A09376:227
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.
The use of this doctrine is, to fear all men from sinning, though they think it possible to conceal their sins from the world: for this is one of the strongest and commonest encouragements that men take, to live in a sin, If they think it likely to be concealed. But here they see how false a ground that is. For if they can conceal it from men, yet can they not from God: and if God know it, then can he reveal it to the world when it pleaseth him.
The vse of this doctrine is, to feare all men from sinning, though they thinke it possible to conceale their sinnes from the world: for this is one of the strongest and commonest encouragements that men take, to liue in a sinne, If they thinke it likely to be concealed. But here they see how false a ground that is. For if they can conceale it from men, yet can they not from God: and if God know it, then can he reueale it to the world when it pleaseth him.
Again, whereas Abel's blood cried when he was dead; It teacheth us, that God had a care of Abel both living and dead: for it were nothing to say his blood cried, if God heard not that cry. But its apparent he heard it, for he revenged it, and punished Cain when Abel was dead, and could not revenge it himself. And this care God hath not over Abel alone, but over all his children: and as the Psalmist saith, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints: 1that which is vile, and of no regard in the world, is precious with God. Tyrants make havoc of the Church, and kill them up by heaps; but God records up every one, and will not fail to revenge it, when they are dead: For if God have bottles for the tears of his servants, surely much more hath he bottles for their blood.
Againe, whereas Abels bloud cried when he was dead; It teacheth vs, that God had a care of Abell both liuing and dead: for it were nothing to say his bloud cried, if God heard not that cry. But its apparant he heard it, for he reuenged it, and punished Cain when Abell was dead, and could not reuenge it himselfe. And this care God hath not ouer Abell alone, but ouer all his children: and as the Psalmist saith, Pretious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints: