A09376:1579
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 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; ⟨p. 500⟩yet that doth not hinder, but the party so borne, may come to true faith, and so to the favour of God, and to life everlasting. Such persons as are base borne, upon view of that reproach, which the Scripture fasteneth upon them, might take occasion to think miserably of themselves; even that God had rejected them: but, this example serves to show, that it hindereth not, but that they may come into the favour of God, and by faith get honour of God, to countervail that discredit, which they have by their base birth.
The fourth person commended heere, is Iephte: of whom wee may reade, Iudges 11. Iephte was the base sonne 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 beare any office, vnto the tenth generation, Deuteronomie chapter 23. verse 2: So ignominious is this kinde of birth, by the iudgement of Gods spirit, vnto that party on whom it falls. For, this sinne of fornication doth not onely hurt the persons committing it, but euen staines the children base borne to the tenth generation. Yet, howsoeuer Iephte was base borne, and so suffered for it great reproach; heere wee see, hee is commended vnto vs for his faith, among the most worthy beleeuers that euer were. Indeede, besides Iephte, wee shall not finde the like example in Scripture. Yet in Iephte wee may see, that howsoeuer it be a reproachfull thing, to be borne of fornication;