A09376:1595
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.
But some will say; To work righteousness, cannot be a fruit of faith: for, the very Heathen, which never heard of Christ, by the light of nature have done Justice, and are highly commended by Heathen Writers, for the same. Now, that which the Heathen can do by the light of nature, is not thus to be extolled as a fruit of faith? Answer. True it is, the Heathen have done many works of justice: but we must wisely consider, that every just work is not a fruit of faith, unless it be done by a righteous person in obedience to God, and for his glory. But, in all these, the Heathen failed in their works. For, though the things they did, were good in themselves: yet seeing the Heathen were corrupt trees, remaining in the sinful state of corrupt nature, their works must needs be corrupt fruit; as coming from them. For, an evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit. The heart is the fountain of every action: now, their hearts were corrupt, being destitute of faith which purifies the heart; and therefore their works must needs be sinful. Again, they did not their works in obedience: for, they were guided only by the light of nature, and knew not God aright, nor his commandments. And lastly, they propounded not the glory of GOD, as the end of their works, but the praise of men, their own profit, or some such end. But these worthy persons do not only such things as were just in themselves: but they do them in faith, in obedience, and for Gods glory, and so please God.
But some will say; To worke righteousnesse, cannot be a fruit of faith: for, the very Heathen, which neuer heard of Christ, by the light of nature haue done Iustice, and are highly commended by Heathen Writers, for the same. Now, that which the Heathen can doe by the light of nature, is not thus to be extolled as a fruite of faith? Answer. True it is, the Heathen haue done many workes of iustice: but we must wisely consider, that euery iust worke is not a fruite of faith, vnlesse it be done by a righteous person in obedience to God, and for his glory. But, in all these, the Heathen failed in their workes. For, though the things they did, were good in themselues: yet seeing the Heathen were corrupt trees, remaining in the sinfull state of corrupt nature, their workes must needes be corrupt fruite; as cōming from them. For, an euill tree cannot bring forth good fruit. The heart is the fountain of euery action: now, their hearts were corrupt, being destitute of faith which purifies the heart; and therefore their workes must needes be sinfull. Againe, they did not their workes in obedience: for, they were guided onely by the light of nature, and knew not God aright, nor his commaundements. And lastly, they propounded not the glory of GOD, as the end of their workes, but the praise of men, their owne profit, or some such end. But these worthy persons doe not onely such things as were iust in themselues: but they doe them in faith, in obedience, and for Gods glory, and so please God.