A09376:176
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.
Fourthly, […] that Cain & Abel offered, hence we learn, that the Church of God, which truly professeth his name, hath been ever since the beginning of the world. For this Church was in the household of Adam, when there was no more but it in the world: for sacrifice to God is a sign of the Church: yea, & ⟨p. 43⟩beside the sacrifice, they had a place appointed where Adam & his family came together to worship God. For, so much Cain intimateth, Gen. 4.14. & 16. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, that is, not only out of his favour & protection, but from the place of his solemn service, & where he wonted to manifest his special presence to his children serving him: and therefore Cain, as being excommunicate, complains (verse 14) because he must leave it. Thus the Church hath been from the beginning, & therefore is truly called Catholic.
Fourthly, 〈…〉 that Cain & Abel offred, hence we learne, that the Church of God, which truly professeth his name, hath been euer since the beginning of the world. For this Church was in the houshold of Adā, whē there was no more but it in the world: for sacrifice to God is a sign of the Church: yea, & ⟨p. 43⟩beside the sacrifice, they had a place appointed where Adam & his family came together to worship God. For, so much Cain intimateth, Gen. 4.14. & 16. Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, that is, not onely out of his fauour & protection, but from the place of his solemne seruice, & where he wonted to manifest his special presence to his childrē seruing him: and therfore Cain, as being excomunicate, complaines (verse 14) because he must leaue it. Thus the Church hath been frō the beginning, & therfore is truly call'd Catholike.
The Papists abuse this place notoriously: for whereas the Church hath been so ancient, they argue therefore it is above the Scripture: yea, & that we could not know it to be Scripture, but by the ancient testimony of the Church.