obedience in life.