A09376:1048
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.
If this be true, that knowledge should so abound in the ⟨p. 277⟩time of the Gospel; then all ignorant persons of this latter age of the world must know, that they have much to answer for at the day of judgment: for, God in the new testament hath made his Church to abound in knowledge, so that their ignorance (for which they think God will hold them excused) shall be a bill of indictment against them at the last day, to their further condemnation: because the light of the Gospel is so clearly, and plentifully revealed in these days; that whereas the most excellent Patriarchs of all, could then but see Christ afar off, the most simple may now see him near unto them.
If this bee true, that knowledge should so abound in the ⟨p. 277⟩time of the Gospell; then all ignorant persons of this latter age of the world must knowe, that they haue much to answer for at the day of iudgment: for, God in the new testament hath made his Church to abound in knowledge, so that their ignorance (for which they thinke God will hold them excused) shall be a bill of inditement against them at the last day, to their further condemnation: because the light of the Gospell is so clearely, and plentifully reuealed in these dayes; that whereas the most excellent Patriarchs of all, could then but see Christ afarre off, the most simple may now see him neere vnto them.
Again, where is more knowledge, there should be more obedience: therefore it concerneth all those that profess themselves to be Christians, & submit themselves to hear and learn the word of God taught unto them; not content themselves with bare knowledge, though it be never so much: But withal, to bring forth the fruits of obedience in their lives & conversations. For, though Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in regard of faith did go far before us: yet seeing we have more knowledge then they had in the Messiah, we must labour to become like unto them in the obedience of our lives: Their faith was stronger then ours: but our obedience should be greater then theirs, because we have more cause to believe then they. S. Paul saith, We all behold as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord with open face: