A20187:182
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.
They pity a sort of foul fat Priests infurr'd gov•nes, and them they deck with golden Copes, and supply in all other their vanities and Idleness, as if it were a good deed to grease a fat hog in the tail: But where is the love, and compassion of their poor brother all this while? I will say no more, let them that fare the better for these and such other good works, praise them: but yet Let them beware they sin not there in▪ like unto these are their Idols which executors use to give after men be dead, that liberality is idle, having no good intent, and the reward rotten that is paid back again; which is, Lord have mercy on the soul of this charitable dead man. O gross folly: where is the love that should make this deed acceptable? if we should speak generally of all their works, they are even dross and more shameful vices then these, if more may be, for I say, and yet not I, but the holy Ghost, if they be not done in love springing ⟨p. 181⟩out of the bowels of true faith, they stink before y• face of God. Yea but they will say they have all love, mercy, pity & compassion. Yea but how can this be true. ••. Let it be granted, y• they give many gifts to the poor, that they hely to defend the widow, to harbour the fatherless, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, &c. […] • They do not these things […] of the needy, but to get to […] she unspeakable benefit of salvation, this is love indeed I grant: but is it not the only love of them selure? For I lend or give a man a hundred pound, because I would gain a thousand or a thousand, because I would gain ten thousand, whom love I? my poor neighbour, having need of me? or my self? O blindness, that seeth not these evils, nay twice O blindness that doth not see, more then this! what is it to say that we are able to save & justify our selves before the tribunal seat of God, but to reprove our most wise God of folly & doltishness, in that without need, he sent Jesus Christ his well-beloved Son, by so great torment, as he endured to deliver us from the bondage ⟨p. 119⟩of sin?