A20187:140
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. But by that parable may wicked men take encouragement to neglect the time of calling, because they that were called in the last ⟨p. 88⟩hour were accepted & rewarded equally with those which came in the first hour of the day.
Rea. But by that parrable may wicked men take encouragement to neglecte the time of calling, because they that were called in the last ⟨p. 88⟩houre were accepted & rewarded equally with those which came in the first houre of the day.
Reli. Nay, let me show which of those labourers being once called, did refuse to come: it seemeth rather to me, that hereby they should learn without delay to turn unto the Lord, hearing his voice, for we must consider that he is not bound1 to us, but we unto him, therefore the wisest counsel, that I can give, is that we take heed betimes, and lay hold when he offereth himself, least our sins do make separation, between him and us: for i• thorough our negligence we overslip the day of health, we cannot recover it afterwards although we seek it with tears, which we find truly verified in the foolish Virgins, rich Glutton, and many2 other: Therefore he that thinketh himself in most security, and saith my age is not yet fit who am but young, or my business is not past, which is great, I will turn to the Lord at some better leisure: let him remember that all fles• is as grass of the field, & hath no charter for one minute of an hour, and if we b• taken napping with sinners, our reward ⟨p. 89⟩