A09376:418
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.
Out of which consideration ariseth the third caution: which is, that revelations of Gods will, to be expected now under the Gospel, are ordinarily nothing else, but these; the true meaning of Scripture, & a discerning of true Scripture from forged, of true Sacraments from supposed, of true doctrine from false, of true Pastors from false Prophets. These & such like, as far forth as they are necessary to salvation, all true and faithful believers (which out of an humbled heart, by devout prayer do seek it at Gods hand) are sure to have revealed unto them from God. But as for other purposes of God, of personal and particular matters, or what shall be his blessings, or what his judgements to these and these men, families, Cities, or Kingdoms; or when, or how he will change States, or translate kingdoms: Or by what extraordinary means he will have his Gospel propagated, or a declining Church or State upholden; these we are not to expect, nor easily to believe any that shall say, such things are revealed unto them. And yet we tie not the Lord in such strait bonds, but that he may sometime extraordinarily reveal his purpose therein, to some his selected servants: yet provided, that that revelation be examined and allowed of the Church. But as for such things as concern immediately the salvation of our souls, Gods spirit doth most comfortably reveal them unto us, in our prayers, in his word, and in his Sacraments: of all which, it is most true, that the secrets of God are amongst them that fear him.
Out of which consideration ariseth the third caution: which is, that reuelations of Gods will, to be expected now vnder the Gospell, are ordinarily nothing else, but these; the true meaning of Scripture, & a discerning of true Scripture from forged, of true Sacraments from supposed, of true doctrine from false, of true Pastors from false Prophets. These & such like, as farre forth as they are necessary to saluation, all true and faithfull beleeuers (which out of an humbled heart, by deuoute prayer doe seeke it at Gods hand) are sure to haue reuealed vnto them from God. But as for other purposes of God, of personall and particular matters, or what shall be his blessings, or what his iudgements to these and these men, families, Cities, or Kingdomes; or when, or how he will change States, or translate kingdomes: Or by what extraordinarie meanes hee will haue his Gospell propagated, or a declining Church or State vpholden; these we are not to expect, nor easily to belieue any that shall say, such things are reuealed vnto them. And yet wee tye not the Lord in such straite bonds, but that hee may sometime extraordinarily reueale his purpose therein, to some his selected seruants: yet prouided, that that reuelation be examined and allowed of the Church. But as for such things as concerne immediatly the saluation of our soules, Gods spirit doth most comfortably reueale them vnto vs, in our prayers, in his word, and in his Sacraments: of all which, it is most true, that the secrets of God are amongst them that feare him.