A20187:93
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.
Rel. Nay rather who shall not account him more then twice besides him-self,1 that doth resemble the image of God, to a brute beast? Did not God give unto man understanding, will and ablenesse • stand upright, till such time as he wilfully ⟨p. 59⟩for went it, as well as he gave him a commandment? besides this, although the horse using lawfully, as in respect of him-self (having kind, his natural mistress, for his warrant) the benefit of his teacher, so that all fault (if faults may be here rehearsed,) resteth in the teatherer, and none in the tethered either for feeding, or not feeding; what of this? to whom had GOD done injury, if he had tied him to that tether? that he were as insensible as a block? is not he the true, and only owner of all things? If he be, to whom is he bound, that he may not use the benefit of his will▪ without controlment? shall the pot say to the potter, why hast thou made me thus? thus dost thou see the falsehood of Similes, whereby the wily wranglers of the world, do often times prove them-selves more doltish, then dolts, measuring GOD with earthly things, and his wisdom by their own folly. Moreover I pray you, where is that fine fellow that will not confess himself a sinner • if he be a sinner, why is ⟨p. 60⟩he captious, as though he were pure and2 unspotted? what wrong is offered unto him, if he be cast into the bottom of hell? let me see the brave freewillian, st••ding most upon the pantaples of supererogation, that is not glad rather to ride at this anchor, when he perceiveth the seas of death ready to close him (God is righteous,3 I am a wretched sinner, and were there no desert above mine, the torments of hell should be mine inheritance) then to affirm, that by the liberty of debating on the ends of good and evil, he hath purchased heaven by his owe worthiness.