A09376:1075
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.
Thirdly, we must learn contentation of heart, in every estate of life, which God shall send upon us: we must be contented as well in sickness as in health▪ in poverty, as in plenty; in trouble, as in peace: and in good report, and ill report; and in all estates of life and death. A pilgrim in his way taketh all things patiently, that befall him; and if he be injured any way, he puts it up quietly, without seeking revenge, or making complaint▪ till he come home; where he knows he shall have audience, and redress. Even so must we behave our selves in this our pilgrimage to heaven: in hope of that redress and rest we shall have, we must bear all things patiently, that befall us in this life, which is the way: and doing these three things, we shall become good pilgrims and strangers in this world.
Thirdly, we must learne contentation of heart, in euery estate of life, which God shall send vpon vs: we must bee contented as well in sickenesse as in health▪ in pouerty, as in plentie; in trouble, as in peace: and in good report, and ill report; and in all estates of life and death. A pilgrime in his way taketh all things patiently, that befall him; and if he be iniuried any way, he puts it vp quietly, without seeking reuenge, or making complaint▪ till hee come home; where he knowes hee shall haue audience, and redresse. Euen so must we behaue our selues in this our pilgrimage to heauen: in hope of that redresse and rest we shall haue, we must beare all things patiently, that befall vs in this life, which is the way: and doing these three things, we shal become good pilgrimes and strangers in this world.
Here two questions offer themselves to be considered. ⟨p. 289⟩First, if every man, both in profession and practice, must show himself to be a pilgrim and stranger in this world: Whether then, is it not a good estate of life, for a man to contemn the world, and all things in it, and to betake himself to perpetual beggary, and voluntary poverty? Answ. The world in Scripture is taken divers ways: first, for the corruptions and sins in the world; and these must be contemned by all means possible: yea, that is the best religion which teacheth best how to contemn these; and he the best man, who most forsakes them, in what calling soever he lives.