A09376:482
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.
Fourthly and lastly, out of this action and obedience of Noah, mark a special lesson. God had revealed to him, that he would save him and his family, and assured him he should not perish. Yet for all this, he makes an Ark: whereupon it followeth, that Noah, though he knew God would save him, yet was persuaded he must use the means, or else should not be saved. He might have said to himself, God hath said, and bound himself by covenant, he will save me; now if I make not the Ark, yet his word is his word, and he will stand to it. His will cannot be altered: though I be false he will be true; though I do not that I should do, yet he will do what belongs to him: therefore I will spare my labour and cost of making the Ark; especially seeing it is a matter of so much mockery, and so ridiculous to reason. But Noah is of another mind: he will not sever Gods word from his means, he dependeth on Gods word for his safety, but not on his bare word without the means.
Fourthly and lastly, out of this action and obedience of Noah, marke a speciall lesson. God had reuealed to him, that he would saue him and his family, and assured him hee should not perish. Yet for all this, he makes an Arke: wherevpon it followeth, that Noah, though he knew God would saue him, yet was perswaded he must vse the meanes, or else should not be saued. He might haue said to himselfe, God hath said, and bound himselfe by couenant, he will saue me; now if I make not the Arke, yet his word is his word, and he will stand to it. His will cannot be altred: though I be false he will be true; though I doe not that I should doe, yet he will do what belongs to him: therefore I will spare my labour and cost of making the Arke; especially seeing it is a matter of so much mockerie, and so ridiculous to reason. But Noah is of another minde: he will not seuer Gods word from his meanes, he dependeth on Gods word for his safety, but not on his bare word without the meanes.
Whence we learn, that though a man be certain of his salvation, yet he is to use the means of salvation: and that not only, though he be certain in the certainty of faith, but though he could be assured, from God himself by immediate revelation. For, if God should say to a man by his name, thou shalt be saved; It is no more, then here was said to Noah for his deliverance. For to him said God, I will destroy all flesh: but with thee I will make my covenant, and thou