A20187:17
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. We ought steadfastly to believe, th• he is almighty, righteous in ••• things, and eternal. That of nature he is indivisible, and yet consisting of three distinct persons the Father, the Son and the ho•• Ghost. This God is called God of incomprehensible wisdom, according t• which he hath most wisely foreseen, and appointed all things. He is unchange able, always one, never passionate: •• is the Lord of revenge, the God of Judgement, at whose breath the mountai••• •oe shake: whose seat is the lofty Che••• bines, whose foot-stool is the earth, h• is a jealous God, striking idolaters, a•• such as derogate, from his honour, wi•• terrible plagues, He is a consuming •ire, the king of kings, the only Lord •• all worlds, the beginning, the end, an• yet without beginning, and everlasting He is invisible, though at one •• ••ant beholding all things, at wh• •ecke, the heavens are obedient, t• clouds dos gather themselves together ⟨p. 3⟩and the earth doth quiver and tremble: This God rebuketh the winds, calmeth the seas, limiteth to every star his influence, course and name: this God formed light, and darkness, sendeth and calleth back lightnings, thunders, tempests, fearful comets, bla•ing stars, and all other wonderful impressions of the airs; This is the God, that •ouldeth the huge earth in his hand hanging like a Globe, in the midest of the world, that foldeth the heavens like a scroll, that sendeth the seasonable spring-time, Summer, and Harvest, Frost, Could, Hunger, Famine, and stilnce: he it is that by a certain infused fertility, causeth trees, herbs, flowers, and every little grass to sprout and spring, to the behalf of all living creatures. So that neither birds of the ets of the eld, nor the silly worme he earth, do want sustenance: this is at provident God, that containeth the welling se within her bans, that ordereth that marvellous waterchange of owing and ebbing ws, that feedeth e whales, and every ing thing dwelling in the deeps this is that searcher of rets: whom no place doth exclude