A09376:492
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.
Again, whereas God himself vouchsafeth in Noah's danger, to be the Master and Pilot of this Ark, that so it may save him and his household; we learn the auntientie and dignity of the trade of Mariners, Sailors, and Masters of ships. The auntientie: For we see it is as old as Noah, as old as this second world, even 4000. years old. The dignity is great; for God himself was both the first author, and the first practicer of it. The author and first deviser: For Noah made not this Ark of his own head, but (as we heard before) he was warned of God to do it. And he was the first practicer; for God himself performed all those services unto Noah in the Ark: else it had never saved him.
Againe, whereas God himselfe vouchsafeth in Noahs danger, to be the Master and Pilot of this Arke, that so it may saue him and his houshold; we learne the auntientie and dignitie of the trade of Mariners, Saylers, and Maisters of ships. The auntientie: For we see it is as old as Noah, as old as this second world, euen 4000. yeeres olde. The dignitie is great; for God himselfe was both the first author, and the first practicer of it. The author and first deuiser: For Noah made not this Arke of his owne head, but (as we heard before) he was warned of God to doe it. And hee was the first practicer; for God himselfe performed all those seruices vnto Noah in the Arke: else it had neuer saued him.
This being so, It is the more grief to see that worthy calling so abused, and debased as it is; the most of them that practice it being profane, ungodly and dissolute men. Such men should remember, God made the first ship, and God was the first Master, and the first Mariner, the first Pilot, the first governor of a ship: and they should labour to be like him. This is one of those few callings, which may say, God himself was the first deviser and practicer of it. All callings cannot say so: why then should they so far forget whom they succeed? Indeed upon ⟨p. 130⟩the seas and in distresses, they will make some profession of religion: but let them come a-shore; what swearing, what whoring, what drunkenness amongst them? But let them be afraid to be so profane, which hold the place, which once God himself held: or else let them know they are unworthy of so good a calling.