B02626:308
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. His words indeed are good, if his heart were according. For all things considered, there is no cause why men should be so given to this world: for they must leave it when they have done all that they can. As we say, To day a man, to morrow none. And, as the Apostle saith,1 We brought nothing into this world: and it is certain, we shall carry nothing out. We must all dye, we know not how soon: why therefore should men set their hearts upon such uncertainties, and deceivable things? for all things in this world are more light then a feather, more brittle than glass, more fleeting than a shadow, more vanishing than smoke, more unconstant than the wind: Doubtless, saith the Prophet David, man walketh in a shadow, 2and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them. I wonder ⟨p. 78⟩[…] ⟨p. 79⟩[…] ⟨p. 80⟩[…] ⟨p. 81⟩[…] ⟨p. 80⟩therefore, that these moles and muckworms of this earth should so mind these shadowish things, and so dote on them as they do. If they were not altogether hardened and blinded by the Divel•, they would not be so nearly knit to thee ••od and the penny as they are; thinking, and always imagining, that there is no happiness but in these things, which are but dung and dross: and at last they will give us the slip, when we think our selves most sure of them. The wise King, who had the greatest experience of these things that ever man had (for he enjoyed whatsoever this world could afford, upward and downward, backward and forward) yet could he find nothing in them but vanity and vexation of spirit. Moreover, he fl•t•y avoucheth, That all these things, riches, wealth, honour, pleasures and treasures, will most notably deceive us in the end, give us the slp, and be gone. For he compareth riches and all the glory of the world to an Eagle or Hawk, which a man holdeth upon his fist, stroketh her, maketh much of her, taketh great delight and pleasure in her, and saith, he will not take ten pounds for her, yet all on the sudden she taketh her flight, and flieth up into the air, and he never seeth her more, nor she him. The