A09376:1669
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.
Secondly, do the wicked hate the godly, because of their religion and profession? then on the contrary, we must learn to love religion, because it is religion; and the professors of it, for their professions sake. This is Christs instruction, to love a disciple because he is a disciple; Mat. 10. ⟨p. 540⟩Indeed we must love all men; but especially those that embrace the Gospel of Christ, and be of the household of faith: for, all such are brethren, having one Father, which is God; and brethren ought to love one another. But alas this lesson is not learned: for, the world generally is given to mocking, and scoffing, & the matter of their mocking is religion, and the professors thereof. This ought not to be so: for, howsoever men may fail both in knowledge & practice, yet the professors of religion should not be so despised. This abuse is grown to such a height, that many refrain the diligent hearing of the word preached, least they should be mocked. But let these mockers know, that herein they shake hands with the devil, and with the persecutors of Gods Church; for, mocking is a kind of persecution. Young Christians should not be so dealt with; but rather encouraged, for the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ. Thus dealt our Saviour Christ with those that gave any testimony of the sparks of grace: when the young man said, He had from his youth kept Gods commandments, the Text saith, Jesus beheld him and loved him, Mark 10.21: and, hearing a Scribe answer discreetly, he said unto him; Thou art not far from the Kingdom of God, Mark chapter 12. ver. 34: Now, we must be followers of Christ, and walk in love, judging and speaking the best of all professors, accounting none for hypocrites, till GOD make their hypocrisy known. It is a note of a Christian to love a man, because he loves religion: on the contrary, to hate a man, because he is a Christian, is a note of a persecutor, and an enemy to Christ. And thus much in general.
Secondly, doe the wicked hate the godly, because of their religion and profession? then on the contrary, wee must learne to loue religion, because it is religion; and the professours of it, for their professions sake. This is Christs instruction, to loue a disciple because he is a disciple;