A09376:1647
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
Believers under the Maccabees.Beleeuers vnder the Maccabees.
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.
From this which the Apostle here observeth, we may take a view of the state of Gods Church and people here in this world. For, GOD vouchsafeth peace and prosperous success to some, as a just reward of faith and obedience: but others must want the comfort of outward peace and welfare, and undergo most grievous trials and persecutions. Look, as there is a continual interchange between day and night, and the one doth constantly follow the other, so as it is one while day, and an other while night: so is it with the Church of God, and with true believers in this world; sometime they have peace and prosperity: and this continueth not alway, but another while they are in trouble, misery, and persecution.
From this which the Apostle heere obserueth, wee may take a view of the state of Gods Church and people heere in this world. For, GOD vouchsafeth peace and prosperous successe to some, as a iust reward of faith and obedience: but others must want the comfort of outward peace and welfare, and vndergoe most greeuous trials and persecutions. Looke, as there is a continuall interchange betweene day and night, and the one doth constantly follow the other, so as it is one while day, and an other while night: so is it with the Church of God, and with true beleeuers in this world; somtime they haue peace and prosperity: and this continueth not alway, but another while they are in trouble, miserie, and persecution.
To make this point more plain, because it is of some importance; we may behold the truth of it, in the Church of GOD from the beginning. Adams family was GODs Church, and therein was first notable peace: but when GOD accepted Abel's sacrifice, and refused Cains, then persecution began, and Cain slew his brother Abel. Abraham is called the Father of ⟨p. 532⟩the faithful, and his family in those days, was the true Church of God; wherein, we may notably see this changeable estate: for, Gods calls him out of Charran, to dwell in the land of Canaan, Exod. 12.1, 10. But, within a while, the family was so great in the Land, that he was fain to go down into Egypt, to sojourn there. And, there the Lord blessed him exceedingly, and enriched him so greatly, that he became a mighty Prince, able to encounter with the Kings of those nations in battle, after his return to Canaan,