A09376:488
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.
But first of all, it may seem wonderful, how this Ark should save him and his household in this general destruction. For it was a great and huge vessel resembling a ship: yet so far unlike, as it is rather called an Ark. It must float above the water, it must be laden with a heavy burden; and yet without Anchor to stay her, without mast to poise her, without stern to guide and move her, without Master to govern her. For Noah was partly a husbandman, and partly a Preacher: and though he had much learning, yet the use of sailing was not then found out: and therefore in all reason ⟨p. 127⟩this Ark would be carried on hills and rocks, by the violence of the Tempests, and so slit in pieces. Yet, for all this, it saved him, even when heaven and earth seemed to run together (so vehement was the rain) even then it saved him and his. How came this to pass? Even because Gods providence and his hand was with it: He was the Master, and the Steers-man. For as God himself shut the door of the Ark upon him, when he was in, and made it fast after him, that no water might enter (which was impossible for Noah himself to have done) Gen. 7.16: So doubtless the same God that had vouchsafed to be his Porter, was also his keeper and preserver, and the Master of the Ark during that voyage. And from hence came it to pass, that the Ark saved him: which otherwise in reason it could never have done.
But first of all, it may seeme wonderfull, how this Arke should saue him and his houshold in this generall destruction. For it was a great and huge vessell resembling a ship: yet so farre vnlike, as it is rather called an Arke. It must flote aboue the water, it must be laden with a heauie burthen; and yet without Anchor to stay her, without mast to poise her, without sterne to guide and moue her, without Maister to gouerne her. For Noah was partly a husbandman, and partly a Preacher: and though he had much learning, yet the vse of sayling was not then found out: and therefore in all reason ⟨p. 127⟩this Arke would be caried on hills and rockes, by the violence of the Tempests, and so slit in pieces. Yet, for all this, it saued him, euen when heauen and earth seemed to runne together (so vehement was the raine) euen then it saued him and his. How came this to passe? Euen because Gods prouidence and his hand was with it: Hee was the Maister, and the Steres-man. For as God himselfe shut the doore of the Arke vpon him, when he was in, and made it fast after him, that no water might enter (which was impossible for Noah himselfe to haue done)