A09376:1776
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 shows unto us, what is the state and condition of the child of God in this life; He is not here a Saint feeling no corruption, perfectly sanctified & freed from all sin: but such a one as feels the burden of corruption, hindering him in his Christian course; under which he sighs and groans, labouring by all good means to be disburdened, and to cast it off. It is indeed a matter of great comfort for a man to feel Gods graces in himself; as faith, love, repentance, sanctification, and such like: but no child of GOD can always or alone feel the comfort of grace; most commonly he shall be troubled with sin, if he be Gods child. Now, if feeling it, he dislike himself, and strive to be eased of it, this is a sure argument of his happy estate.
Secondly, this shewes vnto vs, what is the state and condition of the childe of God in this life; He is not heere a Saint feeling no corruption, perfectly sanctified & freed from all sinne: but such a one as feeles the burthen of corruption, hindering him in his Christian course; vnder which hee sighes and groanes, labouring by all good meanes to bee disburthened, and to cast it off. It is indeede a matter of great comfort for a man to feele Gods graces in himselfe; as faith, loue, repentance, sanctification, and such like: but no childe of GOD can alwayes or alone feele the comfort of grace; most commonly hee shall be troubled with sinne, if he be Gods childe. Now, if feeling it, hee dislike himselfe, and striue to bee eased of it, this is a sure argument of his happy estate.
Fifthly, this commandment to cast away sin that presseth down, teacheth every child of GOD to labour earnestly for the government and direction of Gods spirit: for, we have within us original corruption, that like an armed man besets us about, and hindereth us in every good thing we take in hand. We must therefore pray unto GOD daily, that he would guide us by his good spirit: for, by reason of the corruption of our nature, and the deceitfulness of sin, we shall utterly fail, unless Gods spirit govern us, both in the thoughts of our hearts, in the words of our mouths, and the actions of our lives. This, David knew well, and therefore prayeth to the Lord for his good spirit, to lead him into the Land of Righteousness.