A09376:1414
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, if Christ considered as man only cannot merit: then much less can any other man merit at Gods hands. And therefore Moses, though he were a worthy man, yet because he was but a man, and a sinful man also, he could not by any work deserve life everlasting at Gods hands.
Now, if Christ considered as man onely cannot merit: then much lesse can any other man merite at Gods hands. And therefore Moses, though hee were a worthy man, yet because hee was but a man, and a sinnefull man also, he could not by any worke deserue life euerlasting at Gods hands.
But life everlasting is called a reward in the Scripture, because it is the free gift of God, promised by GOD to his children in Christ; for this end, to allure and draw them on in obedience. And it must not seem strange, that we say a reward is a free gift: for so it may be, as we shall see by comparing two places of Scripture together; to ⟨p. 419⟩wit, Matthew 5.44. with Luke 6.32. For, whereas Matthew saith, If you love them that love you, what reward have you; Saint Luke repeating the same thing, saith, What thank have you, or (as the word signifies) what favour or free gift have you? Secondly, there may be another cause rendered, why life everlasting is called a reward; to wit, not in regard of the work done: but in regard of the worker considered in Christ: for, Christs merit makes life everlasting to be a reward. Now, every true believer that endeavours to do the will of God, is in Christ: and so Christs righteousness with the merit thereof, is his, so far forth as serves to make his person acceptable to God. Whereupon, he hath a promise of reward made unto him upon his obedience; yet not for his work, but for the work of Christs obedience, in whom he is: And so must these words here be understood.
But life euerlasting is called a reward in the Scripture, because it is the free gift of God, promised by GOD to his children in Christ; for this end, to allure and drawe them on in obedience. And it must not seeme strange, that wee say a reward is a free gift: for so it may be, as we shall see by comparing two places of Scripture together; to