A09376:87
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.
Fifthly, here is comfort for all such servants of God, as having true faith, yet are in base estimation for worldly respects: some are poor, some in base callings, some deformed in body: some of mean gifts: many in great distress and misery, all their lives: most of them some way or other contemptible in the world: Yet let not this discomfort any child of God: But let them consider what it is that makes them approved of God: not beauty, strength, riches, wisdom, learning (all these may perish in the using) but true faith: if then thou hast that, thou hast more then all the rest. If thou hadst all them, they could but make thee esteemed in the world: but having true faith, thou art esteemed of God; and what matter then who esteems thee, and who not? This crosseth the corrupt censure of the world, who more esteem a man for his outward gifts, and glory of riches or learning, then for saving graces. Let Gods children when they are •based; contemned, mocked, and kept from all place and preferment in the world: Let them, I say, appeal from this unjust judgement to the judgement of God; and be comforted in this, that though they want all things (without them) that should make them esteemed in the world: yet they have that (within them) for which God will esteem, approve, and acknowledge them both in this world, and in the world to come. And they have that that will stand by them, when strength and beauty are vanished, when learning, & riches, and honour, are all ended with the world.
Fiftly, here is comfort for all such seruants of God, as hauing true faith, yet are in base estimation for worldly respects: some are poore, some in base callings, some deformed in body: some of meane gifts: many in great distresse and misery, all their liues: most of them some way or other contemptible in the world: Yet let not this discomfort any child of God: But let them consider what it is that makes them approued of God: not beauty, strength, riches, wisdom, learning (all these may perish in the vsing) but true faith: if then thou hast that, thou hast more then all the rest. If thou hadst all them, they could but make thee esteemed in the world: but hauing true faith, thou art esteemed of God; and what matter then who esteemes thee, and who not? This crosseth the corrupt censure of the world, who more esteem a man for his outward gifts, and glory of riches or learning, then for sauing graces. Let Gods children when they are •based; contemned, mocked, and kept from all place and preferment in the world: Let them, I say, appeale from this vniust iudgement to the iudgement of God; and be cōforted in this, that though they want all things (without them) that should make them esteemed in the world: yet they haue that (within them) for which God wil esteeme, approue, and acknowledge them both in this world, and in the world to come. And they haue that that will stand by them, when strength and beauty are vanished, when learning, & riches, and honour, are all ended with the world.