A20187:132
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.
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 doctrine1 is appointed as an under servant to the Lord, whereby he doth justly accomplish that, which he had purposed touching his elect, as also the reprobate. Therefore I pray you what is the drift of this objection other then that the Lord should leave all things at large, according to the opinion of Epicure, & the Papist, to a careless happening, whereby man for his behoof, pausing upon his own ways, might address himself, as of his own proper power, to will and work these things, that should win Salvation? truly if they were called together among them all, is not one to be found, that can clear him-self of this intent. Therefore it is manifest, that they are not enemies alone to the predestination of God, according to whose foreknowledge ⟨p. 82⟩a covenable necessity • things is prescribed, as best beseeme•• his omnipotency: but also that they ar• 2angry with free justification, where-upon they will either convey them▪selves in to the place of Christ, or at least become assistant in his office. But why should the reprobate him self account Doctrine unnecessary, •• beit he will not yield himself obedient is he not thereby left utterly without excuse before the Lord? Moreover it is commanded to b set before the reprobate, not because it might intercept that thing that God hath purposed of him, but that by