A09376:444
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.
First, men may see in themselves a profane heart, and void of faith, by this evidence▪ For, doth a man in his heart think basely of God, his power, his justice, or his mercies? Doth he either doubt of them? or▪ granting them, doth he think of them without fear and amazement? Then assuredly his heart is void of true faith, and far from the life and power of religion. For, assuredly, where God is known and believed, there that mans heart (though he be a King) cannot once think of God, without a reverence of his Majesty, and an admiration at his greatness, and his own baseness: therefore the want of this, argueth a want of true religion and true faith, in mens hearts.
First, men may see in themselues a profane heart, and voide of faith, by this euidence▪ For, doth a man in his heart thinke basely of God, his power, his iustice, or his mercies? Doth he either doubt of them? or▪ granting them, doth hee thinke of them without feare and am•zement? Then assuredly his heart is voide of true faith, and farre from the life and power of religion. For, assuredly, where God is knowen and beleeued, there that mans heart (though hee be a King) cannot once thinke of God, without a reuerence of his Maiestie, and an admiration at his greatnesse, and his owne basenesse: therefore the want of this, argueth a want of true religion and true faith, in mens hearts.
Secondly, this profaneness discovers it self to the world, by want of reverence to Gods works. Let the Lord send unseasonable weather, or famines, or plagues, or any strange signs in heaven or in earth; forthwith they are but fools that cry out, Behold the finger of God, the hand of God: No, this is nature, and is produced by natural causes. Ill weather comes from the stars: famines from ill weather, and mens covetousness: Plagues from famines, or from ill airs, or else by apparent infection from another place. But cannot Nature and natural means have their place, unless they have Gods place? God overthroweth not them: why should they overthrow God? Yet thus it is in the world, and thus God is robbed of his glory: and he is but a simple fellow, which is moved with reverence at sight of such things, or begins to magnify Gods power and justice in them. This is too apparent to be denied: for, have we not now as great causes of fear as can be? Noah heard of water; and we hear that fire is to destroy the world: and ye where is he that is moved with reverence, as Noah was? and yet Noah could say, The flood shall