A09376:1577
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 third person is Samson; of whom we may also read, Judges 13.14, &c. Now, touching Samson, this question may well be asked, how he can be justly commended for his faith, seeing it may seem he killed himself? Answer. Samson did not kill himself: for he was called extraordinarily to be a Judge over Israel for their defence and delivery out of the hands of the Philistims. Now, when the Princes of the Philistims were gathered together, being his enemies, and the enemies of God and his people, he cast the house down upon their heads to kill them therein, because (being blind) he could not pursue them in battle. And therefore having them by ⟨p. 499⟩Gods providence in his hands, he destroyed them, as his calling was; albeit, he lost his own life in the same action.
The third person is Samson; of whom wee may also reade, Iudges 13.14, &c. Now, touching Samson, this question may well be asked, how hee can be iustly commended for his faith, seeing it may seeme hee killed himselfe? Answere. Samson did not kill himselfe: for hee was called extraordinarily to be a Iudge ouer Israell for their defence and deliuerie out of the hands of the Philistimes. Now, when the Princes of the Philistimes were gathered together, being his enemies, and the enemies of God and his people, hee cast the house downe vpon their heads to kill them therein, because (beeing blinde) hee could not pursue them in battaile. And therefore hauing them by ⟨p. 499⟩Gods prouidence in his hands, hee destroyed them, as his calling was; albeit, hee lost his owne life in the same action.
Again, Samson in pulling down the house, purposed not directly and wilfully to kill himself, but to adventure his own life, by taking just revenge upon his enemies, and the enemies of God; and therefore as Gods servant, he prayed first unto God: and so did no more than the Soldier in the field ought to do; who, bearing a loving mind towards his Country, is content to adventure his own life for the destruction of his enemies, in the defence of his Country; and is resolved, that if he die in that defence, he dieth in his lawful place and calling, and dieth Gods servant: yea, Gods Champion. This did Samson, and therefore may justly be commended for his faith: neither is this fact of his any disgrace, but rather a notable commendation of his faith, and an evidence of great zeal for Gods glory, and of singular love to his people.