A09376:1025
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.
In this their practice, is commended unto us a most worthy lesson of Christianity; namely, that we must so live, that we may die in faith. Many say they live in faith: and it is well if they do so; but the main point is, to die in faith. There is none so ill, but howsoever he lives, yet he would die well: If he would die well, he must die in faith. For miserable is the death, that is without faith. And herein faith and hope differ from other graces of God; Love, joy, zeal, holiness, and all other graces are imperfect here, and are perfected in heaven: but faith and hope are perfected at our deaths; they are not in the other world, for there is nothing then to be believed, nor hoped for, seeing we then do enjoy all things: but as they are begun in our life, at our regeneration, so they be made perfect when we die; and they shine most gloriously in the last and greatest combat of all, which is, at the hour of death. So that the death of a Christian, which is the gate to glory, is to die in faith.
In this their practice, is commended vnto vs a most worthy lesson of Christianitie; namely, that wee must so liue, that we may die in faith. Many say they liue in faith: and it is well if they doe so; but the maine point is, to die in faith. There is none so ill, but howsoeuer he liues, yet hee would die well: If hee would die well, hee must die in faith. For miserable is the death, that is without faith. And herein faith and hope differ from other graces of God; Loue, ioy, zeale, holinesse, and all other graces are imperfect here, and are perfected in heauen: but faith and hope are perfected at our deaths; they are not in the other world, for there is nothing then to be beleeued, nor hoped for, seeing we then doe inioy all things: but as they are begunne in our life, at our regeneration, so they be made perfect when wee die; and they shine most gloriously in the last and greatest combate of all, which is, at the houre of death. So that the death of a Christian, which is the gate to glory, is to die in faith.
Besides, as life leaves us, death finds us; and as death leaves us, the last judgement finds us: and as it leaves us, so we continue for ever and ever without recovery or alteration.