B02626:933
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. The principal end of his coming shall be to keep a general audit, to call all men to an account, to have a reckoning of every mans particular actions, and to reward them according to their deeds: as it is written,1 The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his Angels, and then shall he give to every man according to his deeds. Again, the Apostle saith to the Corinthians, 2We must all appear before the Judgement-seat of Christ, that every man may receive the things which are done in his body, according to that which he hath done, whether it be good or evil. Here we do plainly see, that the end of Christs coming shall be to judge every man according to his works; that is, as his works shall declare him, and testify of him, and of his faith.3 In another place the Apostle saith, that the end of his coming shall be to render vengeance unto ⟨p. 381⟩them which know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Woe then unto two sorts of men, the ignorant, and the disobedient: for the Apostle saith flatly, they both shall be damned. Me thinks both the ignorant and disobedient, and all other profane men, should tremble to think of this, that Christ shall come to render vengeance unto them. If we did certainly know that a foreign enemy should invade our Nation, over-run it, and make a conquest of it, that he should shed our blood, destroy us, and make a massacre amongst us; yea, that we should see our wives, our children, our kindred and dear friends slain before our faces, so as their blood should stream in the streets, what a wonderful fear and terror would it strike into us? we would quake to think of it. Shall we not then be much more afraid of the damnation of our souls? shall we not quake to think that Christ shall come to take vengeance? If the Lion roar, all the beasts of the field tremble: and shall not we be afraid of the roaring of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah? But alas, we are so hardhearted, ⟨p. 382⟩and so rocked asleep in the cradle of security, that nothing can move us, nothing can awake us.