A09376:1716
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.
Honours and dignities, in Politic or civill estates, are the good gifts of God, and his own ordinances, whereby men are in higher places, and in account are above another: but yet, all the dignity, honour, and pomp of the world, severed from that dignity which faith bringeth to the believer, is nothing worth. Indeed, if worldly preeminence be joined with faith, it is a great and excellent prerogative; for, faith makes it acceptable unto God. but, sever faith from worldly dignities, and what are they, but vanity of vanities? which will turn to the greater condemnation of him that enjoyeth them. If a man have favour in the Court, and yet want the Kings favour, it is nothing: and, such are all temporal dignities, without Gods favour; for, at his indignation they vanish away. Now, his favour without faith, can no man have; for, he that cometh unto God must believe, vers. 6.
Honours and dignities, in Politicke or ciuill estates, are the good gifts of God, and his owne ordinances, wherby men are in higher places, and in account are aboue another: but yet, all the dignity, honour, and pompe of the world, seuered from that dignitie which faith bringeth to the beleeuer, is nothing worth. Indeed, if worldly preheminence be ioyned with faith, it is a great and excellent prerogatiue; for, faith makes it acceptable vnto God. but, seuer faith from worldly dignities, and what are they, but vanitie of vanities? which will turne to the greater condemnation of him that enioyeth them. If a man haue fauour in the Court, and yet want the Kings fauour, it is nothing: and, such are all temporall dignities, without Gods fauour; for, at his indignation they vanish away. Now, his fauour without faith, can no man haue; for, he that commeth vnto God must beleeue, vers. 6.
Here, all these that are in place above others, either by birth▪ or special calling, must learn above all things to labour for the dignity of faith. When we have such things wherein we delight, we desire continuance of them. Behold, the dignity of faith is everlasting: and besides, it sanctifies all civill dignities, and makes the owners of them glorious, & acceptable, both before God and man; when as otherwise, without faith, they are nothing: and, they that have them, can do nothing but abuse them.