A09376:1216
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 example, we see a means set down unto us to induce us to obey God in all hard and difficult cases imposed by God: which is a point to be considered carefully of every one of us. For, say that any of us shall be so touched in conscience for our sins, that we even despair of our own salvation, what must we do in this case? we must take Abraham's course, and dispute with our selves for our selves, & we must draw our arguments from the promise of God, and from the power of God; we must join the promise and power of GOD together. As for example: thus we must say; God hath made this promise, this I have heard, and I do believe it, that God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, 1that whosoever believed in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is Gods promise, and it shall never be changed. Now therefore howsoever my case be heavy and desolate, yet God is able to comfort me, and to bring my soul out of hell, and from this case of desperation; therefore though he kill me, I will trust in him, and I will use all holy means whereby I may overcome this hard and grievous temptation. So, if it shall please God to call us to suffer any thing for the name of Christ, and his holy profession; flesh and blood we know, is weak, and Nature will make this objection, that life is sweet: what course therefore shall we take? we must do as Abraham here doth; unto the certainty of Gods promise we must adjoin his power, and reason thus; God hath made this promise, that he will be with them that suffer any thing ⟨p. 341⟩for his own names sake, and I know that he is able to deliver me: and though he will not, yet he can make me able to bear it; therefore I will patiently suffer, and abide whatsoever his holy hand shall lay upon me. Thirdly, is a man so troubled with some sin, that he cannot get out nor overcome it? Then also let him set before him this fact of Abraham; and unfeignedly endeavour to do hereafter. For that which is past, let him labour to believe this promise of God, At what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sin, he will put all his wickedness out of his remembrance. And for the time to come (being first resolved, that God can enable him to leave his sins) let him strive by good means to leave his sin, avoiding the occasions of it, and praying against it;
In this example, wee see a meanes set downe vnto vs to enduce vs to obey God in all hard and difficult cases imposed by God: which is a point to be considered carefully of euery one of vs. For, say that any of vs shall be so touched in conscience for our sinnes, that we euen despaire of our owne saluation, what must we doe in this case? wee must take Abrahams course, and dispute with our selues for our selues, & we must drawe our arguments from the promise of God, and from the power of God; we must ioyne the promise and power of GOD together. As for example: thus wee must say; God hath made this promise, this I haue heard, and I doe beleeue it, that God so loued the world, that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne,