A09376:1427
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.
Here then observe, that there is a difference of Gods graces; there is a first grace and a second grace. The first, is that which God gives to any man for any calling: the second is that, which God adds to the first, for the confirming thereof. And the first, is not effectual without the second; As here we see, Moses first calling was not effectual with him, till the second came. And so Gods first grace is not effectual till the second come; by which the former is confirmed, strengthened, and increased. And the second is confirmed by the third: and so we must go on from grace to grace, if we will be bold and courageous in any duty, either of our general or particular calling. This must be well considered; for, that any man stands in grace, or increaseth therein, either respecting his particular calling, or his Christian conversation, it comes from this, that God adds a second grace unto the first. And therefore whosoever is enabled for any duty, hath great cause to praise God: for, whether we continue in grace or increase therein, it comes from the goodness of God, who addeth grace to grace: which if he should not do, we should fall away, & not be able to go forward in the fear of God, and the duties of our calling; for the first grace would not suffice to strengthen us against temptation. And therefore howsoever God hath strengthened us for the time past, yet still we must pray to God to deliver us from evil: which plainly imports, that our standing is from his daily supply of new grace.
Here then obserue, that there is a difference of Gods graces; there is a first grace and a second grace. The first, is that which God giues to any man for any calling: the second is that, which God adds to the first, for the confirming thereof. And the first, is not effectuall without the second; As heere we see, Moses first calling was not effectuall with him, till the second came. And so Gods first grace is not effectuall till the second come; by which the former is confirmed, strengthened, and encreased. And the second is confirmed by the third: and so we must goe on from grace to grace, if wee will be bold and couragious in any duty, either of our general or particular calling. This must be well considered; for, that any man stands in grace, or encreaseth therein, either respecting his particular calling, or his Christian conuersation, it comes from this, that God adds a second grace vnto the first. And therefore whosoeuer is enabled for any duty, hath great cause to praise God: for, whether we continue in grace or encrease therin, it comes from the goodnesse of God, who addeth grace to grace: which if he should not do, we shold fall away, & not be able to go forward in the feare of God, and the duties of our calling; for the first grace would not suffice to strengthen vs against temptation. And therefore howsoeuer God hath strengthened vs for the time past, yet still we must pray to God to deliuer vs from euill: which plainly imports, that our standing is from his daily supply of new grace.