A09376:94
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.
Out of all these the point is manifest, that God will procure his children a good name in this world, as far forth as it is a blessing, and not a curse: and that because they are approved of him, and by faith justified in his sight: for so to be ⟨p. 20⟩is the only way to get a good name. For in reason it stands thus: that those who are in estimation, and good name with the Lord himself; much more will God make them esteemed, and give them a good name with men like themselves. Hence we learn, first, that the common course of the world to get a good name, is fond, & wicked, and to no purpose: They labour for riches, preferments, honour, wisdom, & learning; by them to get estimation in the world: yea, many abuse these blessings in vain ostentation, to increase their credit and name with men. And in the mean time saving faith is never remembered, which must procure them a good name with God. This is a wrong course: first, we must labour to be approved of God; and then after the good name with God, followeth the good name in the world. He therefore that labours for favour with men, and neglects the favour of God; he may get a good name, but it shall prove a rotten name in the end. Prou. 10.7. The memorial of the just shall be blessed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. The good name of the wicked is rotten: 1. Because it is loathsome & stinking in the face of God, though it be never so glorious in the world. 2. Because it will not last the wearing out, but in the end vanisheth and comes to nothing, unless (as a rotting thing leaves some corruption behind it, so) their good name in the end being vanished, leaves infamy behind it. And this is the name which commonly is gotten in the world, because men first seek not a good name with God: but that good name which is obtained by faith, will stand & continue all a mans life, and at his death leave behind it a sweet perfume, & abideth for ever in the world to come.
Out of all these the point is manifest, that God will procure his children a good name in this world, as far forth as it is a blessing, and not a curse: and that because they are approued of him, and by faith iustified in his sight: for so to be ⟨p. 20⟩is the onely way to get a good name. For in reason it stands thus: that those who are in estimation, and good name with the Lord himselfe; much more will God make them esteemed, and giue them a good name with men like themselues. Hence we learne, first, that the cōmon course of the world to get a good name, is fond, & wicked, and to no purpose: They labour for riches, preferments, honor, wisdom, & learning; by them to get estimatiō in the world: yea, many abuse these blessings in vaine ostentation, to encrease their credit and name with men. And in the meane time sauing faith is neuer remembred, which must procure them a good name with God. This is a wrong course: first, we must labour to be approued of God; and then after the good name with God, followeth the good name in the world. He therefore that labours for fauour with men, and neglects the fauour of God; he may get a good name, but it shall proue a rotten name in the end.