A09376:754
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.
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.
But alas, how contrary is the practice of the world! Men deale with God, as we doe with loose Chapmen, whom wee will not trust without a good pawne. So we will not obay Gods Commaundements, longer then his religion serues our turne; nor will we trust and follow God, without the pawnes of profit and pleasure. Nay, wee doe worse: most men esteeme of God no better, nor vse him any better then they doe theeues in their houses. If a man come into our house, that is giuen to stealing, we trust him as long as hee is in our sight▪ but if he be out of our sight, we thinke euer he is stealing: So, if men see the meanes of Gods prouidence▪ 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 Commaundements of God sound to their content, and tend to their profit, they will obay them: but if not, they will cast them behinde their backe; at least, they will make a pause at the matter, and take their owne time. And if Gods wayes seeme pleasant and profitable, they will walke in them: or else they will leaue them, and walke in their owne.