A09376:1670
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
Believers under the Maccabees.Beleeuers vnder the Maccabees.
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.
Now we come in particular to the several kinds of sufferings, which these believers endured by faith: the first whereof, is racking; in these words: others also were racked: or, as some translate it; And others were beaten with clubs. For, the words in the original will bear either ⟨p. 541⟩translation: and, both of them fitly agree to this kind of suffering. For, in these times, the enemies of GODs Church, used to set the bodies of them that were to be tormented, upon racks, and engines; whereon, they stretched out every joint, and then did beat the whole body thus racked▪ with clubs, till the party were stark dead. An example of this kind of suffering, we have in Eleazer a Jew, 1. Mac. 6. who under Antiochus was first racked, and then beaten on every part of his body, unto the death; because he refused to eat swines flesh.
Now wee come in particular to the seuerall kindes of sufferings, which these beleeuers endured by faith: the first whereof, is racking; in these words: others also were racked: or, as some translate it; And others were beaten with clubbes. For, the words in the originall will beare either ⟨p. 541⟩translation: and, both of them fitly agree to this kinde of suffering. For, in these times, the enemies of GODs Church, vsed to set the bodies of them that were to be tormented, vpon rackes, and engines; whereon, they stretched out euery ioynt, and then did beat the whole body thus racked▪ with clubs, till the party were starke dead. An example of this kind of suffering, we haue in Eleazer a Iewe, 1. Mac. 6. who vnder Antiochus was first racked, and then beaten on euery part of his body, vnto the death; because he refused to eat swines flesh.
But some will say, This cannot be any commendation of faith, to be racked and beaten to death: for, malefactors and traitors are so used. Ans. To prevent this objection, the holy Ghost addeth these words; and would not be delivered: or, would not accept deliverance: to show, that this suffering was a notable commendation of true faith. The meaning of the words is this; That whereas some Jews in the old Testament, were condemned to death for their religion, by persecutors: and yet, had life and liberty offered unto them, if they would recant, and forsake their religion; This proffer of life they refused, and would not be delivered, upon such a condition.