A09376:1553
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.
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.
But some will further say, that this concealing of the Spies, and lying to the Kings messengers, was a work of Treachery against her own country; and therefore was a notorious fault, and so no work of faith? Answ. Treachery indeed, is as great villainy, as one man can practice against another; and therefore ought to be abhorred and detested of all men: but yet we must know, that Rahab in this place is no Traitor. For, she had a plain Certificate in her conscience, that the Land of Canaan, and the city Jericho, were given by the Lord to the people of Israel, and that they were the right Lords thereof, and should enjoy them: so that she hid the Spies, not in treachery, but in faith.
But some will further say, that this concealing of the Spies, and lying to the Kings messengers, was a worke of Treachery against her owne country; and therefore was a notorious fault, and so no worke of faith? Answ. Treachery indeed, is as great villany, as one man can practice against another; and therefore ought to bee abhorred and detested of all men: but yet wee must knowe, that Rahab in this place is no Traytor. For, she had a plaine Certificat in her conscience, that the Land of Canaan, and the citie Iericho, were giuen by the Lord to the people of Israel, and that they were the right Lords thereof, and should enioy them: so that she hid the Spies, not in treachery, but in faith.