A09376:609
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.
It is so called, because faith is the proper instrument created in the soul of man by the holy Ghost, to apprehend that righteousness, which is in the person of Christ; nor can it be any ways else either apprehended or applied: and therefore it is worthily called that righteousness, which is by faith; that is, which by faith is made a mans own, or whereunto a man hath title by his faith. Here therefore two points offer themselves to our observation.
It is so called, because faith is the proper instrument created in the soule of man by the holy Ghost, to apprehend that righteousnesse, which is in the person of Christ; nor can it be any waies else either apprehended or applied: and therefore it is worthily called that righteousnesse, which is by faith; that is, which by faith is made a mans owne, or whereunto a man hath title by his faith. Here therefore two points offer themselues to our obseruation.
1. That true faith apprehends properly this true righteousness. 2. That only faith can do it.
1. That true faith apprehends properly this true righteousnesse. 2. That onely faith can doe it.
For the first, it is proved by apparent evidences of Scripture. S. Paul tells the Galatians (3.14) They received the promise of the Spirit, by faith. And S. John saith, That as many as received Christ, to them he gave power to be called the sons of God. And least any man should think that to receive Christ, is not to believe in Christ; he addeth, Even to as many as believe in his name (John 1.12) And therefore faith is fitly compared to a hand that takes hold on a garment, and applieth it to the body, being naked: or to a beggars hand that takes or receives a Kings alms: so faith in a mans soul takes hold on Christs righteousness (which is the merciful and liberal alms of the King of heaven) and applieth it to the poor and naked soul of the believer.