A09376:657
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.
First, Abraham was called to this dignity, when he lived in Idolatry with his Fathers. So saith Joshua, 24.2. Thus saith the Lord: Your Fathers dwelt beyond the flood in old time, even Terah the father of Abraham, and served other Gods. If Abraham was called by God, when he was an Idolater, then it is apparent he had not purchased Gods favour by his works. Where we learn, that the whole work of a mans salvation, is to be ascribed to Gods mere mercy: who (as the Prophet saith) was found of them that sought him not, Isaiah, 65.1. Abraham never dreamed of the true God, nor of any new covenant of grace and salvation, when God called him. And so, when Paul was going armed with bloody fury, and his fury armed with commissions and authority against the Saints, then God from heaven called him; and of a persecutor, made him the principal instrument of his glory, ⟨p. 173⟩Acts 9.2. &c. Therefore (to apply this to our selves) If God have vouchsafed us the same grace, and taken us to be his people, and made a covenant of salvation with us, which in former times have been sinners of the Gentiles; we must learn here to see whence this favour is, and therefore to ascribe nothing to our selves, but give all the glory unto God.
First, Abraham was called to this dignity, when he liued in Idolatrie with his Fathers. So saith Ioshua, 24.2. Thus saith the Lord: Your Fathers dwelt beyond the floud in old time, euen Terah the father of Abraham, and serued other Gods. If Abraham was called by God, when he was an Idolater, then it is apparant hee had not purchased Gods fauour by his workes. Where we learne, that the whole worke of a mans saluation, is to be ascribed to Gods meere mercy: who (as the Prophet saith) was found of them that sought him not, Esay, 65.1. Abraham neuer dreamed of the true God, nor of any new couenant of grace and saluation, when God called him. And so, when Paul was going armed with bloudy furie, and his furie armed with commissions and authoritie against the Saints, then God from heauen called him; and of a persecuter, made him the principall instrument of his glory, ⟨p. 173⟩