B02626:284
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. 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 o•t of conceit with it. I will therefore hold out this glass unto them. St. Paul to Timothy brandeth this st•ne in the forehead, and boareth it in the ears, that all men may know it, and avoid it,1 when he saith, Covetousness is the root of all evil. Our Lord Jesus also giveth us a watchword to take heed of it, saying, Take heed and beware of covetousness. 2As if he should say, Touch it not, come not near it, it is the very breath of the Devil, it is present death, and the very rats•bane of the soul. The Apostle layeth out the great danger of this sin, and doth exceedingly grind the face of it,3 when he saith, That the end of all such as mind earthly things is damnation. Let all carnal worldlings, and muckish minded men lay this to heart, and consider well of it, lest they say one day, Had I wist.
Theol. I would willingly satisfie your minde: but in this point I shall never doe it sufficiently. For no heart can conceive, nor tongue sufficiently utter the loathsomenesse of this vice. For covetousnesse is the foulest fiend, and blackest Divell of all the rest. It is even great Beelzebub himselfe. Therefore I shall never be able fully to describe it unto you: but I will doe what I can to sttip and whip it stark naked. And howsoever the men of this earth and blind worldlings take it to bee most sweet, beautifull, and amiable, and therefore doe embrace it,