A09376:1578
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.
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.
Againe, Samson in pulling downe the house, purposed not directly and wilfully to kill himselfe, but to aduenture his owne life, by taking iust reuenge vpon his enemies, and the enemies of God; and therefore as Gods seruant, he prayed first vnto God: and so did no more thā the Souldier in the field ought to doe; who, bearing a louing minde towards his Countrey, is content to aduenture his owne life for the destruction of his enemies, in the defence of his Countrey; and is resolued, that if hee die in that defence, hee dieth in his lawfull place and calling, and dieth Gods seruant: yea, Gods Champion. This did Samson, and therefore may iustly be commended for his faith: neither is this fact of his any disgrace, but rather a notable commendation of his faith, and an euidence of great zeale for Gods glory, and of singular loue to his people.
The fourth person commended here, is Jephthah: of whom we may read, Judges 11. Jephthah was the base son of Gilead, borne of an harlot. To be base borne, is noted in Scripture as a matter of reproach; and therefore the Lord forbade A bastard to enter into the congregation of the Lord, to bear any office, unto the tenth generation, Deuteronomy chapter 23. verse 2: So ignominious is this kind of birth, by the judgement of Gods spirit, unto that party on whom it falls. For, this sin of fornication doth not only hurt the persons committing it, but even stains the children base borne to the tenth generation. Yet, howsoever Jephthah was base borne, and so suffered for it great reproach; here we see, he is commended unto us for his faith, among the most worthy believers that ever were. Indeed, besides Jephthah, we shall not find the like example in Scripture. Yet in Jephthah we may see, that howsoever it be a reproachful thing, to be borne of fornication;