A09376:943
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.
Thirdly and lastly, let us here know and learn, that this holy Matron, Sarah, figureth unto us mystically the spiritual Jerusalem, the Church of GOD. Allegories are charily and sparingly to be taught; else much unsound Doctrine may cumber mens consciences: ⟨p. 252⟩but this is sound and sure; for it is the Apostles, Galath. 4.23, &c. By Hagar and Sarah, other things are meant: for, these two mothers are two Testaments: Hagar, she which gendereth unto bondage. Sarah, Jerusalem, which is free, and from above, and is the mother of us all. Now, the resemblance betwixt natural Sarah, the wife of Abraham, and mystical Sarah the spouse of Christ the Church of God, stands in this; that as she not by power in her self, but by Gods power, and faith in his promise bare Isaac: So, the Church our mother, bringeth forth children to God, only by the power of Gods word and spirit. And therefore as Isaac is called the child of Promise, and said, to be borne by promise, Galath. 4.23. So, men regenerate and borne to the Church, are said, not to be borne of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God, John 1.13. And S. James saith, 1.18. God, of his own will, begat us with the word of truth. Thus the word of God & the will, that is, the spirit of God, these two together beget children to the Church.
Thirdly and lastly, let vs heere knowe and learne, that this holy Matron, Sarah, figureth vnto vs mysticallie the spirituall Hierusalem, the Church of GOD. Allego•ies are charily and sparingly to bee taught; else much vnsounde Doctrine may cumber mennes consciences: ⟨p. 252⟩but this is sound and sure; for it is the Apostles, Galath. 4.23, &c. By Agar and Sarah, other things are meant: for, these two mothers are two Testaments: Agar, shee which gendreth vnto bondage. Sarah, Hierusalem, which is free, and from aboue, and is the mother of vs all. Now, the resemblance betwixt naturall Sarah, the wife of Abraham, and mysticall Sarah the spouse of Christ the Church of God, stands in this; that as she not by power in her selfe, but by Gods power, and faith in his promise bare Isaac: So, the Church our mother, bringeth forth children to God, onely by the power of Gods word and spirit. And therefore as Isaac is called the childe of Promise, and said, to be borne by promise, Galath. 4.23. So, men regenerate and borne to the Church, are said, not to be borne of bloud, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God,