A20187:65
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.
But my purpose is that Saith[…] be accounted the mediate Author th• of: For surely it can in no wise […] akinn• to that will which was give him of God, except it were possible […] GOD to have a sinful will also, whose likeness he was framed, as w[…] have already proved. Nay I say moreover, that as the w[…] 1of Adam before his fall was free un[…] righteousness, and to the service ⟨p. 35⟩God, even so after he had given his […] unsent unto satan, that his will, and […]nsequently, the will of his offspring, […]as always free unto evil, and the […]ruice of sin, not able of it self, without the grace of God, once: o rise up to […]hold the beauty of righteousness, nor […] think a good thought; for it is writ[…]. After ye were the servants of sin,2 […]e were free from Righteousness: All are one out of the way, they are all corrupt, […]ere is none good, no not one: the Lord […]w that the wickedness of man was3 […]eat in earth, and all the imaginations of […]s heart, and thoughts, were only evil4 […]ntinually. Here if the heat of mine Aduersa[…]es were so far past, that they would […]use and breath, I might take opportunity to let fall this one feeble stroke. […]f Adam in his righteous estate, and […]gh perfection, had power to do the […]ill of God, if he would; and yet did fall […]rough infirmity, how shall the Papist that of him-self, hath not power to […]ink one good thought) fulfil the whole […]aw, and deserve so bountifully for5 him-self, and such of his friends, as will ⟨p. 36⟩friendly consider his pains: Alas poor soul, he had need to stand hard to his tackling, and to ply his stumps apace, or else I fear me, he will be taken tardy, with hypocrites and deceivers of men. Well all this while do I beap who• coals upon mine own head, for having granted, that the first mans fall did spring out of y bosom of infirmity, now must I prepare my self to bear this counterbuff, for saith the adversary now