B02626:737
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.
Antil. What reason, justice, or equity is there that sentence of death should be passed upon men before they be borne, and before they have done good or evil?
Antil. What reason, justice, or equitie is there that sentence of death should be passed upon men before they be borne, and before they have done good or evill?
Theol. I told you before, that we can never comprehend the reason of Gods proceeding in this behalf: yet we must know that his will is the rule of righteousness, and must be unto us in stead of a thousand reasons. For whatsoever God willeth, in as much as he willeth it, it is to be holden just. We cannot conceive the reason of many natural things, and things subject to sense, as the motion of the celestial bodies, their unconceivable swiftness, their matter and substance, their magnitude, altitude, and la•itude. We cannot throughly find out the causes of the thunder, lightness, winds, earth-quakes, ebbings and flowings of the sea, and many other things under the Sun: how then can we possibly ascend up into the privy Chamber and Council-house ⟨p. 302⟩of God, to sift and search […] the bottom of Gods secrets, which no wit or reach of man can any w•• attain unto? Let us therefore learn in Gods fear to reverence that which we cannot in this life comprehend. This one thing I must say unto you, that whatsoever God dec••eth, yet doth he execute no man till he hath ten thousand times deserved it. For betwixt the decree and the execution thereof, cometh sin in us, and most just causes of condemnation.
Theol. I told you before, that we can never comprehend the reason of Gods proceeding in this behalfe: yet wee must know that his will is the rule of righteousnesse, and must be unto us in stead of a thousand reasons. For whatsoever God willeth, in as much as hee willeth it, it is to be holden just. Wee cannot conceive the reason of many naturall things, and things subject to sense, as the motion of the celestiall bodies, their unconceiveable swiftnesse, their matter and substance, their magnitude, altitude, and laitude. Wee cannot throughly finde out the causes of the thunder, lightnesse, winds, earth-quakes, ebbings and flowings of the sea, and many other things under the Sun: how then can wee possibly ascend up into the privie Chamber and Councell-house