A20187:159
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.
Have not these wise men laid true religion in water and sacrificed their zeal to reason, as if she were some Goddess? here is nothing but a plain collection of reasons, a•• Carnal experiences, and shall we make them the platforms of holiness? is the wisdom of man of so forcible a capacity, and the word of God convinced of so great debility, that in cases of religion we shall g••und upon likelihood o• mans imaginations? let us be wise, the Elder hath most pith of all the trees in the wood, but less strength and goodness then any other: the thunder a huge[…], but a little stone and these men great choice of boas••gs, but small verity, or virtue in their words.
Haue not these wise men laid true religion in water and sacrifized their zeale to reason, as if she were some Goddesse? here is nothing but a plaine collection of reasons, a•• Carnall experiences, and shall we make them the platformes of holinesse? is the wisdome of man of so forcible a capacity, and the word of God •onuinced of so great debility, that in cases of religion we shall g••und vpon likelihoode o• mans immaginations? let vs be wise, the Elder hath most pith of all the trees in the wood, but lesse s•ength and goodnesse then any other: the thunder a huge〈…〉, but a little stone and these men great choyse of boas••gs, but small verity, or vertue in their words.
•ust not that building needs be naught •e it never so fair, whose foundation ⟨p. 98⟩