A09376:1035
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, 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.
Secondly, if wee be sonnes, to looke which of our fore-fathers and auncestors imbraced the most holy religion; and to choose, and liue, and die in their faith. Most of our yong Papists can say no more for their religion, but this; my father and grand-father were of that religion. But they must looke to all their fore-fathers: Isaac and Iaacob would not be of their great grand-fathers (Nahors or Terahs) religion, but of their father Abrahams: and Abraham himselfe, would not be of his father Terahs, or his grand father Nahors religion; but he went vp a great deale higher, to his fore-fathers to the tenth generation, Noah and Shem, and imbraced their religion. So that we see, it is nothing to say, I am of my fathers, or grand-fathers religion; vnlesse first I prooue that theirs was of God: and then hee is a Noble Christian man, which knowing that, will not forsake it, but will liue and die in it.
Thirdly, see here, true honour and gentry, is to live and die in the true faith, and holy religion of our ancestors: ⟨p. 274⟩here is the fountain of honour, to do as these did. Abraham perceives he is wrong, and erred with his fathers; he therefore leaves his fathers and grand-fathers religion, & goeth up higher, and takes a better. Isaac his son, makes himself heir, not of his land alone; but of his fathers religion also: Jacob the grand-child, follows both, and dieth in faith with them. Behold here Jacob, a true gentleman in blood; his holiness and religion is in the third descent: Let us all learn to adorn our gentility and nobility with these ensigns of true honour.