A09376:1130
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, hence we learn which is the true way to get sound honour amongst men; namely, to honour God. Good estimation in the world is not to be contemned, for the Lord commandeth all inferiors to honour their superiors, whereby he also bindeth every man to preserve his own dignity.1 Now God honoureth them that honour him; therefore the surest way to get true honour among men is this: Let a man first lay his foundation well, & begin with God, & set all the affections of his heart & thoughts on this, To honour God. Quest. How may a man honour God? Answ. By forsaking the rebellious ways of sin & ungodliness, & walking in the way of righteousness through the course of his life. This doth God take to be an honour unto his high Majesty. And when a man doth this unfeignedly, then God will honour him, even among men, so far forth as shall be for his good; for God hath all mens hearts in his hand, & will make them to honour those that honour him: so S. Paul saith, If any man therefore purge himself from these, 2he shall be a vessel unto honour; not only in glory eternal after death, but also ⟨p. 308⟩in grace and favour with Gods Church. This confuteth the opinion, and condemneth the practice of many, who would fain have good report in the world, and be spoken well of by all men: but what course (I pray you) take they to come by this good name? They do not begin with God, and lay their foundation by honouring him; but they strive to please men, whether it be by doing well or ill, they care not; their only care is to please all: for, that is their rule and resolution, all must be pleased▪ and because most men are ill, they rather choose oftentimes to do ill, than they will not please the greater sort. But he that beginneth to get honour by pleasing men, beginneth at a wrong end; for, by the testimony of the holy Ghost in this place, the way to get sound approbation before men, is first to begin with God, and to honour him.
Secondly, hence we learne which is the true way to get sound honor amongst men; namely, to honor God. Good estimation in the world is not to be contemned, for the Lord cōmandeth all inferiours to honour their superiours, wherby he also bindeth euery mā to preserue his own dignity.