B02626:367
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.
Phil. You have long insisted upon this point. Now proceed to the fourth sign of a mans damnation, which is the contempt of the Gospel: and lay open both the greatness of the sin, and the danger of it.
Phil. You have long insisted upon this point. Now proceed to the fourth sign of a mans damnation, which is the contempt of the Gospel: and lay open both the greatnesse of the sin, and the danger of it.
Theol. This sin is of another nature then the former. It is a sin against the first Table. It toucheth the person of God himself. For to contemn the Gospel, it is to contemn God himself, whose Gospel it is. If to contemn the Ministers of the Gospel, he to condemn God and Christ (as our Lord Jesus avoucheth) how much more then,1 to contemn the Gospel it self? Therefore it is dangerous ⟨p. 136⟩meddling with this sin. It is to meddle with edged tools, to meddle with Princes matters, to touch the Ark, to come near the holy Mountain, which all were things full of great peril and danger. Yea, it is to spill the Sacrament. It is Noli me tangere. It is to rail at a King. It is to spit God in the face. It is high treason against the King of glory. Therefore this sin, of all other, can never be endured, and may at no hand be borne withal. For can a mortal King endure the contempt of his laws? Can he put up the contempt of his own person? Can he abide any to spit at his Sceptre, or to throw a stone at it? No surely, he will not. Therefore the holy Ghost saith, He that despiseth Moses laws, dieth without mercy, under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be worthy, 2which treadeth under foot the Son of God, and counteth the blood of the Testament as an unholy thing (wherewith he was sanctified,3) and doth despite the Spirit of Grace? And again, If they were punished which obeyed not the word spoken by Angels; how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?