A20187:184
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.
For if we demand of them for Gods eternal predestination, whereby he bringeth the elected and reprobate sort to the•r appointed ends, they are at defiance with that doctrine: and even in this have they taken away all that part of justification, that they ascribed to Christ before, for why? If we be not safe conducted to heaven by the predestinate on of God in Jesus Christ, if followeth that we are carried thither by same desert of our own, or else that we never come there at all, it were a strong engine that should hale them from this opinion, and yet is Christ hereby made altogether Jack out of office. Let us not wonder at these men, so much as pray for them: let us not quarrel so much with them, as persuade with them, nor laugh so muck at their folly & wickedness as lament their ignorance: for this is true, if they be right, we be wrong, if we ⟨p. 121⟩be wrong, we are already sold under sin: contrary wise if we be right (whereof let us not doubt, because the spirit of truth hath sealed us up in the Prophets and Apostles) then are they wrong: if they be wrong, there is nothing more certain then their just damnation, unless they turn to God with hearty repentance (which God for his son sake even speedily grant them) if it be his will.
For if we demaund of them for Gods eternall predestination, whereby he bringeth the elected and reprobate sort to the•r appointed ends, they are at defiance with that doctrine: and euen in this haue they taken away all that part of iustification, that they ascribed to Christ before, for why? If we be not safe conducted to heauen by the predestinate on of God in Jesus Christ, if followeth that we are carryed thether by same desert of our owne, or else that wee neuer come there at all, it were a strong engine that should hale them from this opinion, and yet is Christ heereby made altogether Jacke out of office. Let vs not wonder at these men, so much as pray for them: let vs not quarrel so much with them, as perswade with them, nor laugh so muck at theyr folly & wickednes as lament theyr ignorance: for this is true, if they be right, we be wrong, if we ⟨p. 121⟩be wrong, we are already sold vnder sin: contrary wise if we be right (whereof let vs not doubt, because the spirit of truth hath sealed vs vppe in the Prophets and Apostles) then are they wrong: if they be wrong, there is nothing more certayne then theyr iust damnation, vnlesse they turne to God with hearty repentance (which God for his son sake euen spéedily grant them) if it be his will.