A09376:356
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.
Thirdly, if he will truly seek God, he must not go in every path; but take the true & living way, which Christ hath consecrated by his blood: nor take any guide, but trust to Christs spirit alone to be his guide: nor make many mediators or messengers to God, but make Christ alone to God the Father. We must therefore go to him, and yield up our selves to be taught and guided by him, & leave our suit to be preferred by him; we must not look to come to God, by running on pilgrimages to this or that Saints picture, or bones: or to our Lady of Loreto. Many have sought God in these, but who ever found him? Nay, alas thou mayest lodge in her forged tabernacle at Loreto all thy life, and lie ⟨p. 87⟩in hell for all that when thou art dead; and mayest kiss all the Saints pictures, and bones, and hair, and all their relics in Spain and Italy, and all cannot get thee one sight of Gods favourable countenance. Nor again must we look to come to God by our good works, though we are to do them: they are good marks in the way, and good evidences of a right way; but they cannot open heaven, and let thee in. And therefore when thou hast done all thou canst, thou must forsake them all in matter of justification and coming to God. Only thou must go to God by Christ, and cleave to him alone; he is the door, the way, the truth, the life: and certainly never man found God, that sought him not in Christ alone. And when Popish devises and distinctions have done all they can, men will be found liars, and Christ to speak, truth, saying: No man cometh to the Father, but by me.
Thirdly, if he will truly seeke God, he must not goe in euerie path; but take the true & liuing way, which Christ hath consecrated by his bloud: nor take any guide, but trust to Christs spirit alone to be his guide: nor make many mediators or messengers to God, but make Christ alone to God the Father. Wee must therefore goe to him, and yeeld vp our selues to be taught and guided by him, & leaue our sute to be preferred by him; we must not looke to come to God, by running on pilgrimages to this or that Saints picture, or bones: or to our Lady of Loreto. Many haue sought God in these, but who euer found him? Nay, alas thou maist lodge in her forged tabernacle at Loreto all thy life, and lie ⟨p. 87⟩in hell for all that when thou art dead; and maist kisse all the Saints pictures, and bones, and haire, and all their reliques in Spaine and Italy, and all cannot get thee one sight of Gods fauourable countenance. Nor againe must we looke to come to God by our good works, though we are to doe them: they are good markes in the way, and good euidences of a right way; but they cannot open heauen, and let thee in. And therefore when thou hast done all thou canst, thou must forsake them all in matter of iustification and comming to God. Onely thou must goe to God by Christ, and cleaue to him alone; hee is the doore, the way, the truth, the life: and certainly neuer man found God, that sought him not in Christ alone. And when Popish deuises and distinctions haue done all they can, men will be found liers, and Christ to speak, truth, saying: No man commeth to the Father, but by me.