A09376:386
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.
But will some say, this is nothing so: for contrariwise, who have the honours, pleasures, and wealth of this life, who have hearts ease and the world at will, but such men? I answer: True, it is commonly so; but have they those from Satan? No, not the least of them all, but all ⟨p. 98⟩from God: for every man is Gods child by creation, and some by grace, to every one of his children he ordains and gives a portion: but to his children by grace a double portion; both here, and in heaven. The wicked men, they will not fear nor serve him; therefore they have no part nor portion in heaven, but here they have it: So saith David; there are some men, which are men of this world, and have their portion in this life: 1these mens bellies God filleth with his hidden treasures, they and their children have enough, and leave the rest for their children after them: Where it is manifest, that wicked men have their parts and portions of Gods blessings in this world, and that all their wealth and pleasures are granted them by & from God, as their portion; reserving the principal part of the portion of his children for a better life. Therefore all the good things of this life, which Dives received, and all wicked men do receive in this life,2 are not any rewards of Satan, but gifts of God; so unworthy a Master is the devil to serve. Indeed he will promise his poor slaves any thing, but can perform nothing, but will lie unto them and deceive them. He told Christ confidently, when he let him see the glory and greatness of this world; All this is mine, and I give it to whom I will: 3but he was a liar from the beginning, 4& so he is here. He lied to the first Adam, and no marvel, that dare avouch so fond and loud a lye in the presence of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. He promised the first Adam, to make him God, and here the second Adam to make him King, and Lord of all the world, and the glory of it: but he performed both alike, he deceived the first, and so had the second also, if he had trusted him. Nor did ever any trust him, but he deceived him (I mean even for the base things of this life): witness else all his witches (his most devoted and professed servants of all other) if ever he made any one of them wealthy: all ages are not able to show one.