A20202:738
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.
Antile. What reason, justice, or equity is there, that sentence of death should be passed upon men before they be borne, and before they have done good or evil?
Antile. What reason, iustice, or equitie is there, that sentence of death should be passed vpon men before they be borne, and before they haue done good or euill?
Theol. I told you before, that we can never comprehend the reason of Gods proceeding in this behalf: yet we must know that his will is the rule of righteousness, and must be unto us in stead of a thousand reasons. For whatsoever God willeth, in as much as he willeth it, is to be holden just. We cannot conceive the reason of many natural things, and things subject to sense; as, the motion of the celestial bodies, their unconceivable swiftness, their matter and substance, their magnitude, altitude, and latitude. We can not thoroughly find out the causes of the thunder, ⟨p. 280⟩lightning, winds, earth-quakes, ebbing and flowing of the sea, and many other things under the Sun: how then can we possibly ascend up into the privy chamber and counsel house of God, to sift and search out the bottom of Gods secrets; which no wit or reach of man can any way attain unto! Let us therefore learn in Gods fear to reverence that which we can not in this life comprehend. This one thing I must say unto you, that whatsoever God decreeth, yet doth he execute no man, till he have ten thousand times deserved it. For, betwixt the decree and the execution thereof, cometh sin in us, and most just causes of condemnation.
Theol. I tolde you before, that we can neuer comprehend the reason of Gods procéeding in this behalfe: yet we must know that his will is the rule of righteousnesse, and must be vnto vs in stead of a thousand reasons. For whatsoeuer God willeth, in as much as hée willeth it, is to be holden iust. We cannot conceiue the reason of many naturall things, and things subiect to sense; as, the motion of the celestiall bodies, their vnconceiueable swiftnesse, their matter and substance, their magnitude, altitude, and latitude. We can not thorowly finde out the causes of the thunder,