A09376:1713
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.
In the time of the persecuting Emperors in the Primitive Church, when any common calamity befell the people or State; as famine, dearth, pestilence, or such like, they straight-way imputed it to the Christians; saying, That they and their wicked religion were the cause thereof. And though we have religion maintained among us, yet the poor servants of God find the like welcome in the world: for, thus the wicked censure them every where, That they are dissembling hypocrites, and none so bad and vile persons as they are. Now, if any man ask, how comes it to pass, that the world should slander them so, and think so vilely of them; Answer. First, because they be taken out of the world, in regard of state and condition in grace, Joh. 15.19, ⟨p. 558⟩therefore the world hateth them, Joh. 15.19. Secondly, the world knows them not, 1. Jo•. 3.1. and therefore speaks evil of them, Jude, 10. Thirdly, the wicked measure others by themselves; and therefore despise the godly, that join not with them, 1. Pet. 4.3. Lastly, there is a secret enmity between the seed of the wicked, & the seed of the Church: (1. Joh. 3.12.) the wicked are of that evil one, the devil; and therefore, must needs hate the godly, who are borne of God. So that, when we shall see or hear, that ungodly persons shall in any such sort abuse the children of God; we must not marvel, nor be troubled at it, for, it is no new thing, it hath been from the beginning: but, we must pray that God would open their eyes, that they might turn from their sins to repentance; and then (no doubt) they will change their conceit, and alter their behaviour towards them: as Paul did, Gal. 1.13, 15. Act. 9.1, 26.
In the time of the persecuting Emperours in the Primitiue Church, when any common calamity befell the people or State; as famine, dearth, pestilence, or such like, they straight-way imputed it to the Christians; saying, That they and their wicked religion were the cause thereof. And though wee haue religion maintained among vs, yet the poore seruants of God finde the like welcom in the world: for, thus the wicked censure them euery where, That they are dissembling hypocrites, and none so bad and vile persons as they are. Now, if any man aske, how comes it to passe, that the world should slander them so, and thinke so vilely of them; Answer. First, because they be taken out of the world, in regard of state and condition in grace,