A09376:753
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.
In obedience to God, we must do as blind men do, who follow their guides, though it be through woods & rocks, hills, or dales, or dangerous places, regarding nothing, ⟨p. 195⟩fearing nothing; only following & trusting their guides, who have eyes for them, though they have none for themselves. So must we follow Gods calling, and yield absolute obedience to his Commandments, fearing nothing; but trusting to the faithfulness of his power, and assuredly believing, that he being our blessed guide, we shall not be mis-led: thus to do is true faith.
In obedience to God, we must doe as blindemen doe, who followe their guides, though it be through woods & rocks, hills, or dales, or dangerous places, regarding nothing, ⟨p. 195⟩fearing nothing; only following & trusting their guides, who haue eyes for them, though they haue none for themselues. So must we follow Gods calling, and yeeld absolute obedience to his Commaundements, fearing nothing; but trusting to the faithfulnesse of his power, and assuredly beleeuing, that he being our blessed guide, we shall not be mis-led: thus to doe is true faith.
But alas, how contrary is the practice of the world! Men deal with God, as we do with loose Chapmen, whom we will not trust without a good pawn. So we will not obey Gods Commandments, longer then his religion serves our turn; nor will we trust and follow God, without the pawns of profit and pleasure. Nay, we do worse: most men esteem of God no better, nor use him any better then they do thieves in their houses. If a man come into our house, that is given to stealing, we trust him as long as he is in our sight▪ but if he be out of our sight, we think ever he is stealing: So, if men see the means of Gods providence▪ they will take his word, and trust it; but else God must excuse them, they may not trust him further then they see him. And if the Commandments of God sound to their content, and tend to their profit, they will obey them: but if not, they will cast them behind their back; at least, they will make a pause at the matter, and take their own time. And if Gods ways seem pleasant and profitable, they will walk in them: or else they will leave them, and walk in their own.