A09376:1525
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.
Quest. How could she believe, being a harlot in former times? for it is said, That neither fornicators, nor adulterers, shall inherit the Kingdom of heaven, 1. Cor. 6.9. Answer. That is true according to the Law: but the Gospel gives this exception, unless they repent. And so are all legal threatenings to be understood in the word of God.
Quest. How could she beleeue, being a harlot in former times? for it is said, That neither fornicators, nor adulterers, shall inherite the Kingdome of heauen, 1. Cor. 6.9. Answere. That is true according to the Law: but the Gospell giues this exception, vnlesse they repent. And so are all legall threatnings to be vnderstood in the word of God.
In this circumstance of the person, and in the quality of her sin, we may note the endless mercy of God towards sinners; for, he hath vouchsafed to call most notorious and grievous sinners to the state of salvation: as Isay saith, The Lord is very ready to forgive, Isay 55.7: yea, with the Lord is plentiful redemption, Psal. 130.7. This appears, by vouchsafing mercy to Rahab a notable harlot: and as he dealeth with Rahab here, so hath he showed like mercy to other notorious sinners. King Manasseh had sold himself to Idolatry and witchcraft, and had shed innocent blood ⟨p. 476⟩exceeding much, and caused Judah to sin, 2. Kings 21, 6, 16; for which he was led captive: yet when he humbled himself and prayed, God was entreated of him. 2. Chron. 33.13. And Paul saith of himself; When he was a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an oppressor, he was received to mercy, though he were the head of all sinners; that Christ might first show on him all long suffering, unto the example of them, which shall in time to come believe in him unto everlasting life,