A09376:1567
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 four first are these: Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah; These four were Judges in Israel: the fifth is David, who was both a Prophet and a King: the sixth is Samuel, both a Judge and a Prophet: lastly, the Prophets generally; by whom we must understand especially these three; Elijah, Elisha, and Daniel.
The foure first are these: Gedeon, Barac, Samson, and Iephte; These foure were Iudges in Israel: the fift is Dauid, who was both a Prophet and a King: the sixt is Samuel, both a Iudge and a Prophet: lastly, the Prophets generally; by whom wee must vnderstand especially these three; Elias, Eliseus, and Daniel.
In speaking of these persons here commended unto us; first, we will entreat of them generally, and then in particular. In general, let us first observe the order which the holy Ghost here useth in naming them. Gideon, for time, was after Barak; and yet here he is first named: so Samson was after Jephthah, and yet here he is put before him. This, the holy Ghost would never do, without some special cause. ⟨p. 495⟩We therefore must know, that the Scripture useth a two-fold order in reckoning up of persons; to wit, the order of time: when as he that lived first, is first named: and the order of dignity; when the most worthy and excellent is named first, though he were later in time. Now, the Scripture accounteth best of them that did excel in faith, and in the fruits thereof: so in this place whereas Gideon is set before Barak, & Samson before Jephthah; the holy Ghost observes not the order of time, but the order of dignity, according to the excellency of their faith; naming them in the first place, that were most famous for this grace of faith, and did exceed the other in the fruits thereof.
In speaking of these persons here commended vnto vs; first, we will intreate of them generally, and then in particular. In generall, let vs first obserue the order which the holy Ghost here vseth in naming them. Gedeon, for time, was after Barac; and yet here he is first named: so Samson was after Iephte, and yet here he is put before him. This, the holy Ghost would neuer doe, without some special cause.