A20187:64
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.
if it be found, that I have done them injury, I will not fail to seek some way, to make them so large amends, as my fault shall be adjudged to require, and so to appease their charitable anger: if they be found to have retained no more modesty or defence,1 for the righteousness of God then his own word, let their zeal (a Gods name) be condemned as foolish, & that I may use the words of the Apostle, without knowledge: and they at last leave off their freewill and meritorious righteousness, and2 reverently give place to the word of God which is not ashamed thus boldly to plead in the behalf of his omnipotency, and providence in ruling, and disposing the actions of all things. ⟨p. 33⟩The Lord did harden, the heart of Pharaoh. 3He sent an evil spirit to vex Saul. He •h appointed evil, and put a spirit of ly•g in o y• mouth of the Prophets. He cau•h man to depart from his fear. He hath ••t strong delusion, that lies might be •leeved: He raiseth up the evil in the ••ses of his own servants. He doth ••ke peace, and create evil: He giveth up •o a reprobate mind: He doth all the •ll that is in the City: He deceiveth the ••phets which be deceived, stretcheth ••th his hand upon those Prophets, that ••-self hath deceived, and destroyeth ••m from amidst his People, and yet is •aies all holy and Righteous. Well not-withstanding these, & whole […]ds of such like, which crush in ces the free-will of man and most ngly under prop the ordinance of d, yet may I not think thus to pack my pipes & be trudging, least I seem triumph before the victory, and to st of a blast, that shaketh no corn erfore having settled my self once ne to my defence, at length there ghteth this perilous stroke: What a, saith master Adversary, if