A09376:1552
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. But how could this work be good, being faulty in the manner of doing it? Ans. It might: for, Rebecca's person stood righteous before God in Christ. Now, the worker being acceptable unto God, the work must needs be good also: and though the worker failed in the circumstances; yet the evil of the work, was covered in the obedience of Christ: and so the goodness of it was approved, and the fault thereof covered.
Quest. But how could this worke be good, being faulty in the manner of doing it? Ans. It might: for, Rebecca's person stood righteous before God in Christ. Now, the worker beeing acceptable vnto God, the worke must needs be good also: and though the worker failed in the circumstances; yet the euill of the worke, was couered in the obedience of Christ: and so the goodnes of it was approoued, and the fault thereof couered.
The use of this doctrine is two-fold▪ first, it shows that the works of Gods children, are partly good, and partly bad; even the best works they do, are imperfect. Secondly, this shows the true meaning of Saint James, when he saith, that Rahab was justified by her works: hereby he means, that by her works she declared her self to be just. For, that she was not justified by her works, appeareth plain; because the work which she did, was faulty in the manner, and not perfectly good: and therefore could not be answerable to the perfect justice of God.
The vse of this doctrine is two-folde▪ first, it shews that the works of Gods children, are partly good, and partly bad; euen the best works they doe, are imperfect. Secondly, this shewes the true meaning of Saint Iames, when hee saith, that Rahab was iustified by her works: hereby he means, that by her works she declared her selfe to be iust. For, that shee was not iustified by her works, appeareth plaine; because the worke which shee did, was faulty in the manner, and not perfectly good: and therfore could not be answerable to the perfect iustice of God.