A09376:667
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.
And for particular callings, the case even standeth so also. Some men think the calling of a Magistrate, a place of honour: and therefore ambitiously plot and desire to raise themselves into authority; never remembering the burden, and trouble they are sure to find. Which when they feel to be too heavy for their lazy shoulders to bear with ease, they foully fall to plain carelessness, and neglect all doing good in their places, and wish they had never bought honour so dear.
And for particular callings, the case euen standeth so also. Some men thinke the calling of a Magistrate, a place of honour: and therefore ambitiously plot and desire to raise themselues into authority; neuer remembring the burden, and trouble they are sure to finde. Which when they feele to be too heauie for their lazie shoulders to beare with ease, they foully fall to plaine carelesnesse, and neglect all doing good in their places, and wish they had neuer bought honour so deare.
So others think the Ministry nothing, but a place of ease, exemption, and preferment. And in these conceits rush presumptuously & rashly into that holy State, never thinking aforehand of that great charge of souls they are to take, nor of that heavy account they are to make for them; nor of the hatred, and contempt, and extreme disgraces they are sure to find, if they do their duties with conscience. And therefore (when upon experience they find it so to be) they either fall to carnal courses with the world, and neglect their duties (that by these two means they may please the world) or else they continue in their duties, with much grief and vexation, wishing they had chosen rather any calling, then the Ministry: and by either of both, do expose themselves to shame and much rebuke. Whereas contrariwise, he that aforehand casts his account what it will cost him to be a Minister, what he must undertake, what he must lose, what he ⟨p. 177⟩is sure to find, is so settled and resolved afore-hand, as he goeth through all dangers and contempts, with comfort, courage, and contentment. Let us therefore all learn by this practice of God, when we think to enter upon any such duty, to reason with our selves, as God did with Abraham, what we are to forsake, and what we are to meet withal. So shall we not afterward repent us, but go on with much assurance, as Abraham did.