A20187:83
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. Nay rather, he that shall bu••ly go about to knit the LORD ••ppe in such a straight, that he may not ••oe with his own creatures, which1 •ee created for him self, what see•eth best unto his wisdom, doth undoubtedly commit double and unspeakable abomination, for (saith ••e Prophet) Woe unto him that2 •il contend with his Maker, a brittle potsherd, of the out-cast potsherds of •he earth, shall the clay say unto the pot••r▪ why dost thou make me thus, did […] hands fail thee in thy work? ⟨p. 52⟩Woe unto him, that saith to his father, what hast thou begotten? or to his mother, what hast thou brought forth? What though the Lord will have mercy? And will harden whom he will harden? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid, saith the Apostle: if this answer may not seru• sufficient, take this by the way which we have already handled: The cause o• sin is resiant: but the cause wherefore sin doth become sin, and so punis▪able must be ascribed to the ordinance of God: now who-soever doth conte•• him-self with this, doth seek a caus• beyond the will of God. Yet we kno• that darkness doth service to the light and sin (so far as it is willed, or punished by God) doth illustrate the glory of God.
Reli. Nay rather, hée that shall bu••ly goe about to knitte the LORD ppe in such a straight, that hee may not oe with his owne creatures, which