A09376:1693
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
Believers under the Maccabees.Beleeuers vnder the Maccabees.
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, whereas it is said, These servants of God wandered up and down: we do learn, that a man may lawfully go from place to place, and travel from country to country; if so be, he go in faith, as these men did. Again, their going was to keep faith, and a good conscience: and, for the same end, may any man lawfully travel from place to place. But, when men go not in faith; nor yet, for this ⟨p. 551⟩end, the better to keep a good conscience: there undoubtedly, their travel is not lawful.
Secondly, whereas it is said, These seruants of God wandred vp and downe: wee doe learne, that a man may lawfully go from place to place, and trauell from countrie to country; if so be, he goe in faith, as these men did. Againe, their going was to keepe faith, and a good conscience: and, for the same ende, may any man lawfully trauell from place to place. But, when men goe not in faith; nor yet, for this ⟨p. 551⟩ende, the better to keepe a good conscience: there vndoubtedly, their trauell is not lawfull.
By this then, we have just cause to reprove the bad course of many wanderers among us: as first, of our common beggars, whose whole life is nothing else, but a wandering from place to place; though not in faith, nor for con science sake: but, they find a sweetness in their idle kind of life; and therefore they wander, because they would not work. Now, this their course (having no other ground, but love of idleness, and contempt of pains in a lawful calling) cannot be but greatly displeasing unto God; who enjoins, that every man should walk in some lawful calling, and eat his own bread. This they do not; and therefore the curse of God pursueth them: for, generally they are given up to most horrible sins of injustice, and uncleanness: they walk inordinately; for, they range not themselves into any families, but live liker brute beasts, than men: they are not members of any particular congregation, but excommunicate themselves from all churches; and so live, as though there were no God, no Christ, nor true religion. And, herein we may see Gods hand more heavy upon them, that they take all their delight in that course of wandering, which in it own nature is a curse, & a punishment.