A09376:1565
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.
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 ⟨p. 494⟩of them that shall be condemned: secondly, in themselves. If we compare the elect with the reprobate, the number of the elect is but a small number: for, in most ages, the church of God hath been but a handful, to the rest of the world. And in the Church this likewise is true, Many are called, but few chosen, in respect of them that are called. But yet consider the elect, as they are in themselves, and they are a huge great number; yea, innumerable, as Saint John saith, speaking of the elect among the Gentiles, beside the chosen Jews: for, all that do truly believe shall be saved. Now, believers are innumerable: This the Author of this Epistle would insinuate unto us by his phrase of speech, What shall I say more? &c.
Secondly, whereas the holy Ghost saith, The time would be too short, &c. Hee giues vs to vnderstand, that the number of beleeuers is very great; and that a long time would not serue to repeat them, or to write of them. This directeth vs vnto a good answer to a question, which much troubleth our common people; to wit, How great is the number of them that shall be saued; whether is it greater than the number of them that shal be damned? Ans. We must consider the nūber of the elect 2. wais: 1. in cōparison ⟨p. 494⟩of them that shall be condemned: secondly, in themselues. If we compare the elect with the reprobate, the number of the elect is but a small nūber: for, in most ages, the church of God hath beene but a handfull, to the rest of the world. And in the Church this likewise is true, Many are called, but few chosen, in respect of them that are called. But yet consider the elect, as they are in themselues, and they are a huge great number; yea, innumerable, as Saint Iohn saith, speaking of the elect among the Gentiles, beside the chosen Iewes: for, all that doe truely beleeue shall bee saued. Now, beleeuers are innumerable: This the Author of this Epistle would insinuate vnto vs by his phrase of speech, What shall I say more? &c.