A09376:1395
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.
Now, look how these servants of God were affected, so must every one of us, that profess the faith and religion of Christ, labour to be affected towards sin; we must judge it the greatest misery and torment in the world, to do any thing that shall displease God. But alas, come to our days, and the case is far otherwise; for, to most men, it is meat and drink unto them to commit sin: so far are they from counting it a misery. Yea, if a man be ordinarily addicted to some special sin, you then may ⟨p. 410⟩as soon take away his life, as bereave him of his sin: he will adventure the loss of heaven for ever, for the pleasure of sin for a time. But all such, are far unlike these holy servants of God; for they counted it the greatest cross, and misery that could be, to do any thing that displeased God, and did check and break the peace of a good conscience. And if we look to enjoy like peace and comfort with them; we must strive against our own corrupt disposition, and labour to find sin to be our greatest sorrow. Worldly miseries may affect us: but, in respect of sorrow for sin, all worldly grief should be light unto us. Indeed, we are otherwise minded naturally: but herein, we must show the power and truth of grace, that to displease God by any sin, is our greatest grief.
Now, looke how these seruants of God were affected, so must euery one of vs, that professe the faith and religion of Christ, labour to bee affected towards sinne; wee must iudge it the greatest misery and torment in the world, to doe any thing that shall displease God. But alas, come to our daies, and the case is farre otherwise; for, to most men, it is meate and drinke vnto them to commit sinne: so farre are they from counting it a misery. Yea, if a man be ordinarily addicted to some speciall sinne, you then may ⟨p. 410⟩as soone take away his life, as bereaue him of his sinne: he will aduenture the losse of heauen for euer, for the pleasure of sinne for a time. But all such, are farre vnlike these holy seruants of God; for they counted it the greatest crosse, and miserie that could be, to doe any thing that displeased God, and did checke and breake the peace of a good conscience. And if we looke to enioy like peace and comfort with them; we must striue against our owne corrupt disposition, and labour to finde sinne to bee our greatest sorrow. Worldly miseries may affect vs: but, in respect of sorrow for sinne, all worldly griefe should bee light vnto vs. Indeede, wee are otherwise minded naturally: but herein, wee must shew the power and truth of grace, that to displease God by any sinne, is our greatest griefe.