A09376:1294
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 look what mind & affection Joseph bears, the same should be in every one of us. Whatsoever our estate be, whether honourable, or base, and mean; we must with Joseph esteem more of Gods covenant, & to be members of Gods Church, then of all the honour in the world besides; and we must esteem our places and preferments that we have, or our children may have, to be nothing in comparison of the blessing of God, and his favour. Yea, we must choose with Joseph rather to leave our honours and dignities for a time, or (if it were) for ever; then to lose the blessing of Gods grace: and blessed shall those Fathers be with Joseph, who had rather have their children blessed of God, then advanced in the world. The second action of Jacobs faith, is in these words; And worshipped on the end of his staff: and it is a notable work for the commendation ⟨p. 369⟩of his faith. But before we come unto it, there are certain questions which may profitably be considered: As first, for the translation; how the words should be read. The Papists read them thus: And adored the top of his Rod; that is (say they) the top of Josephs Sceptre who came to visit him. From whence they would gather and ground their abominable Idolatry, in the Adoration of creatures, and namely of Holy things, as Crucifix, Relics, Images, as also of God at and before such holy things. But we must know that their translation is false and erroneous, and cannot be justified, howsoever they may bring some mens witness and testimony for the same. For in reading it thus, and adored the top of his Rod; they leave out a substantial word of the text, to wit, this word upon; whereby they corrupt the Text, and deprave the meaning of the holy Ghost.
Now looke what minde & affection Ioseph beares, the same should be in euery one of vs. Whatsoeuer our estate be, whether honourable, or base, and meane; wee must with Ioseph esteeme more of Gods couenant, & to be members of Gods Church, then of all the honour in the world besides; and we must esteeme our places and preferments that we haue, or our children may haue, to be nothing in comparison of the blessing of God, and his fauour. Yea, we must chuse with Ioseph rather to leaue our honours and dignities for a time, or (if it were) for euer; then to lose the blessing of Gods grace: and blessed shall those Fathers be with Ioseph, who had rather haue their children blessed of God, then aduaunced in the world. The second action of Iacobs faith, is in these words; And worshipped on the end of his staffe: and it is a notable worke for the cōmendation