A09376:185
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.
We have all received those two Sacraments: the first once, the second often. Now if they have been duly received of us, they ought to have this double use unto us: 1. To cause us to make a search of our own sins, and of our misery by sin: and seeing it, to be cast down and humbled, considering how corrupt our hearts are, and how wicked our lives. And secondly, when this is so, then to make us seek for reconciliation with God by faith in Christ, to make us desire it, love it, and pray for it above all things in the world. Abel not only offered, but offered so, as that it put him •n mind of his sin, and of his redemption, by the death of the Messiah to come. So, we must not only outwardly receive the Sacraments; but so receive, as that we may see and be humbled for our sin: and seek to be reconciled to God in Christ.
Wee haue all receiued those two Sacraments: the first once, the second often. Now if they haue beene duly receiued of vs, they ought to haue this double vse vnto vs: 1. To cause vs to make a search of our owne sinnes, and of our miserie by sinne: and seeing it, to be cast downe and humbled, considering how corrupt our hearts are, and how wicked our liues. And secondly, when this is so, then to make vs seek for reconciliation with God by faith in Christ, to make vs desire it, loue it, and pray for it aboue all things in the world. Abell not onely offred, but offred so, as that it put him •n minde of his sin, and of his redemption, by the death of the Messias to come. So, wee must not onely outwardly receiue the Sacraments; but so receiue, as that wee may see and be humbled for our sinne: and seeke to be reconciled to God in Christ.
Such use also ought we to make of hearing the word, and ⟨p. 45⟩not to be content with bare hearing of it, or to get a general knowledge out of it: but it must give us a special sight of our own estate by sin: and urge us forward to seek the favour of God in Christ. Religion stands not in hearing the word, and receiving the Sacraments with the congregation: though it be done never so often, and never so formally: But so to hear and so to receive, as that they may work in us those two things: and that is the pith and life of religion. And whosoever he be that professeth religion, and showeth not the fruit of it in these two, that mans profession is in vain, and it will go for no payment at the day of judgement.