A20187:131
The opening of heaven gatesThe opening of heauen gates
The opening of heaven gates, or The ready way to everlasting life Delivered in a most familiar dialogue, between reason and religion, touching predestination, Gods word, and mans free-will, to the understanding of the weakest capacity, and the confirming of the more strong. By Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God, at South-Shoobery in Essex.The opening of heauen gates, or The ready way to euerlasting life Deliuered in a most familier dialogue, betweene reason and religion, touching predestination, Gods word, and mans free-will, to the vnderstanding of the weakest capacitie, and the confirming of the more strong. By Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God, at South-Shoobery in Essex.
London: printed by G. Eld for John Wright, 1610London: printed by G. Eld for Iohn Wright, 1610
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.
Rea. Truly, thou compellest me to yield unto thee in this point, for if God would not have some damned, they should in no wise be damned, that be damned: But here again ariseth a doubt which troubleth many: If that necessity of things be prefixed by the eternal decreement, it is superfluous1 and a mere kind of madness to teach what every mans duty is: for why: all the teaching, and preaching in the world, shall not alter the least lot of Gods determination.
Rea. Truly, thou compellest me to yeald vnto thee in this point, for if God would not haue some damned, they should in no wise be damned, that be damned: But here againe ariseth a doubt which troubleth many: If that necessity of things be prefixed by the eternall decreement, it is superfluous1 and a mere kinde of madnesse to teach what euery mans duty is: for why: all the teaching, and preaching in the world, shal not alter the least lot of Gods determination.
- 1The unrea▪ so ••ble cbiection of Worldlings.The vnrea▪ so ••ble cbiection of Worldlings.
Reli. Indeed this is the only refuge whereto the fox flieth, being hunted from every other haunt: But the Lord will one day unkennel him, when his case & carcass both, shall pay tribute to the father of foxes, if mean whiles he offer not to God a more acceptable sacrifice: These be they that make ship wrack of all religion, although some whiles under ⟨p. 81⟩the veil thereof, they would seem for credit sake, to have some little smack of y fear of God: But they which be the children of God, either know or will know, yea & the wicked also shall know, not only, that in that security which they would draw from hence, resteth the utter contempt of Christ, and of all true knowledge of God, but also that doctrine