A09376:1572
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.
This we must observe, to acquaint us with a special difference, between those whom God raiseth up extraordinarily for special good, and all arch heretics and traitors that set up themselves, unsent of God. For, many such wretches have excelled in wisdom, in worldly policy, in zeal and authority: whereupon they have pretended and persuaded many, that they were called of God. But hereby especially they are to be discovered, that they are void of this rare gift of true saving faith: for, look at their lives, and ordinarily for impiety, they have been and are arch-devils. So that, though they wanted not authority, or outward zeal, and wisdom: yet they wanted faith, which should purify their hearts; or else they would never have lived in such notorious sins, as they were discovered to do. And this is the trial which our Saviour Christ directs ⟨p. 497⟩us unto; saying, Ye shall know them by their fruits, Math. 7.16. Let them therefore pretend what knowledge, what zeal, or authority soever they will; if the fruits of faith appear not in their lives by obedience, they are not called of God, for the special good of his Church.
This we must obserue, to acquaint vs with a special difference, betweene those whom God raiseth vp extraordinarily for speciall good, and all arch heretiques and traytors that set vp themselues, vnsent of God. For, many such wretches haue excelled in wisedome, in worldly policy, in zeale and authority: whereupon they haue pretended and perswaded many, that they were called of God. But hereby especially they are to be discouered, that they are voide of this rare gift of true sauing faith: for, look at their lyues, and ordinarily for impiety, they haue beene and are arch-diuels. So that, though they wanted not authority, or outward zeale, and wisedome: yet they wanted faith, which should purifie their hearts; or else they would neuer haue liued in such notorious sinnes, as they were discouered to doe. And this is the triall which our Sauiour Christ directs ⟨p. 497⟩vs vnto; saying, Ye shall knowe them by their fruites, Math. 7.16. Let them therefore pretend what knowledge, what zeale, or authority soeuer they will; if the fruits of faith appeare not in their lyues by obedience, they are not called of God, for the speciall good of his Church.