A09376:1592
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
The Faith of the Judges and David.The Faith of the Iudges and Dauid.
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.
To apply this unto our times; If this be a fruit of faith thus to work righteousness, then what may be said of the ⟨p. 506⟩Church of Rome, and of the Popish sort among us? They pretend the ancient faith, and none must be so good believers and Catholics as they: but how do they show this their faith? Is it by the practice of righteousness? Do they give to every one his due? Nay verily: but they set themselves to work the ruin of Kingdoms, that join not with them in religion. This, witness their manifold & devilish plots against our State from time to time. This did not David, no not against Saul, though he were rejected of God, and also most unjustly sought his death. But they have many times sought the death of the Lords anointed over us: whereby they declare their state to all the world, that they have no spark of true faith at all: for, true faith will make a man practice righteousness and innocency. And therefore we may judge of them, and all their adherents that be of this mind to allow such practices, that they have none other but the faith of devils: which is, to believe the word of God to be true. This the devils do with trembling. And as their faith is devilish, so are the fruits thereof: namely, treachery and falsehood, such as the devil most approves. But we must learn, that true faith is especially commended by these fruits, The study and practice of innocency, and the maintaining of peace in Christian estates: for, true faith, and treachery, and contention, will no more stand together than light and darkness.
To apply this vnto our times; If this be a fruite of faith thus to worke righteousnesse, then what may be saide of the ⟨p. 506⟩Church of Rome, and of the Popish sort among vs? They pretend the auncient faith, and none must be so good beleeuers and Catholikes as they: but how doe they shewe this their faith? Is it by the practice of righteousnesse? Doe they giue to euery one his due? Nay verily: but they set themselues to worke the ruine of Kingdomes, that ioyne not with them in religion. This, witnesse their manifolde & diuellish plots against our State from time to time. This did not Dauid, no not against Saul, though hee were reiected of God, and also most vniustly sought his death. But they haue many times sought the death of the Lords anointed ouer vs: whereby they declare their state to all the world, that they haue no sparke of true faith at all: for, true faith will make a man practice righteousnesse and innocencie. And therefore we may iudge of them, and all their adherents that be of this mind to allow such practices, that they haue none other but ye faith of diuels: which is, to beleeue the word of God to be true. This the diuels do with trembling. And as their faith is diuellish, so are the fruites thereof: namely, treachery and falshood, such as the diuel most approues. But we must learne, that true faith is especially commended by these fruites, The study and practice of innocency, and the maintaining of peace in Christian estates: for, true faith, and treachery, and contention, wil no more stand together than light and darknesse.