A09376:7
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.
To the Noble, and virtuous Gentlemen, Sir John Sheffield, Knight; and M. Oliver S. John: Sons and Heirs to the Right Honourable Edmond Lord Sheffield, Lord President of the North, and Oliver Lord S. John, Baron of Bletsho: grace, and peace.
To the Noble, and vertuous Gentlemen, Sir Iohn Sheaffield, Knight; and M. Oliuer S. John: Sonnes and Heires to the Right Honourable Edmond Lord Sheaffield, Lord President of the North, and Oliuer Lord S. Iohn, Baron of Bletsho: grace, and peace.
The gracious promises of God (Honourable and most worthy Gentlemen) made to the holy Patriarchs, touching the Land of Canaan, were singular comfort to the believing Israelites, in their bondage of Egypt. And the renewing of the same by the hand of Moses (whose words God confirmed by so many miracles) must needs augment their joy abundantly, although their bonds at that time increased. But, the pledge of Gods presence in the cloudy pillar, whereby he led them in the wilderness both night and day, did so far exceed all his promises for matter of consolation, that even Moses himself desired rather ⟨image 3⟩to be detained from the promised Land, than deprived of the comfort of that his presence in the way:1 If thy presence (saith he) go not before us, bid us not depart hence. Now, these things being ensamples unto us, and evident types of our estate who live under the Gospel, show apparently, that howsoever Believers be greatly cheered in their spiritual travel, by the gracious promises which God in Christ hath made unto them; yet, this their joy is much increased, by the view of those that have gone before them in the way of faith; who are unto them as a Cloud of Witnesses, or a cloudy Pillar. For, howsoever the truth of God be the only ground of sound consolation: yet, because we are a-kin to Thomas, and will not believe unless we see, and feel; therefore it is, that by the example of Believers (wherein is some sensible evidence of the comfort of Gods truth) we are far more cheered, than by the promise it self alone.