A09376:574
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.
Secondly, some may object: The virgin Mary sinned not: I answer: so teacheth indeed the Church of Rome, that she never sinned, that her life was free from sin actual, and her conception from sin original. But so taught neither the Scripture nor Gods Church: but, contrariwise, it is more then manifest, she was a sinner. For first, she confesseth her soul rejoiced in God her Saviour: but if she were no sinner, she stood in need of no Saviour. Again, she died: but if she had not sinned, she should in Justice not have died. For death entered by sin: and where no sin is, there death is not due. Thus no man can be righteous by the perfect righteousness of the law, in himself.
Secondly, some may obiect: The virgine Mary sinned not: I answere: so teacheth indeede the Church of Rome, that she neuer sinned, that her life was free from sinne •ctuall, and her conception from sinne originall. But so taught neither the Scripture nor Gods Church: but, contrariwise, it is more then manifest, shee was a sinner. For first, she confesseth her soule reioiced in God her Sauiour: but if she were no sinner, she stoode in neede of no Sauiour. Againe, she died: but if she had not sinned, she should in Iustice not haue died. For death entred by sinne: and where no sinne is, there death is not due. Thus no man can be righteous by the perfect righteousnesse of the law, in himselfe.
Secondly, there is a civill righteousness: and that is, when a man in his outward actions, is conformable to the law, especially to the Commandments of the second Table. For example; he is free from the outward actions of murder, adultery, or thievery, and such like: or he can refrain his anger, and overcome his passions, that they shall not break out into open violence to the view of the world: and for the first Table; he comes to the Church, & professeth religion. All this is a civill righteousness, and by this can no man be justified, nor made righteous. For first, it is not a perfect, but a most imperfect righteousness, and therefore cannot justify. It is so imperfect, that it is as good as none at all in Gods sight: for it is but an outward, and constrained, and dissembled obedience, and wants the inward and true obedience of the heart and soul.