A09376:1442
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 we learn, that when we pray to God, we must not conceive of him by any form or image in our minds; for so we make an idol of God. Quest. What then must we do? for, how (will some say) can I pray to him, and not think of him? Answ. When we think of God, or pray unto him, we must conceive of him in our minds, as he hath revealed himself in scripture; that is, by his works, and by his properties: we must think in our minds of an eternal essence, most holy, wise, &c. who made all things, and governs them by his mighty power. For, every image to resemble God by, either to the mind, or to the eye is a plain lie; making him visible, who is invisible: as saith the Prophet, Hab. 2 18, The image, what profiteth it, for it is a teacher of lies? Which flatly overthroweth the opinion and practice of the Romish Church, who resemble the true God, even God the father, and the holy Trinity, in images: what else do they herein, but make a lie of God?
Here wee learne, that when wee pray to God, wee must not conceiue of him by any forme or image in our minds; for so we make an idoll of God. Quest. What then must we doe? for, how (will some say) can I pray to him, and not thinke of him? Answ. When wee thinke of God, or pray vnto him, wee must conceiue of him in our mindes, as hee hath reuealed himselfe in scripture; that is, by his workes, and by his properties: wee must thinke in our mindes of an eternall essence, most holy, wise, &c. who made all things, and gouernes them by his mighty power. For, euery image to resemble God by, either to the minde, or to the eie is a plaine lie; making him visible, who is inuisible: as saith the Prophet, Hab. 2 18, The image, what profiteth it, for it is a teacher of lies? Which flatly ouerthroweth the opinion and practice of the Romish Church, who resemble the true God, euen God the father, and the holy Trinitie, in images: what else doe they herein, but make a lie of God?
But the Papists say, they devise no image to resemble God in, but only such whereby he hath showed himself; as the scripture testifies: as the father, like an old man; the son, as he was incarnate; and the holy Ghost, like a dove,