A09376:1437
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 a singular fruit of faith: it makes God, who is indeed invisible, to be after a sort visible unto us. Moses by faith saw him that is invisible; for, by faith he was persuaded of Gods providence, and special protection in the delivery of his people, though Pharaoh should rage never so much. So Enoch is said to have walked with God, 1because he saw him by the eye of faith, in all his affairs. And when Joseph was allured to sin with his mistress, what stayed him? surely, the fear of God, whom he saw by faith. How can I do this great wickedness (saith Joseph) & so sin against God? 2As if he should say, I am always where God is present; how then should I do so wickedly, & God see it? And the same is the state of all true believers; their faith makes the invisible God, to be after a sort visible unto them; so as a faithful man may say, God is present with me, and protecteth me. Whereby we may see, what little faith is in the world; for few can truly say, they see God: which, faith enables a man to do. Yea, most men care so little to see God, that he is far from their very thoughts. Many have made means to see the devil: but where is he that labours for such a measure of faith, that he may see the invisible God? ⟨p. 429⟩If wicked men run to Conjurers, to see the devil, whom they shall once see to their sorrow; let us labour for faith in the word and sacraments, and this faith will make us so to endure in all tribulation, as though we saw God.
Here then obserue a singular fruite of faith: it makes God, who is indeed inuisible, to be after a sort visible vnto vs. Moses by faith sawe him that is inuisible; for, by faith he was perswaded of Gods prouidence, and speciall protection in the deliuerie of his people, though Pharaoh should rage neuer so much. So Enoch is said to haue walked with God, 1because hee sawe him by the eie of faith, in all his affaires. And when Ioseph was allured to sin with his mistres, what staied him? surely, the feare of God, whom he saw by faith. How can I doe this great wickednes (saith Ioseph) & so sin against God? 2