A09376:1486
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 if it be so (may some say) that the Israelites by faith went through the read sea, not fearing the water; why may not we that believe, now do the same? for we have the same faith that they had. Answ. We have indeed the same faith, and yet we cannot pass through waters as they did. For, their faith rested on two promises: first, on this made to Abraham, I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed; Secondly, on a particular promise made to Moses. For, when he commanded him to go through the red sea; withal he made a promise, to keep and preserve them: and this ⟨p. 455⟩they believed, and so went through. Now, howsoever we have justifying faith, having the same general promise; yet we have not the like particular promise, That if we pass through the red sea, God will be with us and save us. And therefore, if any man shall adventure to do so, let him look for nothing but death; for, it is not an action of faith, but of presumption. And therefore Peter sunk, when he would needs walk unto Christ upon the sea, having no such hold upon Gods special promise, as here they had: and the Egyptians following presumptuously were drowned. Wherefore, let us here be warned, not to attempt to do extraordinary works, without Gods special warrant: for, a particular faith, requires a particular promise, besides the general promise of God in Christ.
But if it bee so (may some say) that the Israelites by faith went through the redde sea, not fearing the water; why may not we that beleeue, now doe the same? for wee haue the same faith that they had. Answ. Wee haue indeede the same faith, and yet wee cannot passe through waters as they did. For, their faith rested on two promises: first, on this made to Abraham, I will bee thy God, and the God of thy seed; Secōdly, on a particular promise made to Moses. For, when he cōmanded him to goe through the red sea; withall he made a promise, to keepe and preserue them: and this ⟨p. 455⟩they beleeued, and so went through. Now, howsoeuer we haue iustifying faith, hauing the same generall promise; yet we haue not the like particular promise, That if wee passe through the red sea, God will be with vs and saue vs. And therefore, if any man shall aduenture to doe so, let him looke for nothing but death; for, it is not an action of faith, but of presumption. And therefore Peter sunke, when hee would needs walke vnto Christ vpon the sea, hauing no such hold vpon Gods speciall promise, as here they had: and the Egyptians following presumptuously were drowned. Wherfore, let vs here be warned, not to attempt to doe extraordinary workes, without Gods special warrant: for, a particular faith, requires a particular promise, besides the generall promise of God in Christ.