A09376:1073
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.
But how (will some say) shall we be answerable to this profession? Answer. For the practice hereof, we must do these 3. things: 1. We must use this world and the things thereof, as though we used them not; 1. Cor▪ 7.31: The temporal blessings we here enjoy, we must so use, as though they were not ours; but as strangers do, only for the present occasion: but we must not set our hearts thereon. And the rather to persuade us hereunto, let us consider the practice of these godly Patriarchs. They had the promise of the Land of Canaan distinctly & absolutely: so as no man in the world hath more right to any thing that he possesseth, then they had to this Land; yet when they came into it, they enjoyed it, and all things therein as strangers; and possessed nothing, but did even buy ground to bury their dead in. And so must we use the things that we have in this world: for our houses, we must use them as Strangers do an Inn: and for our goods, we must use them as Pilgrims do other mens goods, where they stay for a night: we must so use them always, as being ready and willing to leave them the next morning, or at any time when God shall call us away.
But how (will some say) shall we be answerable to this profession? Answer. For the practice hereof, we must doe these 3. things: 1. We must vse this world and the things therof, as though we vsed them not; 1. Cor▪ 7.31: The temporall blessings we here enioy, wee must so vse, as though they were not ours; but as strangers doe, onely for the present occasion: but we must not set our hearts thereon. And the rather to perswade vs heereunto, let vs consider the practice of these godly Patriarchs. They had the promise of the Land of Canaan distinctly & absolutely: so as no man in the world hath more right to any thing that he possesseth, then they had to this Land; yet when they came into it, they enioyed it, and all things therein as strangers; and possessed nothing, but did euen buy ground to bury their dead in. And so must wee vse the things that wee haue in this world: for our houses, we must vse them as Strangers doe an Inne: and for our goods, we must vse them as Pilgrimes doe other mens goods, where they stay for a night: we must so vse them alwaies, as being ready and willing to leaue them the next morning, or at any time when God shall call vs away.