A09376:1148
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.
This serveth to stay the heart of many a man that is found bruised in conscience; for, seeing his weak obedience, and the greatness of his sins past, he begins to call his election into question: now what must a man do in this case? Answer. Surely he must go on forward in obedience, and endeavour himself to continue therein: and then though he fail many times through infirmity, yet for his endeavour GOD will accept of him, and be pleased with the same.
This serueth to stay the heart of many a man that is found bruised in conscience; for, seeing his weake obedience, and the greatnesse of his sinnes past, he begins to call his election into question: now what must a man doe in this case? Answer. Surely he must goe on forward in obedience, and endeauour himself to continue therein: and then though he faile many times through infirmity, yet for his endeauour GOD will accept of him, and be pleased with the same.
This doctrine is very comfortable to a distressed conscience; but yet it must not make any man bold to sin: for many abuse this Doctrine, and say, that though they live in sin, yet God will accept of them, for they love GOD in their heart. But they deceive themselves: for, this merciful dealing of God in accepting the will for the deed, is only towards those that endeavour themselves sincerely to leave their sins, to believe in God, and to walk in obedience: but such as flatter themselves, lying in their sins, God will not be merciful unto them, Deut. 29.19.20.
This doctrine is very comfortable to a distressed conscience; but yet it must not make any man bolde to sinne: for many abuse this Doctrine, and say, that though they liue in sinne, yet God will accept of them, for they loue GOD in their heart. But they deceiue themselues: for, this mercifull dealing of God in accepting the will for the deede, is onely towards those that endeauour themselues sincerely to leaue their sinnes, to beleeue in God, and to walke in obedience: but such as flatter themselues, lying in their sinnes, God will not be mercifull vnto them,