A09376:1467
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.
Object. But many of Gods dear children are taken away in common judgements. Answ. True: but yet they are never hurt thereby; but the judgement and affliction is sanctified unto them, because they have their hearts sprinkled with the blood of Christ. And as for those whom God knoweth it good for, they are delivered in general judgements, and preserved for his glory, and use of the Church.
Obiect. But many of Gods deare children are taken away in common iudgements. Answ. True: but yet they are neuer hurt thereby; but the iudgement and affliction is sanctified vnto them, because they haue their hearts sprinkled with the blood of Christ. And as for those whom God knoweth it good for, they are deliuered in generall iudgements, and preserued for his glory, and vse of the Church.
But how did the Angel destroy the first born in Egypt, both of man and beasts? Answ. By taking from them their temporal lives, by destroying or killing their bodies. That is the sense, and plain meaning of the holy Ghost: & to this signification answereth the word in the original. Now some do abuse this place, & such like, for the overthrowing of the ancient censure of the church in excommunication: for ⟨p. 446⟩(say they) the practice of S. Paul, 1. Cor. 5, is the principal ground of excommunication; where Paul bids that the incestuous man be given to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. Now, they that deny excommunication, would have that place to be interpreted by this, because the same word is there used: and therefore (say they) Pauls words must be understood, of destroying the incestuous mans body, and taking away his temporal life. This interpretation doth quite overthrow excommunication: for, if nothing else be there understood, but only the tormenting of the body, then excommunication is not thence proved. But the truth is, that that censure which the Apostle urgeth there, cannot be understood of the punishment of the body: which I prove thus. In that place S. Paul opposeth the flesh and the spirit. Now usually, when he maketh this opposition, Flesh signifieth the Corruption of the whole man; & the Spirit signifieth the grace of God in the man: so that his plain meaning is this, Let him be delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh; that is, for the destruction of his natural corruption, and of the body of sin.