A09376:95
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.
Secondly, this maintains the excellency of our religion against Atheists, and all enemies of it, which esteem & call it a base & contemptible religion, & of which can follow no credit nor estimation. But see, their malice is here controlled: our religion is a most glorious & excellent profession, it is the high way to get true credit & estimation: it makes a man honourable in the sight of God & men: for by it our Elders obtained a good report, which continueth fresh to this day.
Secondly, this maintaines the excellencie of our religion against Atheists, and all enemies of it, which esteeme & call it a base & contēptible religion, & of which cā folow no credit nor estimation. But see, their malice is here controlled: our religion is a most glorious & excellent professiō, it is the high way to get true credit & estimation: it makes a mā honorable in the sight of God & men: for by it our Elders obtained a good report, which continueth fresh to this day.
In the fourth place, Were they well reported of for their faith? therefore their faith was not hid in their hearts; but manifested in their lives: for, the world cannot see nor commend them for their faith; but for the practice of faith. Here it is plain, that men must not be content to keep their faith close in their hearts, but they must exercise the fruits of it in the world; and then both these together will make a man truly commendable. Thy faith approves thee unto God: but the practice of it is that that honours thee and thy profession, in the world.
In the fourth place, Were they wel reported of for their faith? therefore their faith was not hid in their hearts; but manifested in their liues: for, the world cannot see nor commend them for their faith; but for the practice of faith. Here it is plaine, that men must not be content to keep their faith close in their hearts, but they must exercise the fruites of it in the world; and then both these together will make a man truly commendable. Thy faith approues thee vnto God: but the practice of it is that that honours thee and thy profession, in the world.