A09376:1758
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.
Mark further, they are called a cloud: but what a cloud? namely, compassing us. A compassing cloud they are called, by reason of the great company of believers; so as which way soever a man turns him, he shall see believers on every side: and they are said to compass us, because they give us direction in the course of Christianity, as the cloud did the Israelites in the wilderness.
Mark further, they are called a cloud: but what a cloude? namely, compassing vs. A compassing cloud they are called, by reason of the great company of beleeuers; so as which way soeuer a man turnes him, hee shall see beleeuers on euery side: and they are said to compasse vs, because they giue vs direction in the course of Christianity, as the cloud did the Israelites in the wildernesse.
Now, whereas the whole company of believers is called a cloud compassing us: here is answered a common objection of temporizers, which argue thus against religion; There are so many kinds of religion now a-days, that no man can tell which to be of: and therefore it is good to be of no religion, till we be certified, which is the true religion. This carnal reason is here answered: for, howsoever in some things, there be variety of opinions in Gods Church, yet for the substance of religion all agree in one. For, the company of believers in this world, resembles a cloud that goes before us, showing us the right way which we are to walk in, to ⟨p. 577⟩the Kingdom of heaven. Secondly, in that these ancient believers are called a cloud compassing us, we are taught, that as the Israelites did follow the cloud in the wilderness from the Land of Egypt to Canaan; so must we follow the example of these ancient believing fathers & Prophets, to the kingdom of heaven. It is a strange thing to see how the Israelites followed that cloud. They never went, till it went before them: and when it stood still, they stood still also, though it were 2. years together; and when it began to move, they moved with it. So in the same manner must we set before our eyes, for a pattern of life, the worthy examples of believers in the old Testament: for, whatsoever was written, was written for our learning.