HeB. XII. 1.] FAREWELL SERMON. 413
ment, say, a cloud with allusion to the pillar of cloud which conducted the Israelites to Canaan : yet neither doth this come up fully to the scope of the apostle ; for the apostle speaks not of a cloud that goes before us, but of a cloud that compasses us round about, and therefore a cloud. The reason why it is called so, is the number and multitude of those witnesses, as a cloud is made up of a multitude of vapours gathered together and condensed into one body ; and so the expression is often used: Ezek. xxxviii. 9, ' Thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land,' &c., noting the increase of the people when God would restore them, the multitude of converts. And so, in profane authors, Livy hath such an expression ; an army of men is called a cloud. But this is enough to show the intent of this expression, that there are a mul- titude, a very great number. Though the godly, comparatively, and with respect to the wicked, are a few^; yet, considered in themselves, they are a great number ; for if the martyrs and those glorious instances of heroic faith, and that under the Old Testament, when God's interest was more confined to one people, if there were such a church then of so great a number, what will the whole church of the Old and New Testament be, when we shall meet together in heaven ? We are often discouraged with the paucity of professors, and are apt to think our- selves to be left alone, 1 Kings xix. 10. But let us remember there is a cloud of witnesses ; we are not solitary now, and certainly we shall not want company when we come to heaven, * To the innumerable company of,' &c.
Again, it meets with an ordinary and strong temptation which Satan suggests to the hearts of the godly, that they are singular and matchless in their afflictions, that none of the people of God have ever undergone such difficulties as they are exposed unto ; and this makes them question their Father's affection, and put themselves out of the number of his children. Ay ! but all these things are accomplished in the saints of God before you. Here is a cloud of witnesses that have been exercised and tried to purpose, 1 Peter v. 9. They are troubled with a busy devil, a naughty world, a corrupt heart ; all have had their trial from God's correcting hand : ' The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.' So that we have many fellows ; our lot is no harder than the saints of God that have gone before us, for there is a cloud of witnesses.
Thirdly, Observe the apostle calls it a cloud that compasses us round about — i.e., we have instances for every trial, temptation, duty, that we are put upon. Here we have examples of those that have fulfilled the commands of Christ on this side with an undaunted courage ; and the examples of those that have borne the cross of Christ with an invin- cible patience. Here we have examples of those that have conquered right-hand temptations, that have despised the delights of the world ; and there are those that have conquered left-hand temptations, that have not been broken and affrighted with the terrors of the world. All the saints of God have trodden that way, the same paths wherein we are to walk after them. AVe cannot look this way or that way, but w6 have instances of faith, confidence in God, and patience : * We are compassed about,' &c. In short, here lies the encouragement that Christians should propound to themselves.
414 FAREWELL SERMON. [HeB. XIL 1.
1. That there arc examples. Christians of later times have more to answer for their infidelity than those of former ages. They that first believed the j)romiscs believed without such a cloud of witnesses, or multitude of examples. Many have gone before us that have broken the ice, and that found good success from their own ex])erience ; they liave commended God to us as a true and faithful God, and will not you go on ? When Jonathan and his armour-bearer climbed up the rocks of the Philistines, then the people were encouraged to go up after. So here are some that have gone before you, and it hath succeeded well with them.
2. These examples are many ; not one or two, that might be supposed to be singularly assisted, and to have eminent prerogatives above the rest of their brethren ; but many in every age — a whole cloud of them.
3. There are examples of many rare and excellent men, the best that ever lived under heaven : ' Take, my brethren, the prophets for an example,' (fcc, James v. 10.
4. They are propounded to us, not for their words only, and for their profession, but for their deeds, for their bitter sufferings; and they abundantly manifest to us that there is nothing impossible in our duty, or anything so difficult but may be overcome through Christ's strength enabling us. They all had the same nature we have ; they were of the like passion with us, flesh and blood as we are, of the same relations and concernments. And then, on the other side, we have the same cause with them, the same recompense of reward to encourage us, the same God and Saviour to recompense us. He suffered for us as well as for them ; therefore we should follow in their steps, and hold fast our confidence to the end ; for they have showed us that poverty, rei)roaches, death itself, and all those things that would look harsli and with a ghastly aspect upon the eyes of the world, are no such evils but that a believer may rejoice in them, and triumph over them. 1 say, they have showed the blandishments of the world have not such a charm, but they may be renounced without any loss of considerable joy and contentment ; and that the duties of Christianity are not so hard but that a little waiting upon God will bring in grace enough to perform them ; therefore saith the apostle, ' Seeing we have a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside,' &c. And so I come to the encouragement, to the —