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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. True indeed: For the finest cloth is soonest stained. And as worms engender sooner in soft and tender wood, than in that which is more hard and knotty: and as moths do breed sooner in fine wool, then in course flocks: Even so pride, and vain-glory, do sooner assault an excellent and rare man in all kind of knowledge & virtue, then an other of meaner gifts. And therefore pride is said to spring out of the ashes of all virtues. For men will be proud, because they are wise, learned, godly, patient, humble, &c. Pride therefore may very fitly be compared to the crab-stock speins, which grow out of the root of the very best apple-tree. Therefore to say the truth, this is one of the last engines and weapons, which the devil useth for the overthrowing of Gods own children: even to blow them up with pride, as it were with gunpowder. For as we see it come to pass in the siege of strong holds, when no battery or force of shot will prevail, the last remedy and policy is to undermine it, and blow it up with trains of gun-powder: so when Satan can no way prevail, against some excellent servants of God, his last device is, to blow them up with pride, as it were with gunpowder.
Theol. True indéed: For the finest cloth is soonest stained. And as wormes ingender sooner in soft and tender wood, than in that which is more hard and knotty: and as moths do bréed sooner in fine wool, then in course flocks: Euen so pride, and vaine-glory, doe sooner assault an excellent and rare man in all kinde of knowledge & vertue, then an other of meaner gifts. And therefore pride is said to spring out of the ashes of all vertues. For men will be proud, because they are wise, learned, godly, patient, humble, &c. Pride therefore may very fitly be compared to the crab-stock speins, which grow out of the root of the very best apple-trée. Therefore to say the truth, this is one of the last engines and weapons, which the diuell vseth for the ouerthrowing of Gods owne children: euen to blow them vp with pride, as it were with gunpowder. For as we sée it come to passe in the siedge of strong holdes, when no battery or force of shot will preuaile, the last remedy and policy is to vndermine it, and blow it vp with traines of gun-powder: so when Sathan can no way preuaile, against some excellent seruants of God, his last deuice is, to blow them vp with pride, as it were with gunpowder.