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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. We may justly fear some great judgement of God to be near us; yea even to hang over our heads. For the Lord will never leave the contempt of his Gospel and his ministry unpunished.
Phila. We may iustly feare some great iudgement of God to be neere vs; yea euen to hang ouer our heads. For the Lord will neuer leaue the contempt of his Gospell and his ministerie vnpunished.
Theol. You have spoken a truth. And we have heard before how the old world was plagued for it. And we read how grievously the Jews were afflicted by the Romans for this sin: as our Lord Jesus did plainly foretell. We read also, that after the Lord had broached the Gospel himself, and spread it abroad by his Apostles, conquering the world thereby (which thing was signified by the white horse, his rider, his bow and his crown) and yet shortly after, saw that the same began to be contemned1 in the world and made light of; then he did in most fearful manner plague the earth with wars, blood-sheddings, tumults, dearth, famine, and pestilence: which all are signified by the red horse, the black horse, and the pale horse, which did appear at the opening of the second, third, and fourth seal. So likewise undoubtedly, ⟨p. 131⟩God will severely punish all injuries, wrongs, & contempts, done to his faithful ambassadors; as appeareth Apocal. 11. 5. where it is set down, that if any would hurt the two witnesses with their two Olives, and two candlesticks, (whereby is signified the faithful Preachers of the Gospel, with all their spiritual treasures and heavenly light) fire should proceed out of their mouths, and devour their adversaries. That is, the fire of Gods wrath should consume all that had oppressed them, either by mocks, flouts, railings, slanders, imprisonment, or any other kind of indignity. Of this we have a plain example or two, in the Scripture. First, we read how fire came down from Heaven, and consumed the contemptuous