A09376:358
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 second is: How he is a rewarder of them that seek him. I answer: God rewards them that seek him,
The second is: How he is a rewarder of them that seeke him. I answer: God rewards them that seeke him,
First, by offering himself graciously to be found of them that seek him: for he never hides himself, nor turns away from the soul that seeketh him; but rather turns to him, and meets him that comes to him: he is that good Father, which saw the prodigal Son afar off, and met him and received him, Luke 16. Yea, rather is it true, that He is found of them that sought him not, then ever sought by any that found him not. And hereby God much magnifieth his grace and mercy to mankind, in being so assuredly found, when men seek him. For in this world it is not so. All men seek the face of the Prince, saith Solomon: true, but all men find it not. No. Access to great men is not so easy: they and their favour are so enclosed, that men may long seek afore they find either them or it: but God here is not so enclosed, as he will not be seen nor spoke to, he is found of them that seek him. And as hereby he honoureth himself, so he highly rewardeth his servants: for there is no greater contentment to a subject, then to perceive his service pleaseth his Prince; nor greater joy then to find his gracious favour when they seek it.
First, by offring himselfe graciously to be found of them that seeke him: for he neuer hides himselfe, nor turnes away from the soule that seeketh him; but rather turnes to him, and meetes him that comes to him: hee is that good Father, which saw the prodigall Sonne afarre off, and met him and receiued him, Luke 16. Yea, rather is it true, that He is found of them that sought him not, then euer sought by any that found him not. And hereby God much magnifieth his grace and mercy to mankinde, in being so assuredly found, when men seeke him. For in this world it is not so. All men seeke the face of the Prince, saith Salomon: true, but all men finde it not. No. Accesse to great men is not so easie: they and their fauour are so inclosed, that men may long seeke afore they finde either them or it: but God here is not so inclosed, as he will not be seene nor spoke to, hee is found of them that seeke him. And as hereby hee honoureth himselfe, so hee highly rewardeth his seruants: for there is no greater contentment to a subiect, then to perceiue his seruice pleaseth his Prince; nor greater ioy then to finde his gratious fauour when they seeke it.