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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. Nay: we must go further then hope well. We may not venture our salvation upon uncertain hopes. As, if a man should hope it would be a fair day to morrow: but he cannot certainly tell. No, no. We must in this case, being of such infinite importance as it is, grow to some certainty, and full resolution. We see, worldly men will be loath to hold their lands and leases uncertainly, having nothing to show for them. They will not stand to the courtesy of their land-lords, nor rest upon their good wills. They will not stay upon uncertain hope. No; they are wiser then so. For the children of this world are wiser in their generation, then the children of light. They will be sure to have something to show. They will have it under seal. They will not stay upon the words and promises of the most honest1 men, and best Land-lords. They cannot be quiet, till they have it in white and black, with sound counsel upon their Title; and every way made as sure unto them, as any Law of the Land can make it. Are then the children of this world so wise in these inferior things, and shall not we be as wise in matters of ten thousand times more importance? Are they so wise for earth, and shall not we be as wise for Heaven? Are they ⟨p. 239⟩so wise for their bodies, and shall not we be as wise for our souls? Shall we hold the state of our immortal inheritance by hope well; and have no writings, nor evidences, no seals, no witnesses, nor any thing to show for it? Alas, this is a weak Tenure, a broken title, a simple hold indeed.
Theol. Nay: we must goe further then hope well. We may not venture our saluation vpon vncertaine hopes. As, if a man should hope it would be a faire day to morrow: but hée cannot certainely tell. No, no. We must in this case, being of such infinite importance as it is, grow to some certainety, and full resolution. Wée sée, worldly men will be loath to hold their lands and leases vncertainely, hauing nothing to shew for them. They will not stand to the courtesie of their land-lords, nor rest vpon their good willes. They will not stay vpon vncertaine hope. No; they are wiser then so. For the children of this world are wiser in their generation, then the children of light. They will be sure to haue something to shew. They will haue it vnder seale. They will not stay vpon the words and promises of the most honest1