A09376:544
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, for if we repent not betime, our state then is fearful and doubtful, though not desperate; as we see here the salvation even of Methuselah's children is doubtful: for they repented not when they were called, but deferred it, till the judgement came. So, if we defer our repentance till our deaths, there is great question of our salvation: but let us repent, when we are called by Gods word: and then it is out of question, then there is no doubt of our salvation.
First, for if we repent not betime, our state then is fearefull and doubtfull, though not desperate; as wee see here the saluation euen of Methushelas children is doubtfull: for they repented not when they were called, but deferred it, till the iudgement came. So, if we deferre our repentance till our deaths, there is great question of our saluation: but let vs repent, when wee are called by Gods word: and then it is out of question, then there is no doubt of our saluation.
Secondly, if we repent betime, we shall escape the temporal Judgement which God sends upon the world for sin. If not, but defer repentance till the Judgement come, we may then by it save our souls, but our bodies shall perish in the universal Judgement. If the children of Enoch and Methuselah, which were near a-kin unto Noah, had repented at Noah's preaching, they had been saved with Noah: they did not. But when the flood came indeed, then doubtless they believed with Noah, and wished themselves in the Ark with him: but it was too late, they saved their souls, but were drowned with the rest. So assuredly, when God threateneth any Judgement on our Church or Nation, they that believe and repent betime, shall escape it. But they that will live in wantonness with the world, and not repent, till God begin to strike: If then they do, when the flood is come (though salvation cannot be denied to repentance whensoever) yet let them assure themselves, they shall bear their part with the world in the punishment, as they did partake with them in their sins. Let then these two considerations move us all to turn to God by timely repentance: then shall we be sure to escape both the eternal and temporal Judgement; and not be condemned, as here this world of the ungodly was.