A20187:135
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. But if wise men of the world were any thing wise in the wisdom • GOD, this would be far from they thoughts, and twice so far from they tongues. For I pray you what d• move the Lord to reveal the same do• ▪trine, so plentifully in his word? Some intent of secrecy? Shall the sun neu• shine because all are not able to comprehend it with their bodily eyes? Let t•• same wise men gaze upon the ground for that is the treasury of their unde standing: they cannot perceive how o• little grass groweth, and shall the ear• therefore not yield her increase as •• Lord doth appoint? If hidden and sec•• ⟨p. 85⟩causes may lawfully prevent common profits, then shall it behove us to wax more sharp sighted then men, or shortly •o have another world. Those men whatsoever they pretend have small regard of Gods true service •r honour: therefore is there no cause that the truth of GOD should be dissembled for their number or authority, be it never so great. I remember that Saint Augustine 1•ath said full well to the matter. This Doctrine being heard (saith he) some are •urned into a sluggish heaviness and •lownesse, and being readily bent to fall from labour unto wantonness, do go after their lusts: must therefore that be thought false, which is said of the foreknowledge of God? And will we not also speak, that which the Scripture being witness, it is lawful to speak? by likelihood we are afraid, least he should be offended which cannot take it, and are not afraid, least we holding our tongues, that he which can take the truth should be deceived with falsehood. Therefore as true religion is to be taught, that GOD may be truly worshipped, so is the Doctrine of predestination,