A20187:167
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.
Finally they may not want any thing that can please the eye, delight the ear or flatter the mind: And lo, yet do all these most plainly prove their Church the […]y Church of Antichrist: for where nothing is wanting that may allure the mind to lust after vanity; or to stir the heart unto folly and wickedness, this may be termed (by much better right) a Court for an Atheist, then a Church for a Christian, for was Jesus Christ so high set on a hill, that all the world did worship him, o• outwardly so glorious, so full of pomp and bravery, that they have drawn from him such an ensample of imitation? or were there so many of his church (which yet we doubt not was and is the true Church) that the same Church hath lined their mouths with multitudes, with universalities, and unities general? Then is this true, Christ him-self was never borne in an an Derstall, but in the Palace of some Monarchy: then was not he a poor despised ⟨p. 106⟩soul on the earth in worse case then foxes & birds which have holes & nests1 to shield them from the weather, but some mighty prince of the world, ruling with all majesty & power: And then had Christ to embrace his Doctrine not the Apostles, & a few other silly Disciples, but the general consent of all the Jewish Churches.
Finally they may not want any thing that can please the eye, delight the eare or slatter the minde: And loe, yet do all these most plainly proue theyr Church the 〈…〉y Church of Antichrist: for where nothing is wanting that may allure the minde to lust after vanity; or to stir the heart vnto folly and wickednesse, this may be termed (by much better right) a Court for an Atheist, then a Church for a Christian, for was Jesus Christ so high set on a hill, that all the world did worship him, o• outwardly so glorious, so full of pompe and brauery, that they haue drawne from him such an ensample of imitation? or were there so many of his church (which yet we doubt not was and is the true Church) that the same Church hath lined theyr mouthes with multitudes, with vniuersalities, and vnities generall? Then is this true, Christ him-selfe was neuer borne in an an Derstall, but in the Pallace of some Monarchy: then was not he a poore dispised ⟨p. 106⟩