A09376:1323
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.
Hence we learn, that the preaching of Gods word by his Ministers (though extraordinary means, as revelations and visions, be wanting) is sufficient to bring a man to faith; yea, to such a faith as the three Patriarchs had. Indeed in the ministry of the word, he which speaketh unto us, is but a man as others are; but yet the word which he delivereth is not his own, but the mighty word of God: and look what is truly pronounced by him unto us out of Gods word, the same is as certainly sealed unto us by his spirit, as if God himself from heaven should extraordinarily reveal the same. And howsoever in former times men had visions and dreams, and Angels from God himself to reveal his will unto them: yet this Ministry of Gods word in the new Testament, is as sufficient a means of the beginning and increasing of true faith, as that was then.
Hence we learne, that the preaching of Gods word by his Ministers (though extraordinarie meanes, as reuelations and visions, be wanting) is sufficient to bring a man to faith; yea, to such a faith as the three Patriarchs had. Indeede in the ministerie of the word, hee which speaketh vnto vs, is but a man as others are; but yet the word which he deliuereth is not his own, but the mighty word of God: and looke what is truly pronounced by him vnto vs out of Gods word, the same is as certainly sealed vnto vs by his spirit, as if God himselfe from heauen should extraordinarily reueale the same. And howsoeuer in former times men had visions and dreames, and Angels from God himselfe to reueale his will vnto them: yet this Ministerie of Gods word in the new Testament, is as sufficient a meanes of the beginning and encreasing of true faith, as that was then.
This plainly confuteth all those that neglect or contemn the Ministry and preaching of the word, & look for extraordinary revelations, and for visions & dreams, for the begetting and increase of faith and grace in their hearts. But our Saviour Christ doth notably check all such in the Parable of the rich man, by the words of Abraham to Dives;1 saying, of Dives brethren, that they had Moses and the Prophets; if they will not hear them, neither will they believe though one should come from the dead again (Verse