A09376:144
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.
1. If he created the world and us of nothing, then he can preserve us also by nothing, that is, without means, or by weak means, or contrary to means: he that did the one can do the other, for the same reason is of both. This is a special point of our religion, Not to tie Gods providence unto means. Men use never to acknowledge it but with means: but that is no work of faith. But we ought not only to see Gods providence, when we see no means: but even when other means are against us, then to see it, is a point of faith: and that is our duty, though it be hard. Give men health, wealth, liberty, peace, let them be guarded about with Gods blessings: then they will magnify the providence of God: but take these away, and lay upon them penury, sickness, or any cross, then they rage, and rail, and distrust, yea blaspheme, and say, No providence, no God. And thus God is beholden to the means, for else men would flatly deny him. But this argues the want of faith. For had we that faith in us, whereby we believed steadfastly, that God made all the world without means, that faith would also persuade us that he can preserve us being made, though means be wanting, or though they be against us. This we may make use of, whether we be in necessity, and would be relieved: or in any peril, and would be succoured: or in what extremity soever, when means do fail us.
1. If he created the world and vs of nothing, then he can preserue vs also by nothing, that is, without meanes, or by weake meanes, or contrary to meanes: he that did the one can do the other, for the same reason is of both. This is a speciall point of our religion, Not to tye Gods prouidence vnto meanes. Men vse neuer to acknowledge it but with meanes: but that is no worke of faith. But wee ought not onely to see Gods prouidence, when we see no meanes: but euen when other meanes are against vs, then to see it, is a point of faith: and that is our duty, though it be hard. Giue men health, wealth, liberty, peace, let them be guarded about with Gods blessings: then they will magnifie the prouidence of God: but take these away, and lay vpon them penurie, sicknesse, or any crosse, then they rage, and raile, and distrust, yea blaspheme, and say, No prouidence, no God. And thus God is beholden to the meanes, for else men would flatly deny him. But this argues the want of faith. For had we that faith in vs, whereby we beleeued stedfastly, that God made all the world without meanes, that faith would also perswade vs that he can preserue vs being made, though meanes be wanting, or though they be against vs. This we may make vse of, whether wee be in necessitie, and would be relieued: or in any perill, and would be succoured: or in what extremitie soeuer, when meanes doe faile vs.