A09376:1132
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.
Now, if this be so, what shall we say of our own nation and people, amongst whom it is as common to dishonour God, as ever it was amongst the Papists, or Pagans; partly, ⟨p. 309⟩by light using of his holy titles, and taking his name in vain: and partly, by swearing, and open blasphemy: and sometime, even by abominable perjury. Nay, it is many mens rule, that they may swear, dissemble, lie, & forswear for advantage. These sins are some of them rise in all sorts of people, and hardly shall you talk with a man, that doth not by vain oaths dishonour God: yea, it is so common, that children, so soon as they can crawl, or lisp out a word; the first thing they can speak, is to curse, or swear, and take Gods name in vain, whereby God is dishonoured every way: so as it is a wonder that the earth doth not open & swallow up many men quick, for their swearing and blasphemy. And whereas Gods Judgements are often grievously inflicted upon us, in many places of the Land; we may persuade our selves, that among other sins, it is for our blasphemy, and taking Gods name in vain. And if it be not speedily redressed, it is to be feared lest God will rain down his judgements upon us, and in his wrath sweep us all away; and take away the father with the child, the good with the bad, because there is no reformation of so vile, and yet so needless a sin.
Now, if this be so, what shall we say of our owne nation and people, amongst whom it is as cōmon to dishonour God, as euer it was amongst the Papists, or Pagans; partly, ⟨p. 309⟩by light vsing of his holy titles, and taking his name in vaine: and partly, by swearing, and open blasphemie: and sometime, euen by abhominable periurie. Nay, it is many mens rule, that they may sweare, dissemble, lie, & forsweare for aduantage. These sinnes are some of them rise in all sorts of people, and hardly shall you talke with a man, that doth not by vaine othes dishonor God: yea, it is so common, that children, so soone as they can crawle, or lispe out a word; the first thing they can speake, is to curse, or sweare, and take Gods name in vaine, whereby God is dishonoured euery way: so as it is a wonder that the earth doth not open & swallow vp many men quicke, for their swearing and blasphemy. And wheras Gods Iudgements are often grieuously inflicted vpon vs, in many places of the Land; we may perswade our selues, that among other sinnes, it is for our blasphemie, and taking Gods name in vaine. And if it be not speedily redressed, it is to be feared lest God will raine downe his iudgements vpon vs, and in his wrath sweepe vs all away; and take away the father with the childe, the good with the bad, because there is no reformation of so vile, and yet so needlesse a sinne.