A09376:1034
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, observe how it is said, All these died in faith: not some, but all▪ Abraham, the father, and the root, and with him, the wife, the child, and the grand-child: behold a true noble blood, a holy kindred, a blessed generation: worthy is Abraham of all the honour he hath, who was the root of such a noble and blessed brood. And worthy are Isaac and Jacob of so good a father, who stained not their blood, by forsaking their faith; but held it, as they received it, and lived and died in it. Let this teach us, first, if we be fathers, to shine before our children, in a holy religion, true faith, and good life; and it is great hope that our wives and children will follow us in the same.
Secondly, obserue how it is said, All these died in faith: not some, but all▪ Abraham, the father, and the roote, and with him, the wife, the child, and the grand-child: behold a true noble blood, a holy kinred, a blessed generation: worthy is Abraham of all the honour hee hath, who was the roote of such a noble and blessed brood. And worthy are Isaac and Iaacob of so good a father, who stained not their blood, by forsaking their faith; but held it, as they receiued it, and liued and died in it. Let this teach vs, first, if we bee fathers, to shine before our children, in a holy religion, true faith, and good life; and it is great hope that our wiues and children will follow vs in the same.
Secondly, if we be sons, to look which of our fore-fathers and ancestors embraced the most holy religion; and to choose, and live, and die in their faith. Most of our young Papists can say no more for their religion, but this; my father and grand-father were of that religion. But they must look to all their fore-fathers: Isaac and Jacob would not be of their great grand-fathers (Nahor's or Terah's) religion, but of their father Abraham's: and Abraham himself, would not be of his father Terah's, or his grand father Nahor's religion; but he went up a great deal higher, to his fore-fathers to the tenth generation, Noah and Shem, and embraced their religion. So that we see, it is nothing to say, I am of my fathers, or grand-fathers religion; unless first I prove that theirs was of God: and then he is a Noble Christian man, which knowing that, will not forsake it, but will live and die in it.