A20187:67
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.
Reli. Doubtless I cannot advertise thee, of a more forcible cause, then the ordinance of God: but if thou wilt, we may yet speak more plainly. Therefore it fared with Adam i• 1that estate, as now adays it doth with many men, that will not have great plenty of money in their coffers, because they cannot get it. So Adam would not continue in his integrity (for in truth •• fell willingly) because he could not resist the ordinance of his God: But least we may seem to wander without our lists, let our Saviour Christ witness the truth in this case: Come ye blessed of2 my father (saith he) possess the Kingdom prepared for you before the foundation of the World; Again, he is called the3 Lamb slain from the beginning of of the World. Therefore let us conclude, that if she Lamb were slain from the beginning (whereof we may not ⟨p. 38⟩doubt, in as much as the holy Ghost ha• spoken it) & the Kingdom of heaven (th• same Kingdom I mean y• we shall in•o through Jesus Christ) were prepared f•• the children of God, before the foundations of the world, that the fall of ma• was prepared in like manner: for th• one cannot •e without the other.
Reli. Doubtiesse I cannot aduertise thée, of a more forceable cause, then the ordinance of God: but if thou wilt, wée may yet speak more plainly. Therefore it fared with Adam i• 1that estate, as now adaies it doth with many men, that will not haue great plenty of money in their coffers, because they cannot get it. So Adam would not continue in his integrity (for intruth fel willingly) because he could not resist the ordinance of his God: But least wee may séeme to wander without our lists, let our Sauiour Christ witnesse the truth in this case: Come ye blessed of