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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…

Name: A cloud of faithful witnesses, leading to the heavenly Canaan, or, A commentary upon…
Author: William Perkins

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.

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And further: In this point mark how nothing brought Enoch to heaven, but his pleasing of God. He was rich, for he was one of the greatest on the earth: he was royally descended, for he was the seventh from Adam in the blessed line: he was learned, for he had the six first Patriarchs to teach him, six such Tutors as never man had: and it is likely he had a comely, strong, and active body. But see, all these brought him not to heaven: no, he pleased God. and was therefore taken away.

And further: In this point marke how nothing brought Henoch to heauen, but his pleasing of God. Hee was rich, for hee was one of the greatest on the earth: hee was royallie descended, for hee was the seauenth from Adam in the blessed line: hee was learned, for hee had the sixe first Patriarkes to teach him, sixe such Tutors as neuer man had: and it is likely hee had a comely, strong, and actiue body. But see, all these brought him not to heauen: no, he pleased God. and was therefore taken away.

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Let this teach us not to rest in wealth, beauty, strength, honour, humane learning, nor all these put together without the fear of God: for some of them may please thy self, and some may please other men; but God must be pleased afore thou come in heaven, if thou wert as good as Enoch. Therefore unto all thy outward blessings add ⟨p. 67⟩this, To please God by faith and repentance. Then as thy pleasing of men may make thee happy in this world: so thy pleasing of God, shall translate thee from earth to heaven.

Let this teach vs not to rest in wealth, beauty, strength, honour, humane learning, nor all these put together without the feare of God: for some of them may please thy selfe, and some may please other men; but God must bee pleased afore thou come in heauen, if thou wert as good as Henoch. Therefore vnto all thy outward blessings adde ⟨p. 67⟩this, To please God by faith and repentance. Then as thy pleasing of men may make thee happy in this world: so thy pleasing of God, shall translate thee from earth to heauen.

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Thus we see, Enoch before he was translated pleased God.

Thus wee see, Henoch before hee was translated pleased God.

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Secondly, as he pleased God, and else could not have been translated; so it is added, he was so reported of, or there was such a testimony of him. That proof or testimony is here concealed; but it is recorded in the story of Genesis, where it is said Enoch walked with God: which, as we heard before, was an assured testimony that God was well pleased with him.

Secondly, as hee pleased God, and else could not haue beene translated; so it is added, hee was so reported of, or there was such a testimonie of him. That proofe or testimonie is here concealed; but it is recorded in the storie of Genesis, where it is said Henoch walked with God: which, as we heard before, was an assured testimonie that God was well pleased with him.

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But what is this, he walked with God: how can a man •e said to walk with God? The meaning is, That Enoch lived a godly, righteous, and innocent life in this world: •or to live in holiness and righteousness, is to walk with God. And further, his heart was possessed of two persuasions or resolutions, which were the inducements drawing him to this holy life:

But what is this, hee walked with God: how can a man •e saide to walke with God? The meaning is, That Henoch liued a godly, righteous, and innocent life in this world: •or to liue in holinesse and righteousnesse, is to walke with God. And further, his heart was possessed of two perswasions or resolutions, which were the inducements drawing him to this holy life:

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First, that he was always in Gods presence, and that God is always ready to dispose of all things to his good.

First, that hee was alwayes in Gods presence, and that God is alwayes readie to dispose of all thinges to his good.

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Again, that God did see, try, and discern all his words and deeds, yea his cogitations and thoughts, and the whole course of his life. These were the holy resolutions of Enoch, and these made him lead a holy life.

Againe, that God did see, trie, and discerne all his wordes and deedes, yea his cogitations and thoughts, and the whole course of his life. These were the holy resolutions of Henoch, and these made him lead a holy life.

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This lesson is worth learning, and this example worthy to be followed of us all: our duty is with Enoch, to walk with God in this life if we purpose to live with God in heaven: and we walk with God by leading holy and unblameable lives, in holiness towards God, and righteousness towards man. But if we think this hard to do, we must labour to be resolved on these grounds: First, that God and his providence is ever present with us, to ⟨p. 68⟩dispose of us always to his glory, and of all other things to our good.

This lesson is worth learning, and this example worthy to be followed of vs all: our dutie is with Henoch, to walke with God in this life if wee purpose to liue with God in heauen: and wee walke with God by leading holy and vnblameable liues, in holinesse towards God, and righteousnesse towards man. But if wee thinke this hard to doe, wee must labour to be resolued on these grounds: First, that God and his prouidence is euer present with vs, to ⟨p. 68⟩dispose of vs alwaies to his glory, and of all other things to our good.

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Secondly, that as we are in Gods presence; so God seeth us, and all our thoughts, words and works, bargains and dealings, and will judge them all.

Secondly, that as wee are in Gods presence; so God seeth vs, and all our thoughts, words and workes, b•rgaines and dealings, and will iudge them all.

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When these two persuasions possess our hearts, it cannot be, but we shall live godly, and fear to offend God: for, as a child is dutiful and obedient in his Fathers presence; so when a man is persuaded, he is in Gods presence, it cannot but make him dutiful. When a man is persuaded that God seeth him, he will take heed what he doth; and that God heareth him, he will temper his tongue; and that God beholdeth all his dealings in the world, he will take heed how he borroweth, lendeth, buyeth, or selleth, and what he doth in all his actions: and the very cause of all carelessness in these and all other duties in the world, is, because men are persuaded God seeth them not.

When these two perswasions possesse our hearts, it cannot be, but wee shall liue godly, and feare to offend God: for, as a childe is dutifull and obedient in his Fathers presence; so when a man is perswaded, he is in Gods presence, it cannot but make him dutifull. When a man is perswaded that God seeth him, hee will take heede what he doth; and that God heareth him, hee will temper his tongue; and that God beholdeth all his dealings in the world, hee will take heede how hee borroweth, lendeth, buieth, or selleth, and what hee doth in all his actions: and the very cause of all carelesnesse in these and all other duties in the world, is, because men are perswaded God seeth them not.

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To urge us therefore to this excellent duty; we have, First, Gods Commandment: Walk before me and be upright (saith God) to Abraham, ¹and in him to all the children of his faith.

To vrge vs therefore to this excellent dutie; we haue, First, Gods Commaundement: Walke before mee and be vpright (saith God) to Abraham, ¹and in him to all the children of his faith.

1Gen. 17.1.

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Again, we have the examples of Gods children, who are renowned for the obedience of this Commandment; Enoch here, after him Abraham, and after him David, who testifieth of himself, I will walk before God in the land of the living.¹

Againe, wee haue the examples of Gods children, who are renowned for the obedience of this Commaundement; Henoch here, after him Abraham, and after him Dauid, who testifieth of himselfe, I will walke before God in the land of the liuing.¹

1Psal. 116.9.

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Thirdly, as it is both commanded by precept, and practiced by example: so the proof of it is most comfortable to all that practice it; for it will make them prosper in all they go about. For, as he that is always in the Kings presence and company, cannot but be in his favour, and therefore cannot but succeed well in all his affairs: so he that walks with God, cannot but prosper in whatsoever he ⟨p. 69⟩sets his heart and hand unto. Blessed Abraham found this most true, when he assured his servant whom he sent to provide Isaac a wife, in a long, and doubtful, and dangerous journey; The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his Angel with thee, and prosper thy journey: ¹and even so may every child of God say with confidence: The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his Angel with me, and prosper me in my proceedings.

Thirdly, as it is both commaunded by precept, and practiced by exsample: so the proofe of it is most comfortable to all that practice it; for it will make them prosper in all they goe about. For, as hee that is alwaies in the Kings presence and companie, cannot but bee in his fauour, and therefore cannot but succeede well in all his affaires: so hee that walkes with God, cannot but prosper in whatsoeuer hee ⟨p. 69⟩sets his heart and hand vnto. Blessed Abraham found this most true, when he assured his seruant whom he sent to prouide Isaac a wife, in a long, and doubtfull, and dangerous iourney; The Lord, before whom I walke, will send his Angell with thee, and prosper thy iourney: ¹and euen so may euery child of God say with confidence: The Lord, before whom I walke, will send his Angell with mee, and prosper mee in my proceedings.

1Genes. 24.40.

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Fourthly, this walking with God is a good means to make a man bear the cross with patience: For if he be persuaded that God seeth how wrongfully he is persecuted or oppressed, and that Gods providence is always present, so as no affliction can come unto him, but by his appointment: and again, that his providence disposeth of all things to his good, how can he but receive with patience that portion of afflictions which God shall lay upon him? For as he that walks with the King, who dare offer him wrong? so he that walks with God, what evil can touch him? This is Josephs argument to his brethren, when they were discomforted, and feared he would punish them after their Fathers death: Fear not (saith he) for am not I under God? as though he had said, Do not I walk in Gods presence?¹ and acknowledge my self under his power? and that God, when you thought evil against me, disposed it to good: where the ground of Josephs reason is, that he walking with God, his affliction turned to his good.

Fourthly, this walking with God is a good meanes to make a man beare the crosse with patience: For if hee be perswaded that God seeth how wrongfully he is persecuted or oppressed, and that Gods prouidence is alwayes present, so as no affliction can com vnto him, but by his appointment: and againe, that his prouidence disposeth of all things to his good, how can he but receiue with patience that portion of afflictions which God shall lay vpon him? For as hee that walkes with the King, who dare offer him wrong? so he that walkes with God, what euill can touch him? This is Iosephs argument to his brethren, when they were discomforted, and feared he would punish them after their Fathers death: Feare not (saith he) for am not I vnder God? as though he had said, Doe not I walke in Gods presence?¹ and acknowledge my selfe vnder his power? and that God, when you thought euill against me, disposed it to good: where the ground of Iosephs reason is, that he walking with God, his affliction turned to his good.

1Genes. 50.20.

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Lastly, this is a means to bring a man to make conscience of all sin, in thought, word, and deed, and in all his dealings, when he persuades himself to walk in the presence of God.

Lastly, this is a meanes to bring a man to make conscience of all sinne, in thought, word, and deede, and in all his dealings, when he perswades himselfe to walke in the presence of God.

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When Joseph was allured to sin by his Mistress, his answer was, How shall I commit this great wickedness, and so sin against God? The bridle that restrained him,¹ was the fear of that God in whose presence he walked: And because he walked with God, he would not walk with her in her wicked way: and because he kept a holy company with God, therefore ⟨p. 70⟩he would not keep her company, nor be allured by her temptations.

When Ioseph was allured to sinne by his Mistresse, his answere was, How shall I commit this great wickednesse, and so sin against God? The bridle that restrained him,¹ was the feare of that God in whose presence he walked: And because hee walked with God, he would not walke with her in her wicked way: and because he kept a holy company with God, therefore ⟨p. 70⟩he would not keepe her company, nor be allured by her temptations.

1Genes. 39.9.

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