A09376:1468
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.
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.
But how did the Angel destroy the first born in Egypt, both of man and beasts? Answ. By taking from them their tēporal liues, by destroying or killing their bodies. That is the sense, and plaine meaning of the holy Ghost: & to this signification answereth the word in the originall. Now some doe abuse this place, & such like, for the ouerthrowing of the anciēt cēsure of the church in excōmunicatiō: for ⟨p. 446⟩(say they) the practice of S. Paul, 1. Cor. 5, is the principall ground of excommunication; where Paul bids that the incestuous man be giuen to Satan for the destructiō of the flesh. Now, they that denie excommunication, would haue that place to bee interpreted by this, because the same word is there vsed: and therfore (say they) Pauls words must bee vnderstood, of destroying the incestuous mans body, and taking away his temporall life. This interpretation doth quite ouerthrowe excommunication: for, if nothing else be there vnderstood, but onely the tormenting of the body, then excommunication is not thence prooued. But the truth is, that that censure which the Apostle vrgeth there, cannot bee vnderstood of the punishment of the body: which I prooue thus. In that place S. Paul opposeth the flesh and the spirit. Now vsually, 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 plaine meaning is this, Let him be deliuered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh; that is, for the destruction of his naturall corruption, and of the body of sinne.