A09376:371
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.
Then seeing it is so, let this admonish us all to seek and serve God, in all truth and sincerity, knowing we serve him who will reward it. Nothing more encourageth a man to serve his Lord and King, then to see that his pains are regarded, and his service rewarded; nor more discourageth a man then the contrary. If therefore God did ever forget any that served him; let us bestow service elsewhere, and think him unworthy to be sought to: but if, contrariwise, he never forgot, nor deceived, nor disappointed any that served him; then is he most worthy ⟨p. 92⟩to have the service both of our souls and bodies. David indeed once said; In vain have I cleansed my heart, and washed my hands in innocency. 1But he was then in a strong temptation, as himself there confesseth: but afterwards when he went into the sanctuary of God, and searched the truth of the matter,2 he confesseth he was deceived: And therefore as in the first verse he had acknowledged,3 that God was good to Israel: 4so in the last he concludeth, that it is good for him to draw near unto God: and so though the temptation was very vehement, yet as faith appeared in the beginning, so it had victory in the end, and testified, that God is good to all that seek him. Another time also (for he was a man of many sorrows and temptations) being in some extreme distress, his corruption so prevailed,5 that he said All men are liars: Whatsoever Samuel, or God, or Nathan, and other Prophets have told me of Gods love, and mercy, and of his promises, and providence, and fatherly care; I see it is all false, and nothing so. Now surely if David or all the Kings in the world can prove this, then God is not worthy to be sought after: but great men think they may say any thing, especially when they are moved, as David here was. But, when David entered into himself, & considered the words he had so presumptuously uttered; upon better advise he confesseth, and writes it up for all posterities to Gods glory and his own shame, that it was in passion, I said in my fear all men are liars: