A09376:425
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.
Secondly, here we learn what is the whole Object of faith, or what is all that that faith believeth: namely, nothing but Gods word, and all and every word of God. So that faith hath two objects, differing not in nature, but in degree, principal and inferior. The principal object of true faith, is the promise of salvation by Christ. The inferior object thereof, are all other particular promises, of safety, deliverance, providence, help, assistance, comfort, or what other benefit soever is made either to the whole Church, and so inclusively to any particular man; or which are personally made unto him. For, saving faith believeth not only the grand promise of salvation, but all other promises either of spiritual or corporal blessings, which are subordinate to the great Promise, and do depend of it, and are therefore apprehended by the same faith. So, Noah here had already apprehended the main Promise of salvation by the Messiah, and had hid it in his heart: and afterward when this particular promise of his deliverance was made, by the same faith he laid hold on it also. And it is good reason that faith should do so: for if it apprehend the greater promise, then no marvel though it take hold of all other inferior promises, which are but dependences upon the principal.
Secondly, heere wee learne what is the whole Obiect of faith, or what is all that that faith beleeueth: namely, nothing but Gods word, and all and euery word of God. So that faith hath two obiects, differing not in nature, but in degree, principall and inferiour. The principall obiect of true faith, is the promise of saluation by Christ. The inferiour obiect thereof, are all other particular promises, of safety, deliuerance, prouidence, helpe, assistance, comfort, or what other benefit soeuer is made either to the whole Church, and so inclusiuely to any particular man; or which are personally made vnto him. For, sauing faith beleeueth not onely the graund promise of saluation, but all other promises either of spirituall or corporall blessings, which are subordinate to the great Promise, and doe depend of it, and are therefore apprehended by the same faith. So, Noah heere had alreadie apprehended the maine Promise of saluation by the Messiah, and had hid it in his heart: and afterward when this particular promise of his deliuerance was made, by the same faith he laid hold on it also. And it is good reason that faith should doe so: for if it apprehend the greater promise, then no maruell though it take hold of all other inferiour promises, which are but dependances vpon the principall.