A09376:1370
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, this circumstance of time, noting Moses deliberate staidness in this fact, doeth plainly advertise us, what is, or should be, the virtue of old age, and the ornament of years; namely, staidness, & discretion: whereby, ⟨p. 398⟩I mean, not only that natural temper of affection, which old age bringeth with it; but such religious discretion, whereby men of years do all things in faith, so as their works may be acceptable and pleasing unto God. For, when a man is grown in years, & hath had experience & observation in the Church of God, he must not only have a general knowledge and wisdom; but a particular wisdom, whereby he may do in faith, whatsoever he takes in hand, and therein please God. But alas, this may be spoken of old men in these days, that in regard of this wisdom, they are very babes; a thing greatly disgraceful to their condition. For, Paul bids the Corinthians, 1. Cor. 14.20, that they should not be children in understanding, but of ripe age: yea, and he forbids the Ephesians, Eph. 4.14, to be children still, wavering and carried about with every wind of doctrine. Whereby we may see, that aged persons do quite degenerate from that they ought to be, when they are babes in knowledge, void of spiritual wisdom. Indeed, we must grant, that our aged persons are worldly wise; & he must have a cunning head, and (as we say) rise early, that herein goes beyond them: But bring them to the book of God, and to give a reason of their actions, that they are done in faith; herein, they are mere babes, and ignorant: neither can they tell what it is to do a thing in faith, so as it may be acceptable to God. Herein, many that are young in years, do quite out-strip them. What would we think or say of a child, that being set to a good school, should still be in the lowest form, though he had long continued at it? Surely, we would judge him either exceeding negligent, or destitute of ordinary capacity.
Secondly, this circumstance of time, noting Moses deliberate staiednesse in this fact, doeth plainely aduertise vs, what is, or should bee, the vertue of olde age, and the ornament of yeares; namely, staiednesse, & discretion: wherby, ⟨p. 398⟩