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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 man liveth not by bread only (saith our Lord Jesus) but by1 every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And again he saith: Though a man2 have abundance, yet his life consisteth not in the things that he hath. For without Gods blessing, there can be no sound comfort in any thing. We see by daily experience, how the Lord curseth the wicked, though they have abundance. For, some having abundance, yet are visited with continual sicknesses. Some having ⟨p. 105⟩abundance, pine away with consumptions. Others having abundance die of surfeiting. Others are snatched away by untimely death, in the middest of all their jollity. Others are visited with great losses both by sea and by land. Others are vexed with curst wives, and disobedient children. Some again commit murders, and treasons, and so lose all at once. Others are wasted and consumed, by the secret curse of God; no man knoweth how. Some having great riches, are given over to the murderer, some to the thief, some to the poisoner. Therefore the wise king saith: There is an evil sickness under the sun; riches reserved to the owners thereof, for their evil. Eccles. 5. 12. Zophar also, the Naamathite, saith; When3 the wicked shall have sufficient and enough, he shall be brought into straits: The hand of every troublesome man shall be upon him. When he should fill his belly, God will send upon him his fierce wrath: which he shall rain upon him in stead of his meat. Thus then it is clear, that mans life and good estate, dependeth not upon the abundance of outward things, but only upon the blessing and providence of God. For, His blessing only maketh rich, and it doth bring no sorrow4 with it. For, Better is a little unto the inst, then great abundance to many of the wicked. Better ⟨p. 106⟩is a little with the fear of the Lord, than