A09376:1762
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.
Now, seeing these in the old Testament were Christs witnesses; First, hereby all ignorant persons must be stirred up to be careful to get faith, and to learn true religion. If any thing will move a man to become religious, this will; for, out of all the world, God will choose faithful men to be his witnesses, to testify of his religion unto others. If a man were persuaded that some worthy mighty Prince would vouchsafe to call him to bear witness of the truth on his side, he would be wonderful glad thereof, and take it for a great honour to him. How much more then ought we to labour for knowledge, faith and obedience in true religion, that we may become witnesses unto the Lord our God? if it be a dignity to be witness to an earthly Prince; oh then what a great prerogative is this, for a silly sinful man, to become a witness to the truth of the everliving God, who is King of Kings, & whose word needs no confirmation? This must make us all to labour for knowledge, & for faith, and for the power of religion: but, if we will remain still in our ignorance, and never labour for knowledge, then shall these servants of God that believed in the old Testament, stand up and witness against us at the day of judgement: for, they had not such means as we have, and yet they became most faithful witnesses.
Now, seeing these in the olde Testament were Christs witnesses; First, hereby all ignorant persons must be stirred vp to be carefull to get faith, and to learne true religion. If any thing will moue a man to become religious, this will; for, out of all the world, God will chuse faithfull men to be his witnesses, to testifie of his religion vnto others. If a man were perswaded that some worthy mighty Prince would vouchsafe to call him to beare witnesse of the truth on his side, he would be wonderfull glad thereof, and take it for a great honour to him. How much more then ought wee to labour for knowledge, faith and obedience in true religion, that we may become witnesses vnto the Lord our God? if it be a dignity to be witnesse to an earthly Prince; oh then what a great prerogatiue is this, for a silly sinfull man, to becom a witnesse to the truth of the euerliuing God, who is King of Kings, & whose word needes no confirmation? This must make vs al to labour for knowledge, & for faith, and for the power of religion: but, if we wil remaine stil in our ignorance, and neuer labour for knowledge, then shall these seruants of God that beleeued in the olde Testament, stand vp and witnesse against vs at the day of iudgement: for, they had not such meanes as we haue, and yet they became most faithfull witnesses.