A09376:1564
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.
First, in this particular quick dispatch of believers, by our Apostle, we may observe a difference between the infinite understanding of God, and the created understanding that is in mans mind. Man, indeed, understands the things that are revealed to him of God; but yet, in a manner and order, far different from that which is in God: for, man cannot conceive, in his mind, all the things he knows, at once, by one act of his understanding; but must have distinct time to conceive of them, one by one distinctly. For, look as he utters them distinctly, one by one (as we see in this place) so likewise, doth he apprehend them in conceit, and understanding. But, with God it is not so; for, God at once, by one act of understanding, without distinction of time, doth conceive of all things at once, both past, present, and to come; and so could utter and express them, if any creature were able in conceit so to comprehend them.
First, in this particular quicke dispatch of beleeuers, by our Apostle, wee may obserue a difference betweene the infinite vnderstanding of God, and the created vnderstanding that is in mans minde. Man, indeed, vnderstands the things that are reuealed to him of God; but yet, in a manner and order, farre different from that which is in God: for, man cannot conceiue, in his minde, all the things hee knowes, at once, by one acte of his vnderstanding; but must haue distinct time to conceiue of them, one by one distinctly. For, looke as he vtters them distinctly, one by one (as we see in this place) so likewise, doth he apprehend them in conceit, and vnderstanding. But, with God it is not so; for, God at once, by one acte of vnderstanding, without distinction of time, doth conceiue of all things at once, both past, present, and to come; and so could vtter and expresse them, if any creature were able in conceit so to comprehend them.
Secondly, whereas the holy Ghost saith, The time would be too short, &c. He gives us to understand, that the number of believers is very great; and that a long time would not serve to repeat them, or to write of them. This directeth us unto a good answer to a question, which much troubleth our common people; to wit, How great is the number of them that shall be saved; whether is it greater than the number of them that shall be damned? Ans. We must consider the number of the elect 2. ways: 1. in comparison