A09376:1573
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.
Thus much of these men in general: now we come to entreat of them severally, as they are propounded in the Text.
Thus much of these men in generall: now wee come to entreate of them seuerally, as they are propounded in the Text.
The first person here commended unto us, is Gideon: the History of whose acts, is laid down at large, Judges chap. 6. In his example note one point especially, to acquaint us with the manner which God useth in begetting and increasing true faith in the hearts of his children. If we read the Story, we shall see, that the Lord, in the likeness of an Angel, called Gideon, once, twice,1 yea thrice to be a Judge to his people. But Gedeon greatly doubts of his calling, & therefore desires a sign of the Lord; which God gave him: For, the sacrifice which he offered, was burned up with fire from heaven: yet still he doubted, and was in a greater fear then before, even of death it self: but, being confirmed by the Angel, and set a-work, he brake down the Altar of Baal, and built one to the true GOD, and thereon offered sacrifice as God commanded, though with some fear. And, when the Midianites and Amalekites came armed against Israel, he is stirred up by the spirit of God for their defence: but yet still he doubted of his calling, and therefore again asked a sign at Gods hands, and had it; and after that asked another, which GOD also granted. Now, having all these one in the neck of another, at length he knows his calling, and so goes in faith, and defends Israel: so that he got the assurance of his calling, by sundry particular signs and confirmations of his faith. And though he doubted greatly at the first: yet, after he believes, not only that he should be a Judge and Deliverer ⟨p. 498⟩of Gods people out of the hands of their enemies; but this principally, that God was his God, and would give unto him everlasting life.