A09376:1400
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.
But let us come to Moses judgement more particularly. He esteemed the rebuke of Christ, &c. that is, he was firmly resolved, that reproach and contempt for Christ his sake, was greater riches unto him, than the treasures of a whole kingdom. But some will say, This is a very strange judgement: can it possibly be true and good? Ans. Yes undoubtedly, it is most sound judgement, and worthy eternal remembrance of every one of us; that to suffer reproach for Christ his sake, is greater riches, than all worldly wealth. The truth hereof is proved by many reasons out of Gods word. 1 God hath made a promise of blessedness to those which suffer for Christs sake.1 Blessed are you (saith Christ) when men revile you, and speak all manner of evil sayings against you, for my names sake, &c. And S. Peter saith, If ye be railed upon for my names sake, 2blessed are ye. And lest any should doubt how this can be, Christ shows wherein this blessedness consists, saying; He that forsaketh houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, 3or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake; shall receive an hundred fold more, and shall inherit eternal life. A most worthy promise, assuring us that no man loseth by suffering for Christs sake; for, he shall be rewarded an hundred fold over. In stead of earthly friends, and worldly comforts, he shall have the love and favour of God shed abroad in his heart; which will be an over-flowing fountain of comfort for soul and body for ever, far more worth than the wealth and treasures of all the kingdoms in the world. A small springing fountain (we know) is better to an house, than a hundred Cisterns full; because of continual supply from the springing fountain, when the ⟨p. 413⟩Cisterns will be spent. Behold: the love of God in Christ, with other spiritual graces, shall be in all that suffer for the name of Christ, as living streams flowing unto life eternal; when as the cisterns of all worldly pleasures and treasures, shall be spent and dried up. 2 By suffering affliction for Christs sake, we are made conformable unto him in his humility; that so we may be made like unto him after this life in glory. So Paul saith, Our light affliction causeth unto us, an eternal weight of glory,