A09376:1317
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.
Herein we may observe; first, that the good examples of Superiors (whether they be civill or Ecclesiastical) are of great force to bring other men on, and to make them forward in the duties of religion: their zeal (as Paul saith to the Corinthians in the case of alms) provoketh many. Jacob the father, being a worthy Prophet and Patriarch, & giving an holy and blessed example unto Joseph and his children, doth show forth at his death most notable behaviour; wherein, he worthily expresseth the trueth of his faith. Now, his example works with Joseph, and he in his death behaves himself in the same manner that his godly father did before him: and therefore superiors must look to all their sayings and doings carefully, that they may be worthy examples to their inferiors, to draw them on in religion, and in the fear of God.
Herein we may obserue; first, that the good examples of Superiours (vvhether they be ciuill or Ecclesiasticall) are of great force to bring other men on, and to make them forward in the duties of religion: their zeale (as Paul saith to the Corinthians in the case of almes) prouoketh many. Iacob the father, beeing a worthy Prophet and Patriarch, & giuing an holy and blessed example vnto Ioseph and his children, doth shew forth at his death most notable behauiour; wherein, hee worthily expresseth the trueth of his faith. Now, his example works with Ioseph, and he in his death behaues himselfe in the same manner that his godly father did before him: and therfore superiours must look to all their sayings and doings carefully, that they may bee worthy examples to their inferiours, to drawe them on in religion, and in the feare of God.
Secondly, hence inferiors also must learn to follow the godly, holy, and religious examples of their governors and superiors (whether they be civill or Ecclesiastical); as we may see in this place, Joseph doth imitate the godly example of his father Jacob. Hereof Saint Paul giveth strait charge unto the Philippians, saying; Brethren be followers of me, and look on them which walk so, as ye have us for an example, Phil. 3.17. And in the next Chapter, exhorting them to honest conversation, he bids them do those things which they had heard, received, and seen in him. But are these duties practiced among us? be the elder sort teachers of good things to the younger? & do the younger follow their elders in well-doing? nay verily: but such are our times, too many among us, both those that give, and those which follow good examples, are as signs & wonders, as the Prophet speaketh; they are made a reproach, & a by-word among men, and are foully disgraced by odious terms, Isay 8.18. But this indeed is a practice of Ismael, that mocked Isaac,