A09376:1208
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.
Here observe a notable practice of Abraham, as a good direction how we ought to judge of all those that live in the Church, submitting themselves outwardly to the ministry, and regiment thereof. Abraham here hath two sons, Isaac, and Ismael; he circumciseth them both, and instructs them both (for he taught all his household to know God, and to fear, and obey him, Gen. 18.19.) he judgeth them both to be in one state, in regard of Gods covenant; though they were not: but that difference is made by God. Abraham doth not on his own head, and by his own will, put Ismael out of the Church, which was in his family; but God bids him put him out, and then he put him out, and not before: till such time he kept him in, and held him to be within the covenant, as well as Isaac was. Even so must we deal towards those that live in the church: secret judgement must be left to God; and (till God manifest the contrary) in the judgement of charity, we must hold them all elect. This is the practice of Saint Paul in all his Epistles: writing to the Corinths (1. Corinth. 1.2,) he calls them all sanctified: and to the Galatians (Gal. 1.2,) he calls them all elect; speaking so in the judgement of charity, although he knew that among them there were many profane and wicked men; and though he reprove many ⟨p. 338⟩great errors and heinous sins amongst them.
Here obserue a notable practice of Abraham, as a good direction how we ought to iudge of all those that liue in the Church, submitting themselues outwardly to the ministerie, and regiment thereof. Abraham here hath two sonnes, Isaac, and Ismael; he circumciseth them both, and instructs them both (for he taught all his houshold to knowe God, and to feare, and obey him, Gen. 18.19.) hee iudgeth them both to be in one state, in regard of Gods couenant; though they were not: but that difference is made by God. Abraham doth not on his own head, and by his own will, put Ismael out of the Church, which was in his family; but God bids him put him out, and then he put him out, and not before: till such time he kept him in, and held him to be within the couenant, as well as Isaac was. Euen so must we deale towards those that liue in the church: secret iudgement must bee left to God; and (till God manifest the contrary) in the iudgement of charity, wee must holde them all elect. This is the practice of Saint Paul in all his Epistles: writing to the Corinths (