A09376:313
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.
And again, as for such as have received grace to believe, seeing faith is of such necessity, and that they having faith must needs have knowledge, they therefore must look and examine by their knowledge, whether their faith be a sound faith or no: for herein many that have knowledge deceive themselves, and think they have true faith when they have not. Now if any man would know whether his faith be sound, and saving, or no; It is known by this. If it purify the heart: for so saith S. Peter, That God by faith did purify the hearts of the profane and filthy Gentiles. 1If then thy faith do not purify thy heart, and cleanse thy life, and cause thee to abound in good works, it is no sound nor saving faith, it is but a general faith, it is but an historical knowledge, and cannot save the soul: he therefore that, upon examination of his heart and life, findeth his faith to be such, let him not content himself, but turn his general faith into a saving faith, which in this world will purify his heart, and at the last day will save his soul. And this must every man the rather do, because what knowledge, or what other gifts of God soever any many hath, without faith in Christ all are nothing: for it is faith that seasoneth them all, and makes ⟨p. 73⟩both them and the person himself to please God.
And againe, as for such as haue receiued grace to beleeue, seeing faith is of such necessitie, and that they hauing faith must needes haue knowledge, they therefore must looke and examine by their knowledge, whether their faith be a sound faith or no: for herein many that haue knowledge deceiue themselues, and thinke they haue true faith when they haue not. Now if any man would knowe whether his faith be sound, and sauing, or no; It is knowne by this. If it purifie the heart: for so saith S. Peter, That God by faith did purifie the hearts of the profane and filthy Gentiles. 1If then thy faith doe not purifie thy heart, and cleanse thy life, and cause thee to abound in good workes, it is no sound nor sauing faith, it is but a generall faith, it is but an historicall knowledge, and cannot saue the soule: hee therefore that, vpon examination of his heart and life, findeth his faith to be such, let him not content himselfe, but turne his generall faith into a sauing faith, which in this world will purifie his heart, and at the last day will saue his soule. And this must euery man the rather doe, because what knowledge, or what other gifts of God soeuer any many hath, without faith in Christ all are nothing: for it is faith that seasoneth them all, and makes