A09376:1404
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.
Secondly, we must here learn instruction for the time to come: We have for a long time, through the great goodness of God, enjoyed peace and wealth, with the Gospel of Christ; but undoubtedly, these days of peace will have an end, they cannot last always, Gods people must pass through the fiery furnace of affliction: Well, when this is come upon us, how shall we be able to bear it? Surely, we must now learn to be of this opinion that Moses was of; we must judge it to be the greatest honour and riches that can be, to suffer affliction for Christ his sake: and this will be the ground of all constancy, courage, and Christian boldness, in the day of trial. For, he that is of this mind, will never fear affliction, nor reproach for Christ his sake: nay, he will be so far from fearing it, that he will rejoice and triumph therein.
Secondly, wee must here learne instruction for the time to come: We haue for a long time, through the great goodnesse of God, enioyed peace and wealth, with the Gospel of Christ; but vndoubtedly, these daies of peace will haue an ende, they cannot last alwaies, Gods people must passe through the fierie furnace of affliction: Well, when this is come vpon vs, how shall wee be able to beare it? Surely, we must now learne to be of this opinion that Moses was of; we must iudge it to bee the greatest honour and riches that can be, to suffer affliction for Christ his sake: and this will be the ground of all constancy, courage, and Christian boldnesse, in the day of trial. For, he that is of this mind, wil neuer feare affliction, nor reproach for Christ his sake: nay, he will be so farre from fearing it, that he will reioyce and triumph therein.
Further, whereas it is said, Esteeming the rebuke of Christ; here mark, the rebuke of Gods church and people is called the rebuke of Christ. The people of God in Egypt were laden with reproaches and rebukes: and behold, Christ accounts it his rebuke, and the holy Ghost so calls it. ⟨p. 415⟩Where learn this, That Christ esteemeth the reproach and affliction of his Church, as his own affliction. When Saul went to persecute the brethren at Damascus,