A09376:410
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.
By faith, that is, by a general and historical Faith, and also by a true and saving faith in the Messiah to come, Noah (being warned of God of the just Judgement he purposed to bring upon the world, by an universal flood; and of his merciful providence, to him and his family, that he would save them by an Ark (all which things were then to come, and therefore unseen) he believed these forewarnings of God: and therefore, in reverence to this message from God, he prepared the Ark, and thereby saved his household, and condemned the wicked world. And so his faith by all these appearing to be a true and lively faith, did make him a just and righteous man in Gods sight. This is the sum and substance of Noah's example: let us speak of the several parts in order.
By faith, that is, by a generall and historicall Faith, and also by a true and sauing faith in the Messias to come, Noah (being warned of God of the iust Iudgement hee purposed to bring vpon the world, by an vniuersall floud; and of his mercifull prouidence, to him and his family, that hee would saue them by an Arke (all which things were then to come, and therefore vnseene) hee beleeued these forewarnings of God: and therefore, in reuerence to this message from God, he prepared the Arke, and thereby saued his houshold, and condemned the wicked world. And so his faith by all these appearing to be a true and liuely faith, did make him a iust and righteous man in Gods sight. This is the summe and substance of Noahs exsample: let vs speake of the seuerall parts in order.
The first point is the Ground of his faith, A warning or an answer from God. For, he being a righteous man in that wicked ⟨p. 103⟩age, wherein all the world weltered in wickedness, and walking before God in great holiness, when no man cared for religion, he had this special favour from God, that when he purposed to destroy the world for their sin, he first of all revealed to righteous Noah that purpose of his. So that these words have reference to the revelation which Noah had from God, in the 6. of Genesis. For, this message came not from God by any Prophet (for we know none in those evil days, except Noah himself) but either by the Ministry of an Angel, or else by immediate revelation from God himself: and this favour he received from God, not for any cause in the world, but because he was a holy and righteous man.