A09376:1533
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 may note, that when ordinary means fail, for the beginning and increase of faith; as the word preached, and the Sacraments: then God can work faith extraordinarily, even by reports, and rumours. For, thus Rahab, and many of the heathen came to believe. We say of the Church of Rome, that it is no true Church, and that their religion cannot save a man: Hereupon, many that savour that way, reply and say; Will you therefore condemn all your forefathers, that lived and died in time of Popery? We answer, no: we dare not give such censure upon them; but rather judge charitably of them: yea, we have great hope that many of them were saved. For, though they wanted preaching & reading, yet God might work faith in them extraordinarily, and bless even good reports and speeches unto them, with the reading of other godly books, besides Gods word, which some of them had. We need not then give so hard a censure of them; because God is not tied to ordinary means, but can save extraordinarily, when means fail.
Here we may note, that when ordinary meanes faile, for the beginning and increase of faith; as the word preached, and the Sacraments: then God can worke faith extraordinarily, euen by reports, and rumors. For, thus Rahab, and many of the heathen came to beleeue. We say of the Church of Rome, that it is no true Church, and that their religion cannot saue a man: Hereupon, many that sauour that way, reply and say; Will you therefore condemne all your forefathers, that liued and died in time of Popery? Wee answer, no: we dare not giue such censure vpon them; but rather iudge charitably of them: yea, wee haue great hope that many of them were saued. For, thogh they wanted preaching & reading, yet God might worke faith in them extraordinarily, and blesse euen good reports and speeches vnto them, with the reading of other godly bookes, besides Gods word, which some of them had. We need not then giue so hard a censure of them; because God is not tied to ordinary meanes, but can saue extraordinarily, when meanes faile.
Further, concerning Rahabs faith, it may be demanded whether it was weak or strong? because, before she had done this fact of faith, her whole abode was among the heathen. Answ. We must know, that there is in the child of God a certain seed, or beginning, or preparation to a true and lively faith; which our Saviour Christ in the Scriptures, doth honour with the title of a true & lively faith: as, when a man knows no more but this, that Christ Jesus is the true Messiah; having withal, a care and conscience to profit and increase in the true knowledge of the Gospel, and to join practice therewith, in his life