A09376:1723
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.
Further, observe the places where they are constrained to wander, to wit, in Wilderness, Caves, and Dens; places where wild beasts have abode and recourse: and yet here they live, when as men will not suffer them to live among them. Where note, that many times more mercy may be found among wild and savage beasts, than with some men; so merciless are the wicked when God forsakes them, and leaves them to themselves. The Lions entreat Daniel better, than Darius Courtiers and servants do; Daniel, chapter 6. And Lazarus finds more kindness with the dogs at Dives gates, then with him, and all his family besides, Luke chapter 16. verse 21. The consideration whereof must teach us to nip sin in the head at the beginning, and not to suffer it to grow: for, if it get a head and reign in us, it will make us worse ⟨p. 563⟩than brute or savage beasts, and cruel as the Devil himself; as we may see in the worlds usage of these believers.
Further, obserue the places where they are constrained to wander, to wit, in Wildernesse, Caues, and Dennes; places where wilde beasts haue abode and recourse: and yet heere they liue, when as men will not suffer them to liue among them. Where note, that many times more mercy may be found among wilde and sauage beasts, than with some men; so mercilesse are the wicked when God forsakes them, and leaues them to themselues. The Lions entreate Daniel better, than Darius Courtiers and seruants doe; Daniel, chapter 6. And Lazarus findes more kindenesse with the dogges at Diues gates, then with him, and all his family besides, Luke chapter 16. verse 21. The consideration whereof must teach vs to nippe sinne in the head at the beginning, and not to suffer it to growe: for, if it get a head and raigne in vs, it will make vs worse ⟨p. 563⟩than brute or sauage beasts, and cruell as the Diuell himselfe; as wee may see in the worldes vsage of these beleeuers.
Thus we see the state of true believers, under many and grievous miseries: which we must well observe, to arm our selves against the times of adversities, which GOD may send upon us. We must not judge it a cursed estate to be under the Cross: for, here we see, the faith of his servants is commended for suffering nine several kinds of miseries. If we shall think that these were but a few; we must know that in them the holy Ghost setteth down the state of his Church unto the end: for, these things were written for ensamples unto us. And therefore if calamities come, and such miseries befall us, as do drive ur toward distrust, as though God had forsaken us, we must remember that God did not forsake these his children in their calamities, and therefore also will not forsake us. And thus much for this last example.