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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. But these oppressing hell-hounds are such as care for nothing. No Law of the Almighty can bridle them: nothing can fear them: nothing can restrain them. They have made a covenant with Hell and death. They are frozen in the dregs; they are past feeling. And as Job saith: These are they, that abhor1 the light, they know not the ways thereof, neither continue in the paths thereof. Their hearts are as hard as the Adamant. Nothing can move them: nothing can work upon them. There is great crying out every where of the stone in the reins, which indeed is a great torment to the body (but there is no complaining of the stone in the heart. I mean a stony heart: which is the sorest disease that possibly can fall into the soul of man) and yet ⟨p. 186⟩in these times it groweth very rife. For mens hearts are as hard as brass, and as the nether Millstone: as the Scripture speaketh. For many, especially of these unmerciful and oppressing2 tyrants, say in their hearts; God will do neither good nor evil. Therefore they put the evil day far from them, and approach unto the seat of iniquity. They are at ease in Zion; they lie upon beds of Ivory, and stretch themselves upon their beds; and eat the lambs of the flock, and the calves out of the stall. They sing to the sound of the vial; they invent instruments of music, like David. They drink wine in bowls, and no man is sorry for the affliction of Joseph; that is, the troubles of Gods people. The Prophet Isaiah also3 complaineth of these kind of men, saying; They regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the work of his hands. And another Prophet saith; they say in their harts God hath forgotten; he hideth away his face, and will never see. They are so proud, that they seek not for God. They think always, there is no God; his judgements are far out of their sight. Their ways always prosper; and therefore they say in their hearts; Tush we shall never be moved, nor come in danger.
Phila. But these oppressing hel-hounds are such as care for nothing. No Law of the Almighty can bridle them: nothing can feare them: nothing can restraine them. They haue made a couenant with Hell and death. They are frozen in the dregs; they are past feeling. And as Iob saith: These are they, that abhorre