B02626:282
The plain mans path-way 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.
London: printed by Ja. Young for G. Lathum, 1643
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. Labour. Abstinence. Temperance. Prayer. Restraint of our senses. Shunning of women's company, and all occasions whatsoever.
Theol. Labour. Abstinence. Temperance. Prayer. Restraint of our senses. Shunning of womens company, and all occasions whatsoever.
Phil. Well Sir, now you have waded deep enough in the second sign of damnation: I pray you let us proceed to the third, which is Covetousness. And as you have laid naked the two former, so I pray you, strip this stark naked also, that all men may see what an ugly monster it is, and therefore hate it and abhor it.
Phil. Well Sir, now you have waded deepe enough in the second signe of damnation: I pray you let us proceed to the third, which is Covetousnesse. And as you have laid naked the two former, so I pray you, strip this stark naked also, that all men may see what an ugly monster it is, and therefore hate it and abhor it.
Theol. I would willingly satisfy your mind: but in this point I shall never do it sufficiently. For no heart can conceive, nor tongue sufficiently utter the loathsomeness of this vice. For covetousness is the foulest fiend, and blackest Devil of all the rest. It is even great Beelzebub himself. Therefore I shall never be able fully to describe it unto you: but I will do what I can to strip and whip it stark naked. And howsoever the men of this earth and blind worldlings take it to be most sweet, beautiful, and amiable, and therefore do embrace it, ⟨p. 70⟩entertain it, and welcome it, as though there were some happiness in it: yet, I hope, when I have showed them the face thereof in a glass (even the true glass of Gods Word) they will be no more in such love, but quite ot of conceit with it. I will therefore hold out this glass unto them. St. Paul to Timothy brandeth this stne in the forehead, and boareth it in the ears, that all men may know it, and avoid it,