A09376:1763
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.
Secondly, this must teach us to be careful, that as in word we profess Christ, so indeed we may confess him, expressing the power of his grace in us. For, by this true confession of Christ, we are made his witnesses: but when we confess ⟨p. 579⟩Christ in word only, and yet in life & practice deny him, then we are unfaithful witnesses; for, we say & unsay. In an earthly court, if a man should one while say one thing, & another while another thing, he would not be accepted for a witness, but rather be excepted against, as altogether unworthy; and so would prove a discredit to his friends cause, & a shame to himself: so it is with us in Christs cause; if we profess in word, & deny indeed, we discredit Christ and his profession, & shame our selves for ever. And therefore we must be careful not only in word and judgement, but in life & conversation, to make a true & constant confession of Christ and of his truth. And thus much for the exhortation.
Secondly, this must teach vs to be careful, that as in word we professe Christ, so indeed we may confesse him, expressing the power of his grace in vs. For, by this true confession of Christ, we are made his witnesses: but when wee confesse ⟨p. 579⟩Christ in word onely, and yet in life & practice denie him, then we are vnfaithful witnesses; for, we say & vnsay. In an earthly court, if a mā should one while say one thing, & another while another thing, he would not be accepted for a witnesse, but rather be excepted against, as altogether vnworthy; and so would prooue a discredit to his friends cause, & a shame to himself: so it is with vs in Christs cause; if we professe in word, & deny indeed, we discredit Christ and his profession, & shame our selues for euer. And therfore we must be carefull not only in word and iudgement, but in life & conuersation, to make a true & constant confession of Christ and of his truth. And thus much for the exhortation.
Now followeth the 2. point to be observed in this verse; namely, the manner how Gods Church & people may put in practice this worthy exhortation of the holy Ghost, To be constant in the faith. And this consists in three duties: 1. They must cast away that which presseth down: 2. They must cast away that sin that hangeth so fast on; or sin which so readily doth compass us about: 3. They must run the race that is set before them, with patience. Whosoever in Gods Church either Jew or Gentile, can perform these 3. things, shall be able no doubt to follow the counsel of the holy Ghost, & continue constant in the faith unto the end. Of these 3. in order.