B02626:616
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. You are very confident indeed. You are persuaded before you know. I would your ground were as good as your vain confidence. But who is so bold as blind Bayard? your hope is but fancy, and as a sick mens dream. You hope you cannot tell what. You have no ground for what you say. For what hope can you have to be saved, when you walk in no path of salvation? What hope can a man have to come to London speedily, that travelleth nothing that way, but quite contrary? What hope can a man have to reap a good crop of corn, that useth no means, neither ploweth, soweth, nor ⟨p. 268⟩harroweth? What hope can a man have to be fat and well liking of his body, that seldom or never eateth any meat? What hope can a man have to escape drowning, which leapeth into the Sea? Even so what hope can you have to be saved, when you walk nothing that way, when you use no means, when you do all things that are contrary to the some? For (alas) there is nothing in you of thou things which the Scriptures do affirm must be in all those that shall be saved. There be none of the forenamed signs and tokens in you. You are ignorant, profane, and careless. God is not worshipped under your roof. There is no true fear of God in your self, nor in your household. You seldom hear the Word preached. You content your self with an ignorant Minister. You have no prayers in your family, no reading, no singing of Psalms, no infirmitions, exhortations, admonitions, or any other Christian exercises. You make no conscience of the observation of the Sabbath. You use not the name of God with any reverence. You break out sometimes into horrible oaths and cursings. You make an ordinary matter of swearing by your faith and your troth. Your wife is irreligious, your children dissolute and ungracious, ⟨p. 269⟩your servants profane and careless. You are an example in your own house of all Atheism and conscienceless behaviour. You are a great gamester, a rioter, a spend thrift, a drinker, a common ale-house-hunter, a whore-hunter; and, to conclude, given to all vice and naughtiness. Now then, I pray you, tell me, or rather let your conscience tell me, what hope can you have to be saved, so long as you walk and continue in this course. Doth not St. John say,1 If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we are liars?