A20202:495
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.
Antil. You have said well in some things. But yet I do not see, but that rich men and women may live idly; sith they have enough, where withal to maintain it. For may not a man do with his own what he list?
Antil. You haue said well in some things. But yet I doe not see, but that rich men and women may liue idlely; sith they haue enough, where withall to maintaine it. For may not a man doe with his owne what he list?
Theol. No verily. For you may not take your own knife, and cut your own throat with it: neither may you take your own are, and kill your own child with it. Therefore that reason is naught. Albeit therefore wealthy men & women have great plenty of all things, so as they need not to labour; yet let them be profitably employed, some other way. Let them exercise themselves in one good thing or other. If they can find nothing to do, let them give themselves much to private prayers, and reading of the scriptures, that they may be able to instruct and exhort others. Or else let Ladies and Gentlewomen do, as that good woman ⟨p. 179⟩Dorcas did: that is, buy cloth, cut it out, work it, sew it, make shirts, smocks, coats, and garments, and give them to the poor, when1 they have so done. For it is said of Dorcas, that she was a woman full of good works and alms-deeds, which she did. She was a merciful and tender hearted woman, she was the poor mans friend, she clothed the poor and naked, she knew it was a sacrifice acceptable to God. Oh, that the wealthy women of our land would follow the example of Dorcas. But alas, these days bring forth few Dorcasses:
Theol. No verily. For you may not take your owne knife, and cut your owne throat with it: neither may you take your owne are, and kill your owne childe with it. Therefore that reason is naught. Albeit therefore wealthy men & women haue great plenty of all things, so as they néed not to labour; yet let them bée profitably emploied, some other way. Let them exercise themselues in one good thing or other. If they can finde nothing to doe, let them giue themselues much to priuate praiers, and reading of the scriptures, that they may be able to instruct and exhort others. Or else let Ladies and Gentlewomen doe, as that good woman