A09376:483
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.
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 ⟨p. 126⟩shalt be delivered: yet, for all that, Noah judgeth, that if he use not the means, if he make not an Ark, he is to look for no deliverance: this was Noah's divinity;
Whence we learne, that though a man be certaine of his saluation, yet he is to vse the meanes of saluation: and that not onely, though he be certaine in the certainty of faith, but though hee could be assured, from God himselfe by immediate reuelation. For, if God should say to a man by his name, thou shalt be saued; It is no more, then here was said to Noah for his deliuerance. For to him said God, I will destroy all flesh: but with thee I will make my couenant, and thou ⟨p. 126⟩shalt be deliuered: yet, for all that, Noah iudgeth, that if he vse not the meanes, if he make not an Arke, he is to looke for no deliuerance: this was Noahs diuinitie;
Contrary both to the divinity and practice of some in this age: who say, If I shall be saved, I may live as I list: and though I live as I list, yet if in the end I can say, Lord have mercy on me, I am safe enough. But Noah would not trust his body on such conditions, though they be so presumptuous as to trust their souls. Let such men be assured, God in his decree hath tied the end and the means together. Let not therefore man separate what God hath joined together: he that doth, let him look for no more salvation if he use not the means, then Noah would have done for safety, if he had made no Ark. And thus we see the second effect of his faith. It followeth; To the saving of his household.