A20187:72
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 graun• (as granted it must be) in as much1 the Apostle doth warrant it, saying, whom we were chosen when we were Predestinate according to […] ⟨p. 41⟩purpose of him which worketh all thy[…] I would fain learn of Sim Sophister, whether God having appointed our end2 sure and certain, in his own unchangeable purpose, had forgotten the efficient causes of the same, or left them to the wild hazard of the dice, or to the gentle courtesy of Lady-fortune. If because we seem to carry the head in our own hand (which never the less are for the most part restrained of those things we would) he will say, that God had no purpose, when yet we were not, what to do with us. What ass will not laugh, if he shall confess, that, that purpose is inviolable, seeing in all earthly causes the Lord worketh by means? who will not think him mad, that shall exclude our thoughts, words and deeds, from working the end of Gods foreknowledge and purpose?
if it bee graun• (as granted it must bee) in as much1 the Apostle doth warrant it, saying, whome wee were chosen when we were Predestinate according to 〈…〉 ⟨p. 41⟩purpose of him which worketh all thi〈…〉 I would faine learne of Sim Sophister, whether God hauing appointed our end2 sure and certaine, in his owne vnchangeable purpose, had forgoten the efficyent causes of the same, or left them to the wild hazard of the dice, or to the gentle curtesie of Lady-fortune. If because we séeme to carry the head in our owne hand (which neuer the lesse are for the most part restrained of those things wee would) he will say, that God had no purpose, when yet we were not, what to doe with vs. What asse will not laugh, if he shall confesse, that, that purpose is inuiolable, séeing in al earthly causes the Lord worketh by meanes? who will not thinke him mad, that shall exclude our thoughts, wordes and déedes, from working the end of Gods foreknowledge and purpose?