To the Noble and Virtuous Gentlemen, Sir John Sheffield, Knight; and M. Oliver St. John: Sons and Heirs to the Right Honorable Edmund Lord Sheffield, Lord President of the North, and Oliver Lord St. John, Baron of Bletso: 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 to be detained from the promised Land, than deprived of the comfort of that his presence in the way: 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 akin 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 itself alone.

Here then behold what great cause we have to cast our eyes upon this Cloud of Witnesses; which the Holy Ghost hath erected as a pledge of his presence, and a direction to all those that shall follow their steps in the practice of faith, till the worlds end. Shall Moses affect that Cloud so much, which led them only the way to a temporal inheritance: and shall not we much more be ravished with delight in this Cloud, which leads us to the kingdom of heaven? In all estates the Just must live by faith: For, We walk by faith, and not by sight. And what is the hope and happiness of a Christian man, but to receive at last the salvation of our souls, which is the end of our faith, and period of this walk. But any faith will not support us herein: some begin in the Spirit, who end in the Flesh, going out with Paul for a while; but at length return with Demas to the world, neither can they do otherwise: for, Apostasy is the Catastrophe of Hypocrisy. He that would deceive in his profession is usually deceived of his salvation.

Wherefore this shall be our wisdom, to see to our souls that our faith (as the beloved Apostle said of love) be not in word, and tongue; but in deed, and in truth. And for our better direction in trying the truth of our faith, we have here many notable precedents in this Cloud of Witnesses, consisting of most worthy Believers in all ages before CHRIST'S incarnation: all which showed the life of faith by their works; and we in them may see how to put our faith in practice. Now, the rather must we attend hereunto, because in all estates we must practice faith. For, Without faith it is impossible to please God. And what estate of life can possible befall us, wherein we have not a lively pattern and forerunner leading us the way to Heaven, within the compass of this Cloud? Art thou a King or Magistrate? behold DAVID, HEZEKIAH, and the Judges: art thou a Courtier? Look on MOSES: art thou a Martial-man? Behold SAMSON, DAVID, JOSHUA. Here is ENOCH, NOAH, and the Prophets for Ministers: the Patriarchs for Fathers: SARAH and the Shunamite for mothers: ISAAC and JOSEPH for children: Here is ABEL for Shepherds, and RAHAB for victuallers: Here are some that lived in honour, in peace, and plenty, some in want, and some in sickness: but most of all in persecution; because therein is the greatest trial of faith. So that, which way soever we turn us, if we walk by faith, we have here some faithful witness to go before us. And to clear their steps the better to our sight, that so we may follow hard towards the mark without wandering, we have here a notable light in this learned Commentary; which, we must confess, is much obscured, for lack of the refining hand of the godly Author himself: but now, seeing that shining light is quenched, use this our Lamp; it is fed with such oil as we received in the Lords Sanctuary, from that Olive Tree, whence many a one did fill his vessel. And, being importuned to expose the same for the Common good, we have presumed to place it under the shelter of your Honourable names; beseeching God it may help to guide your feet in the way of peace.

The religious precedents of your Honourable Parents (Right Noble and hopeful Gentlemen) must persuade you much to be sound, and constant in the faith: for, declining in religion brings stain of honour, and decay even of temporal portion. But, labour you to increase in grace, and trust the Lord with your outward greatness. Honour him, and he will honour you: delight in him, and he will give you your holy hearts desire; his faithfulness will be your shield, to the grief of those that envy your happiness. But, beware of bad example, and evil counsel, which are the bane and poison of younger years. Walk with God like Enoch: use the world as Abraham did, and follow Moses in the matters of delight, forsaking them when they become the pleasures of sin. So shall you obtain good report, and your memories shall be blessed with your posterities, like these faithful Witnesses. November 10, 1607.

Yours in the LORD to be commanded, WILLIAM CRASHAW, THOMAS PIERSON.

The gracious promises of God — made to the holy patriarchs concerning the land of Canaan — were a singular comfort to the believing Israelites during their bondage in Egypt. When Moses renewed those same promises (and God confirmed his words with so many miracles), their joy grew abundantly, even as their chains grew heavier. But the pledge of God's presence in the pillar of cloud — which led them through the wilderness both night and day — far surpassed all His promises in the comfort it gave. Moses himself said he would rather be kept from the promised land than be deprived of the comfort of that presence along the way: "If Your presence does not go before us, do not lead us up from here." These things are examples for us, and clear pictures of the situation of those who live under the Gospel. They show plainly that while believers are greatly encouraged in their spiritual journey by the gracious promises God has made to them in Christ, their joy is made much greater by seeing those who have gone before them in the way of faith — those who serve as a cloud of witnesses, like a pillar of cloud.

Here, then, see what great reason we have to fix our eyes on this cloud of witnesses, which the Holy Spirit has raised up as a pledge of His presence and a guide for all who will follow their steps in the practice of faith until the end of the world. If Moses was so moved by that cloud that led only to a temporary inheritance, should we not be far more filled with delight in this cloud, which leads us to the kingdom of heaven? In every situation, the righteous must live by faith, for we walk by faith, not by sight. And what is the hope and happiness of a Christian but to receive at last the salvation of our souls — which is the goal of our faith and the end of this walk. But not just any faith will carry us through. Some begin in the Spirit but end in the flesh, going out with Paul for a while and then returning with Demas to the world. They cannot do otherwise, because apostasy is the natural end of hypocrisy. The person who deceives others in his profession of faith is usually deceived in his own salvation.

Therefore our wisdom is this: to guard our souls so that our faith — as the beloved apostle said of love — is not merely in word and tongue, but in deed and in truth. For our better guidance in testing the genuineness of our faith, we have here many notable examples in this cloud of witnesses, made up of the most worthy believers from all ages before Christ's incarnation. Every one of them demonstrated the life of faith through their works, and in them we can see how to put our faith into practice. We must pay close attention to this, because in every situation we must practice faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God. And what situation in life could possibly come upon us for which we do not have a living example and forerunner leading the way to heaven, somewhere within the compass of this cloud? Are you a king or a magistrate? Look to David, Hezekiah, and the Judges. Are you a courtier? Look to Moses. Are you a soldier? Look to Samson, David, and Joshua. Here is Enoch, Noah, and the prophets for ministers; the patriarchs for fathers; Sarah and the Shunammite for mothers; Isaac and Joseph for children. Here is Abel for shepherds and Rahab for those in trade. Here are some who lived in honor, in peace, and in plenty; some in want; and some in sickness — but most of all in persecution, because that is where faith is most severely tested. So whichever way we turn, if we walk by faith, we have here some faithful witness to go before us. To make their steps clearer to our sight so that we may follow hard toward the mark without wandering, we have here a notable light in this learned commentary. We must confess it is much diminished for lack of the refining hand of the godly author himself. But now that shining light has been extinguished — use this our lamp instead. It is fed with the oil we received in the Lord's sanctuary from that olive tree, from which many a person filled their vessel. We were urged to make it available for the common good, and we have presumed to place it under the shelter of your honored names, praying to God that it may help to guide your feet in the way of peace.

The devout example of your honored parents, right noble and promising gentlemen, should strongly persuade you to be sound and steadfast in the faith. Declining in religion brings a stain on one's honor and a decay even of earthly provision. Instead, strive to grow in grace and trust the Lord with your outward circumstances. Honor Him, and He will honor you. Delight in Him, and He will give you your heart's holy desires. His faithfulness will be your shield, to the grief of those who envy your happiness. But beware of bad examples and evil counsel, which are the ruin and poison of younger years. Walk with God like Enoch. Use the world as Abraham did. Follow Moses in the matter of earthly pleasures — forsaking them when they become the pleasures of sin. Do this, and you will obtain a good report, and your memory will be blessed by your descendants, like these faithful witnesses. November 10, 1607.

Yours in the Lord to be commanded, William Crashaw, Thomas Pierson.