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The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven
The plain mans path-way to heaven Wherein every man may clearly see, whether he shall be saved or damned. Set forth dialogue-wise, for the better understanding of the simple: By Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex. Corrected and amended: with a table of all the principal matters; and three prayers necessary to be used in private families thereunto added.The plaine mans path-way to heauen Wherein euery man may cleerely see, whether he shall be saued or damned. Set forth dialogue-wise, for the better vnderstanding of the simple: By Arthur Dent, preacher of the vvord of God at South-Shoobery in Essex. Corrected and amended: vvith a table of all the principall matters; and three prayers necessarie to be vsed in priuate families thereunto added.
London: printed by Melchiside Bradwood for Edw. Bishop, 1607London: printed by Melchiside Bradwood for Edvv. Bishop, 1607
The plain mans path-way to Heaven.The plaine mans path-way to Heauen.
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.
Theol. You may very fitly be compared to a ⟨p. 26⟩sick man, who having his brain distempered with heat, raveth, and speaketh idly, he cannot tell what. For the holy Ghost saith: He1 that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abominable. And again: he that despiseth the word, he shall be destroyed. 2So long therefore as you despise Gods word, and turn away your ear from hearing his Gospel preached, all your prayers, your fantastical serving God, your good meanings, and your good intents, are to no purpose; but most loathsome and odious in the sight of God: as it is written: My soul hateth your new moons, and your appointed feasts, they are a burden unto me, I am weary to bear them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide3 mine eyes from you: and though you make many prayers, I will not hear. For your hands are full of blood. And again the Lord saith by the same Prophet: He that killeth a bullock, is as if he slew a man: he that sacrificeth a4 sheep, as if he cut off a dogs neck: he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swines blood: he that remembereth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Where you see, the Lord telleth you his mind touching these matters: to wit, that all your prayers, services, good meanings, &c. are abominable unto him, so long as you walk in ignorance, profaneness, disobedience, and contempt ⟨p. 27⟩of the Gospel. For he saith in the words immediately going before: To him will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my words.
Theol. You may very fitly be compared to a ⟨p. 26⟩sicke man, who hauing his braine distempered with heat, raueth, and speaketh idlely, he cannot tell what. For the holy Ghost saith: He