A09376:423
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.
First, that faith is a supernatural work of God in those mens hearts that have it. That it is a work of God, it appeareth in that it always acknowledgeth and believeth Gods word: that it is supernatural, it appeareth in that it apprehendeth and believeth whatsoever Gods word delivereth, be it never so incredible to reason or sense. But how doth God work this faith? By his word: for as God is the author and worker of faith, so God hath appointed a means whereby he works it, and that is his Word; which word of God is the only ordinary outward means to work faith. And that word of God is two ways to be considered: either as revealed by God himself (as to Noah here); or else, being written by God, is either preached by his Ministers, or read by a mans self in want of preaching: and these are all one, and are all means ordained of God to work faith; and that not only to begin it where it is wanting, but to augment it where it is begun.
First, that faith is a supernaturall worke of God in those mens hearts that haue it. That it is a worke of God, it appeareth in that it alwayes acknowledgeth and beleeueth Gods word: that it is supernaturall, it appeareth in that it apprehendeth and beleeueth whatsoeuer Gods word deliuereth, be it neuer so incredible to reason or sense. But how doth God worke this faith? By his word: for as God is the author and worker of faith, so God hath appointed a meanes whereby he workes it, and that is his Word; which word of God is the onely ordinarie outward meanes to worke faith. And that word of God is two wayes to be considered: either as reuealed by God himselfe (as to Noah heere); or else, being written by God, is either preached by his Ministers, or read by a mans selfe in want of preaching: and these are all one, and are all meanes ordained of God to work faith; and that not onely to begin it where it is wanting, but to augment it where it is begun.
Which being so, it must teach us all, not only with special care and reverence to hear the word, by whomsoever it is preached; but also to hear it read: yea, to read it our selves with all diligence. So doing, it will work out, and make perfect in us that holy faith, which will make us blessed in our selves, and accepted of God, as it did Noah in this place.