A09376:1527
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.
The consideration of this exceeding mercy of God towards sinners, is of great use. First, it armeth a poor soul against despair: whereinto the devil would draw it upon the view of the multitude; and greatness of his sins: for, many reason thus: My sins are so heinous, so many, and so vile, that I dare not come to God, neither can I be persuaded of the pardon of them. But behold here the endless mercy of God, in forgiving sins to them that repent, though they be like crimson and scarlet, and never so many. This must comfort the wounded soul, and encourage all touched hearts, to repent, and to sue to the Lord for mercy and pardon.
The consideration of this exceeding mercy of God towards sinners, is of great vse. First, it armeth a poore soule against despaire: whereinto the diuell would draw it vpon the view of the multitude; and greatnesse of his sinnes: for, many reason thus: My sinnes are so haynous, so many, and so vile, that I dare not come to God, neither can I be perswaded of the pardon of them. But behold heere the endlesse mercy of God, in forgiuing sinnes to them that repent, though they be like crimson and scarlet, and neuer so many. This must comfort the wounded soule, and encourage all touched hearts, to repent, and to sue to the Lord for mercy and pardon.
Secondly, it must move every one of us now to begin to repent, if we have not repented heretofore: and, if we have begun, to do it more earnestly; for God is most merciful, and with him is plentiful redemption. Yet we must beware that we take not occasion hereby to live in sin, because God is merciful: for, this is to turn the grace of God into wantonness; which, Saint Jude makes a brand of the ungodly,1 and a sign of the reprobate, who (as the Apostle there saith) are appointed to condemnation: yea, this is a despising of the bountifulness of God, which should lead them to repentance; and hereby they heap up unto themselves wrath against the day of wrath, Romans, chapter 2, verses 4, 5. Let us therefore remember this counsel of Paul, Shall we sin that grace may abound? God forbid. We must all, but especially young men take heed of this course: for, if we bless our selves in our heart, and say we shall have peace,