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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.
Phila. I am now fully satisfied for this matter. ⟨p. 88⟩But one thing cometh often into my mind; to wit, that these miserable worldlings can have no sound comfort in their pleasures and profits: because they have no comfort in God, nor peace in their own consciences.
Phila. I am now fully satisfied for this matter. ⟨p. 88⟩But one thing commeth often into my minde; to wit, that these miserable worldlings can haue no sound comfort in their pleasures and profits: because they haue no comfort in God, nor peace in their owne consciences.
Theol. You say very true. It is unpossible, that men, loving this world, should have any sound comfort in God. For no man can serve two masters, both God and riches. Their case therefore is very dangerous & fearful, though they never see it, nor feel it: as I will show you by a plain example. Put case, one of these great rich worldlings should be clothed in velvet & cloth of gold, in most stately manner; and also should be set at his table, furnished with all the dainties of the world; should be attended and waited upon by many, in most Lordly and pompous manner; should sit in his goodly dining-chamber, all glittering like gold; should have his first, second, & third service served in, with minstrels and instruments of music, in most royal sort; he sitteth in his chair, like a King in his throne: yet for all this, if a dagger should be held to his heart all this while, ready to stab him▪ what pleasure, what joy, what comfort can he have in all the rest? Even so, whatsoever pomp or pleasures wicked worldlings have here below, yet their guilty & hellish conscience is, as it were, a dagger, held always ⟨p. 89⟩hard to their hart; so as they can have no sound comfort in any thing. Or let me give it you thus: Put case a man hath committed high treason, and were therefore apprehended, arraigned, and condemned to be hanged, drawn and quartered: what then can comfort him in such a case? can mirth, can music, can gold, can silver, can lands, can livings? No, no: none of all these can help him, or give him any comfort. For the continual thoughts of death do so gripe him at the heart, that none of all these can do him any good or any whit mitigate his grief. What then is the thing that may comfort him in this case? Only a pardon, sealed with the Kings broad seal, and subscribed with his own hand. For as soon as he hath got this, his heavy heart reviveth, and leaps for joy. This then assuredly is the very cause of all profane Atheists and worldlings, who are not assured of the King of heaven his pardon for their sin: and then, what joy can they have either in their meat, drink, goods, cattle, wives, children, lands, revenues, or any thing whatsoever? For the dreadful thoughts of hell do eftsoons cross them inwardly, & quite damp & dash all their mirth. Their own consciences will not be stilled: