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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. This is noted by the Prophet Jeremiah, ⟨p. 306⟩to be a very dangerous thing. For he saith, Can1 the black More change his skin, or the Leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, which are accustomed to do evil. Noting thereby, that it is as hard a matter to leave an old custom of sin, as to wash a black-more white, or to change the spots of a Leopard: which because they are natural, are most impossible. So, when men through custom, have made swearing, lying, adultery, and drunkenness (as it were) natural unto them, oh how hard it is to leave them! For custom maketh another nature, and taketh away all sense and feeling of sin.
Theol. This is noted by the Prophet Ieremy, ⟨p. 306⟩to be a very dangerous thing. For he saith, Can1 the blacke More change his skinne, or the Leopard his spots? then may yee also doe good, which are accustomed to doe euill. Noting thereby, that it is as hard a matter to leaue an old custome of sinne, as to wash a black-more white, or to change the spots of a Leopard: which because they are naturall, are most impossible. So, when men through custom, haue made swearing, lying, adultery, and drunkennesse (as it were) naturall vnto them, oh how hard it is to leaue them! For custome maketh another nature, and taketh away all sense and féeling of sinne.
Phila. Let us hear of the fifth gate; which is the Long escaping of punishment.