A20187:161
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.
Alas why do we fear their union in idolatry (for that is the unity, that they rejoice in, and brag of) more then we sorrow for the dishonour of our God? or why should we be troubled with the long, and prosperous estate of Popish religion, more then be comforted in the news and glad tidings of the Gospel? doth not the Apostle tell us that before the dissolution of the world, there should befall a general Apostasy, and departing from the faith ⟨p. 99⟩of Christ? and that all this should happen by one man, namely the man of1 sin, and child of perdition? saying, that he should be an adversary to all Godliness, and exalt him-self above all that is called God? why then should they go about to blears your eyes with the wonder of such words, more then instruct them-selves in the providence of God, who hath provided, and made us wary of such a General departing? why say they too charge the cannons, decrees, and decretals of their Popish fathers (seeing the Lord himself pointeth out the Pope as with a finger, and dèciphereth […] for Antichrist, as plainly, […], to discovered in the secrets of […] body, by the anatomy off another) more then yield their own due subjection to the ordinance •nd institutions of their GOD▪ Nay why should we (whose eyes and ears the LORD hath opened for the entertainment of his trueth) lend them away to the view of moth-eaten novelties, and to the sound of such false laromes as these, more then exercise them in their several duties and ⟨p. 100⟩offices? if they will not confess that these and such other testimonies of Gods holy word do reprove their man of Rome, together with them being his uncircumcised generation of Antichrist•anity, let us then apply them: the man of sin, (saith the Apostle) exalteth him-self above all that is called GOD, vaunting him-self insolently in the temple of GOD, if (I say) they will not confess this of their Pope, let them show us what regard of obedience he hath reserved to GOD ward, in making his book, (I mean the holy Bible) the vassal of vile estimation, which he doth not only bury, in oblivion, by his own dispensations • but in all contempt doth trample, and […] under his feet: knowing notwithstanding that it is the word and wisdom of GOD: