A09376:904
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.
The use of •his doctrine: First, discovereth the nakedness of many professing themselves Christians, who care not how they live, yet say they believe in Christ, and look to be saved by him. Ask how they know it: they answer, they know no other: Ask when they began: they say, they did ever so. Ask if they doubt; they answer, they would be ashamed so to do. But alas, here is nothing but ignorance and presumption. Our religion can never be disgraced by such men; for they have it not, they know it not: for, if they did, they would shame to answer so. These men have no faith at all: for, where it is, doubting doth always show it self. And he that knows he believes, knows also he doubts: and the more he believes, the more he knoweth and feeleth his doubting: for, where these two are, they are always opposite, and show their contrary natures: the one is the spirit, the other is flesh and corruption. And these, saith the Apostle, do lust one against another, Galath. 5.17. He therefore that thinketh he is wholly spirit, and hath no flesh or corruption in him, is nothing but corruption: and he that imagineth, he hath perfect faith, and no doubting, hath no faith at all in him, but carnal presumption.
The vse of •his doctrine: First, discouereth the nakednesse of many professing themselues Christians, who care not how they liue, yet say they beleeue in Christ, and looke to be saued by him. Aske how they know it: they answer, they know no other: Aske when they began: they say, they did euer so. Aske if they doubt; they answere, they would be ashamed so to doe. But alas, heere is nothing but ignorance and presumption. Our religion can neuer be disgraced by such men; for they haue it not, they knowe it not: for, if they did, they would shame to answere so. These men haue no faith at all: for, where it is, doubting doth alwaies shewe it selfe. And hee that knowes hee beleeues, knowes also hee doubts: and the more hee beleeues, the more hee knoweth and feeleth his doubting: for, where these two are, they are alwaies opposite, and shewe their contrary natures: the one is the spirit, the other is flesh and corruption. And these, saith the Apostle, doe lust one against another, Galath. 5.17. He therefore that thinketh he is wholly spirit, and hath no flesh or •orruption in him, is nothing but corruption: and he that imagineth, he hath perfect faith, and no doubting, hath no faith at all in him, but carnall presumption.