A09376:45
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.
2. It is an evidence: that is, whereas life everlasting and all other things hoped for are invisible, and were never seen of any believer since the world began: this saving faith hath this power and property, to take that thing in it self invisible, and never yet seen, and so lively to represent it to the heart of the believer, and to the eye of his mind, as that after a sort he presently seeth and enjoyeth that invisible thing, and rejoiceth in that sight, and enjoying of it: and so the judg•ment is not only convinced, that such a thing shall come to pass, though it be yet to come: but the mind (as far as Gods word hath revealed, and as it is able) conceives of that thing, as being really present to the view of it.
2. It is an euidence: that is, whereas life euerlasting and all other things hoped for are inuisible, and were neuer seen of any beleeuer since the world began: this sauing faith hath this power and property, to take that thing in it selfe inuisible, and neuer yet seene, and so liuely to represent it to the heart of the beleeuer, and to the eye of his mind, as that after a sort he presently seeth and enioyeth that inuisible thing, and reioyceth in that sight, and enioying of it: and so the iudg•ment is not onely conuinced, that such a thing shall come to passe, though it be yet to come: but the minde (as farre as Gods word hath reueald, and as it is able) conceiues of that thing, as being really present to the view of it.
Let one example serve for all: life everlasting is a thing hoped for: Now Faith, not only by infallible arguments grounded upon the word and promise of God, convinceth a mans judgement, that it shall come to pass (insomuch as he dare say; that he knoweth as certainly, there is a life everlasting, as that he liveth and moveth) but this Faith also (as much as Gods word hath revealed, and as far forth as the mind of man is able to conceive of it) so representeth this ⟨p. 6⟩life everlasting to the eye of the soul, as that the soul seemeth to apprehend and enjoy this life everlasting; yea, & often in such measure, as that he contemneth the world, and all the present felicity of it, in comparison of that measure of the joys thereof, which faith representeth to his soul: and thus faith makes that present which is absent: and makes that manifest and visible, which in it self is invisible: invisible to the eyes of the body, it makes visible to the eye of the soul; the sight of which eye is both given, and continued, and daily sharpened by saving faith. And thus faith is a most excellent evidence of things not seen. So then the whole sum of this first effect, is briefly thus much; Whereas things to be believed, as perfection of sanctification, resurrection, glorification, &c. are not yet seen, neither can be, in that they are not yet come to pass; yet if a man have grace certainly to believe the promises of God, these things shall have a being to his soul: in that both his judgement knoweth assuredly they shall come to pass; and his soul, in most lively and joyful representations, seemeth to enjoy them.