A09376:1484
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.
In their example we are taught the same duty, to do as they here did. The child of GOD in this life hath innumerable causes of desperation: and sometimes his own conscience will take part with Satan, in charging the soul to be in state of damnation. In this heavy case, what must be done? Surely, at this time, when a man is a cast-away in himself, he must even then believe; being in hell (as it were) he must believe that God will bring him to heaven. It is nothing for a man to believe in prosperity, and peace; but in time of desperation to believe, that is a most worthy faith: and indeed, then is the right time for a man to show his faith, when there is in himself no cause of believing. Object. But when a man is in this case, he cannot believe. Answ. Indeed to believe then, is a wonderful hard thing, and a miracle of miracles: But yet this is the property of true faith, so to do; and if there be but one dram of true faith in the heart that despairs, howsoever it may for a time lie hid, as dead: yet at the length it will make him to hope, and wait for mercy and life at the hands of Almighty GOD. And therefore, if it shall please GOD at any time to lay a torment upon our consciences, so as we shall strive with the wrath of GOD, thinking that he hath cast us away; yet for all that, then we must believe GODs promises, and set before us his mercies, and therewith refresh us. And if this faith were not, the child of GOD many sundry times ⟨p. 454⟩were in a most miserable case; the Lord therefore hath most mercifully provided to help him, by the grace of faith. When a man is past all hope of life, he must then believe and hope for life, as the Israelites did in the red sea, for preservation. And undoubtedly, this is a comfortable sign of grace, if a man in the horror of conscience, can show forth the least spark of true faith.
In their example wee are taught the same dutie, to doe as they here did. The childe of GOD in this life hath innumerable causes of desperation: and sometimes his owne conscience wil take part with Satan, in charging the soule to bee in state of damnation. In this heauie case, what must bee done? Surely, at this time, when a man is a cast-away in himselfe, he must euen then beleeue; beeing in hell (as it were) hee must beleeue that God will bring him to heauen. It is nothing for a man to beleeue in prosperitie, and peace; but in time of desperation to beleeue, that is a most worthy faith: and indeede, then is the right time for a man to shew his faith, when there is in himselfe no cause of beleeuing. Obiect. But when a man is in this case, he cannot beleeue. Answ. Indeede to beleeue then, is a wonderfull hard thing, and a miracle of miracles: But yet this is the propertie of true faith, so to doe; and if there bee but one dramme of true faith in the heart that despaires, howsoeuer it may for a time lie hidde, as dead: yet at the length it will make him to hope, and waite for mercy and life at the hands of Almightie GOD. And therefore, if it shall please GOD at any time to lay a torment vpon our consciences, so as wee shall striue with the wrath of GOD, thinking that hee hath cast vs away; yet for all that, then we must beleeue GODs promises, and set before vs his mercies, and therewith refresh vs. And if this faith were not, the childe of GOD many sundry times