A20187:176
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.
Is not this preposterous gear? who would think that these men standing so much upon the foully▪ slippers of their wisdom & grey heads would thus overshoot them-selves: which so far forth as in them lieth, do make God a contemptible changeling: Religion more uncertain than the Lesbian rule, & tie themselves to the continual slavery of their own device? & their master the man of Rome? & yielding their whole contemplation to the works of darkness.
Is not this preposterous geare? who would thinke that these men standing so much vppon the fouly▪ slippers of theyr wisedom & gray heads would thus ouershoote them-selues: which so farre forth as in them lyeth, do make God a contemptible changeling: Religion more vncertain thē the Lesbian rule, & tye themselues to the continuall slauery of theyr own deuice? & theyr maister the man of Rome? & yéelding theyr whole contemplation to the works of darknesse.
Alas with what blind spirit are these poor souls vexed, that will have their Pope and the Church of Rome again exalted? that take away the plain Doctrine of faith, and justification in Christ? and teach a faith solted up in an Idle fancy? saying: that we must believe of Christ, as their Church believeth, because their Church believeth, as they believe: But if we demand what they, or their Church do believe, the next way for us to know, is even to get look: for doubtless they know not, neither can they tell us.
Alasse with what blind spirit are these poore soules vexed, that will haue theyr Pope and the Church of Rome againe exalted? that take away the playne Doctrine of faith, and iustification in Christ? and teach a fayth solted vppe in an Idle fancy? saying: that we must beléeue of Christ, as theyr Church beleeueth, because theyr Church beléeueth, as they beléeue: But if we demand what they, or theyr Church doe beléeue, the next way for vs to know, is euen to get looke: for doubtlesse they know not, neyther can they tell vs.