A09376:1674
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.
Here then, are two resurrections compared together. The first, is a deliverance from temporal death: the second, is a rising to life everlasting at the last day of judgement. Now, of these two, the later is the better; and that in the judgement of Gods servants, and Martyrs. So then, the true meaning of these words, is this: These servants of God, refused deliverance from temporal tortures and punishments; because their care and desire was, that their bodies might rise again to life everlasting, at the day of judgement: which rising again to life at that day, they judged far better, than to rise to a temporal life, for a while in this world.
Here then, are two resurrections compared together. The first, is a deliuerance from temporall death: the second, is a rising to life euerlasting at the last day of iudgement. Now, of these two, the later is the better; and that in the iudgement of Gods seruants, and Martyrs. So then, the true meaning of these wordes, is this: These seruants of God, refused deliuerance from temporall tortures and punishments; because their care and desire was, that their bodies might rise againe to life euerlasting, at the day of iudgement: which rising againe to life at that day, they iudged farre better, than to rise to a temporall life, for a while in this world.
This reason, well observed, may teach us these two special duties: First, to be careful above all things, for assurance in our consciences (as these servants of God had) that our bodies shall rise again to life everlasting, at the last day. True it is, we make this confession with our mouths, among the articles of our Faith; but, we must labour to be settled and resolved effectually in our hearts, that these our bodies (be they never so miserably tormented here) shall one day rise to life and glory, by Jesus Christ. All the true Martyrs of Christ, knew, and were resolved of this: and this it was, that made them so confident in their sufferings. And, if we can attain unto it, we shall find great use hereof, both in life and death. For our lives, this will move us to embrace true religion from our hearts, and in all things to endeavour to keep a good conscience. This Paul testifieth,