A09376:1385
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.
Hence we learn, that it is not always a token of Gods wrath, To suffer affliction. If any man or people be laden with crosses, it is no argument, that therefore they are not the children of GOD: for, as Peter saith, Judgements begin at Gods house, 1. Peter, chapter 4. verse 17: and any cross upon a people, family, or particular persons, if it bring forth the fruit of grace in them, is a true sign, they belong to GOD. Yea, when men wander from God by an evil way, these afflictions are means to call them home to GOD. Psalm 119.67: Before I was afflicted I went astray. And they that forsake their sin and return to GOD in the time of affliction, are certainly Gods people: for, the wicked man fretteth and murmureth against God when a cross cometh, and he cannot abide it. But the godly man is humbled thereby, and it makes him more obedient in all duties unto God.
Hence wee learne, that it is not alwayes a token of Gods wrath, To suffer affliction. If any man or people be laden with crosses, it is no argument, that therefore they are not the children of GOD: for, as Peter saith, Iudgements begin at Gods house, 1. Peter, chapter 4. verse 17: and any crosse vpon a people, family, or particular persons, if it bring forth the fruite of grace in them, is a true signe, they belong to GOD. Yea, when men wander from God by an euill way, these afflictions are meanes to call them home to GOD. Psalme 119.67: Before I was afflicted I went astray. And they that forsake their sinne and returne to GOD in the time of affliction, are certainly Gods people: for, the wicked man fretteth and murmureth against God when a crosse commeth, and he cannot abide it. But the godly man is humbled therby, and it makes him more obedient in all duties vnto God.
This we should consider: for by an outward profession, we bear the world in hand, that we are Gods children, and therefore we come to hear Gods word, and to learn how to behave our selves as beseemeth his children. But if we would be known to be Gods children indeed, then when any of Gods judgements do befall us, we