A09376:173
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
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.
2. Cain offered as well as Abel: yea, Cain offered afore Abel, as it is manifest in Genesis, 4.3. And yet Abel's sacrifice was better when it came to the proof, and was accepted, & not Cains which came first. Hence we learn, that a man may be more forward then many other in many outward duties of religion, and yet not be accepted of God: Another may be not so forward to the duty, and yet when he comes, be better accepted. Whence comes this? what? is forwardness in good duties a fault? Nothing less: but hence it is, he that ⟨p. 42⟩outwardly is most forward, may come in hypocrisy & without faith; the want whereof makes his forwardness nothing worth. Many such have we in our Church: great frequenters of places and exercises of religion; and yet they come but as Cain did, or it may be in worse intents. Thy forwardness is to be commended, but take this with thee also; Care not so much to be first at the Sermon, or to be there oftener than other, as to go with true faith, repentance & a heart hungering for grace: if not, boast not in thy forwardness: Cain offered afore Abel, & yet not accepted: & so there may come an Abel after thee, & bring faith with him, & be accepted when thou with thy hypocritical forwardness shalt be rejected as Cain was.
2. Cain offred as well as Abell: yea, Cain offred afore Abell, as it is manifest in Genesis, 4.3. And yet Abels sacrifice was better when it came to the proofe, and was accepted, & not Cains which came first. Hence we learn, that a man may be more forward then many other in many outward duties of religion, and yet not be accepted of God: Another may be not so forward to the duty, and yet when hee comes, be better accepted. Whence comes this? what? is forwardnesse in good duties a fault? Nothing lesse: but hence it is, he that ⟨p. 42⟩outwardly is most forward, may come in hypocrisie & without faith; the want whereof makes his forwardnesse nothing worth. Many such haue we in our Church: great frequenters of places and exercises of religion; and yet they come but as Cain did, or it may be in worse intents. Thy forwardnesse is to be commended, but take this with thee also; Care not so much to be first at the Sermō, or to be there oftner thē other, as to goe with true faith, repentance & a heart hunging for grace: if not, boast not in thy forwardnes: Cain offred afore Abell, & yet not accepted: & so there may com an Abell after thee, & bring faith with him, & be accepted whē thou with thy hypocriticall forwardnes shalt be reiected as Cain was.