A09376:479
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.
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.
The vse of this doctrine discouereth the weaknesse of many mēs faith: for if the doctrine of the Gospel go currāt with our natural affectiōs, or seem plausible to our natures, we do formally ⟨p. 124⟩obay it. But if it crosse our affections, or goe beyond our reason, or controll our naturall dispositions, then wee spurne against it, we call it into question, we are offended at it, and denie our obedience. Here wants the faith of Noah, which caried him beyond the compasse of nature, and reach of reason, and made him beleeue and do that which neither nature could allowe, nor reason like of, & which would be displeasing to his naturall affections. Let vs therfore learne to practice true faith, by beleeuing forthwith what God shal say vnto vs, without asking aduise, or hearing the obiections of flesh and bloud. God threatned in times past the ouerthrow of the great Monarchies of the Assyrians, Chaldeans, Persians, Grecians, Romanes: reason did make doubts how it could be, but faith beleeued it, and it is done. God in later times threatned the fall of Abbies, and dispersing of Monkes, for their wickednesse. It seemed impossible to reason: yet faith in some beleeued it, and it came to passe.