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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. Truly, I must needs think that the promises of mercy and forgiveness of sin, made in the Gospel, do belong unto you, and that Jesus Christ is yours: you are truly interested in him, and have a proper right unto him. For he came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. You do now feel your self to be a sinner, you are grieved for your sins, you are weary of them: therefore Jesus Christ is for you: all the benefits of his passion belong to you. Again he saith, The whole need not the1 Physician, but they that are sick. But you do acknowledge your self to be sick of sin: therefore Christ Jesus will be your Physician; he will swaddle you, and lap you; he will bind up all your sores; he will heal all your wounds; he ⟨p. 377⟩will anoint them with the oil of his mercy; he will smile upon you, and show you a joyful countenance; he will say unto you, your sins are forgiven. In him you shall have rest and peace to your soul: Through him, you shall have ease and comfort. For he taketh pity of all such as mourn for their sins, as you do. He diddeth you, and all that are in your case, to come unto him, and he will help you. Come unto me 2(saith he,) all ye that are weary and heavy loaden, and I will ease you. You are one of them that are bid to come: for you are weary of your sins, you feel the burden of them. Christ is altogether for such as you are. He regardeth not the world, that is, the profane and unregenerate men. He bids not them come, he prayeth not for them. I pray not for the world, saith he.3 They have no part nor interest in him. They have nothing to do with him, nor with his merits & righteousness. He is only for the penitent sinner, & such as mourn for their sins. He is a pillow of down to all aching heads, & aching consciences. Be of good comfort therefore, fear nothing: for assuredly Christ and all his righteousness is yours. He will clothe you with it. He will never impute your sins […] you or lay any of them to your charge, though they be never so many so or so […] ⟨p. 380⟩happy are you that have such a Mediator and high Priest. Rest therefore wholly upon him, and upon that perfect, eternal, and propitiatory sacrifice which he hath once offered. Apply Christ, apply his merits, apply the promises to your self, and to your own conscience: so shall they do you good & bring great comfort to your soul.