A09376:458
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.
And secondly, Gods wisdom shone clearly in this means; because God would have him saved not in such sort, as the world might not see it (as it would have been, if he had been taken up into heaven, or into the air): but would have him saved in an Ark; that so al• the wicked men, as they •ere a dying in the water, or expecting death upon the tops of the hills, might see him live, and be saved, to their more torment, and to their greater shame, who would not believe Gods word, as he did. For, as the wicked in hell are more tormented to see the godly in the joys of heaven: so doubtless were the wicked of that age, to see Noah saved before their eyes. The view of this power & wisdom of God herein, made Noah give great reverence to Gods Majesty.
And secondly, Gods wisedom shone cleerly in this means; because God would haue him saued not in such sort, as the world might not see it (as it would haue beene, if hee had beene taken vp into heauen, or into the aire): but would haue him saued in an Arke; that so al• the wicked men, as they •ere a dying in the water, or expecting death vpon the tops of the hills, might see him liue, and be saued, to their more torment, and to their greater shame, who would not beleeue Gods word, as he did. For, as the wicked in hell are more tormented to see the godly in the ioyes of heauen: so doubtlesse were the wicked of that age, to see Noah saued before their eies. The view of this power & wisdom of God herein, made Noah giue great reuerence to Gods Maiestie.
And no les•e ought it to work in the hearts of all true hearted English men, and faithful Christians. For, did not the Lord restore & establish the Gospel to our nation, by a child and by a woman; and in her time when all other Princes were against her (contrary to the rules of policy)? and did not God in our late deliverance, overthrow our enemies, not so much by the power of man, as by his own hand? Did not he fight from heaven? Did not the stars and the winds in their courses sight against that Sisera of Spain? Let us therefore with blessed Noah stand amazed to see Gods mercies, & with reverence & fear magnify his great and glorious name.