A09376:1683
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.
The seventh kind of suffering, is this: they were tempted. These words, by the change of a letter in the original, may be read thus. They were burned. And some do so translate it; thinking, that they that writ or copied out this Epistle at the first, did put one letter for another. Their reason is, because examples of grievous punishments are mentioned both before and after this: and therefore they think this should be burning, which is a sore and grievous death. But we may safely and truly read the words thus; They were tempted: conceiving hereby, that they were enticed and allured by fair promises of life, to forsake their religion. So, the same word is used by Saint James, saying; Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own concupiscence, and is enticed, James 1.14. If any ask, why this kind of trial in tempting, should be placed among such cruel torments? I answer, because it is as great a trial as any can be. For, it is as dangerous a temptation to overthrow religion and a good conscience, as any punishment in the world. This appears plainly in Christs temptations by the Devil: for, in those three, Satan bewrays his malice and craft against Christ and his Church most notably. Now Satan, not prevailing with the two first, makes his third and last assault from the glory and dignity of the world: for, showing unto Christ all the Kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them, he saith, All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me, Math. 4.9. Indeed, Christs holy heart would not yield unto it: but, that it was a grievous temptation, appears by Christs answers. For, in the former temptations, he only disputed with Satan out of Scripture: but when this temptation comes, Christ bids him (as it were in passion) avoid Satan; signifying thereby not only his abhorring of that sin, but also the danger of that assault by the world. And indeed, these temptations on the right hand (as we ⟨p. 548⟩may call them) will most dangerously creep into the heart, and cause shipwreck of faith and a good conscience. All Davids troubles and persecutions could not bring him to so grievous sins, as did a little ease & rest. A huge great Army cannot so soon give entrance to an enemy into a City, as riches and fair promises:
The seauenth kinde of suffering, is this: they were tempted. These words, by the change of a letter in the originall, may be reade thus. They were burned. And some doe so translate it; thinking, that they that writ or copied out this Epistle at the first, did put one letter for another. Their reason is, because examples of grieuous punishments are mentioned both before and after this: and therfore they thinke this should be burning, which is a sore and grieuous death. But wee may safely and truly reade the words thus; They were tempted: conceiuing heereby, that they were enticed and allured by faire promises of life, to forsake their religion. So, the same word is vsed by Saint Iames, saying; Euery man is tempted, when hee is drawen away by his owne concupiscence, and is entied,