A09376:478
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.
These, doubtless, and many such natural considerations came into his mind, and stood up as so many impediments of his faith. But, behold the power of true faith, in the heart of a holy man: It overgoeth all doubts, it breaketh through all difficulties, to obey the will & word of God. Yea, it g•ues a man wings, with which to fly over all carnal objections. Thus we see it here in Noah, and afterward shall as clearly see it in Abraham, and other holy men.
These, doubtlesse, and many such naturall considerations came into his minde, and stood vp as so many impediments of his faith. But, behold the power of true faith, in the heart of a holy man: It ouergoeth all doubts, it breaketh through all difficulties, to obay the will & word of God. Yea, it g•ues a man wings, with which to flie ouer all carnall obiections. Thus we see it here in Nooh, and afterward shall as cleerely see it in Abraham, and other holy men.
The use of this doctrine discovereth the weakness of many mens faith: for if the doctrine of the Gospel go currant with our natural affections, or seem plausible to our natures, we do formally ⟨p. 124⟩obey it. But if it cross our affections, or go beyond our reason, or control our natural dispositions, then we spurn against it, we call it into question, we are offended at it, and deny our obedience. Here wants the faith of Noah, which carried him beyond the compass of nature, and reach of reason, and made him believe and do that which neither nature could allow, nor reason like of, & which would be displeasing to his natural affections. Let us therefore learn to practice true faith, by believing forthwith what God shall say unto us, without asking advise, or hearing the objections of flesh and blood. God threatened in times past the overthrow of the great Monarchies of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians, Grecians, Romans: reason did make doubts how it could be, but faith believed it, and it is done. God in later times threatened the fall of Abbeys, and dispersing of Monks, for their wickedness. It seemed impossible to reason: yet faith in some believed it, and it came to pass.