Arthur Dent

352 Pages·2011·10.99 MB·English

by  Dent, Arthur

-FIFTIETHEDITIOS.,
THE PLAIN MAN'S
PATHWAY TO HEAVEN;
EVERY MAN MAY CLEAELY SEE WHETHER HE
SHALL BE SAVED OR DAMMD.
SET ^-OliTII I3I^XiOG-T7E-"WISE
,
>0ETHZ BETTER CSDEKSTASDUfG OfTttE SUIfLE.
ARTHUR
By DENT,
^
Preacher<tftheWordof6odatSouth-Shooberi/inEttez,1590. \ ^
«X>RRECTEDAXB MUCHASCENDED; WITHATABLE OFALX.THE p^
PRINCIPALMJkTTEBS; ANDTHBEEPBAYEES,
NECBSSABTTOBEUSEDINPRIVATEFAMILIES,HEREUNTO
ADDEDBYTHESAMEAUTHOR.
^BvcTfmonungtheLordbringethMsjodgment—tolight,befkUethnot; bat
thewickedwillnotleau-ntobeashamed.'' Zepbjlxiahiii.5.
BELFAST:
XOKTHOFIRELANDBOOK &TRACTDEPOSITORY,
7 QUEKX'S SiJUARB.
EDINBURGH: J. MACLA.REN. A. ELLIOT.
GLASGOW: M. OGLE & SON. J. MACKIE. D. BRYCE.
--riRLING: PETER DRLTIMOND. GREENOCK: J. M'KELYIE.
BRIGHTON (EsGLAKB): GEO. STEDMAN.
1859.
CONTENTS OF THIS DIALOGUE.
It sheweth Man's Misery in Nature, with the means of
recovery. v
ItsharplyinveighethagainsttheIniquityof theTime, and
commonCorruptionoftheWorld.
It sheweth the marks of the Childrenof God, and of the
Reprobates, with the apparent signsof Salvation and
Damnation.
It declareth how hardathing itis to enter into life, and
howfewshallenter.
It layeth open the ignorance of the World, with the ob-
jectionsofthesame.
LASTLY,
It publisheth and proclaimeth the sweet promises of the
Gospel,with the abundant merciesof God to allthat
repent,believe, andtrulyturnuntoliim.
\
TO THE READEE.
Protidential leadings are often pleasing to
observe. The re-appearing of " The Plaik
Mak's Pathway to Heaten" came about ou
this wise.
A man in Christ, reading " Bunyan's Grace
Aboundingto—the Chief of Sinners," came upon
the following:
"Presently after this, I changed my condition into a
married state, and my mercy was to light upon a ynfe
whose father was counted godly. This woman and I,
thoughwe came togetheras pooras might be (not having
s(i much household stniF as a dish or spoon betwixt us
both), yet this she had for her part, 'The.Plain Man's
Pathway to Heaven,' and 'The Practice ofPiety,' which
herfatherhadleft herwhen he died. In these two books
I would sometimes read with her; wherein I also found
some things that were somewhat pleasing to me; but all
this while I met withno conviction. She,also,wouldbe
oftentelling mewhatagodlyman herfatherwas,andhow
he would reprove and correct vice,both in his house and
among Ms neighbours; and what a strict and holylife he
livedinhisdays,bothinwordanddeeds. . . . Wherefore,
these books,with the relation, though theydid not reach
myheart, to awakenit about my sad andsinful state,yet
theydidbegetwithinmesomedesirestoreformmyvicious
life, and fall inveryeagerlywiththereligionofthe time-s,
to^"it,to go to church twice-a-day, and thattoo withthe
foremost; and therewouldverydevoutlyboth sayandsing
asothersdid,yetretainingmywickedlife."
To see this book, "ThePlain Man's Pathway
to Heaven," the reader felt a great desire.
IV, TO THE EEADEE.
When tlie desire was forgotten, unexpectedly he
ahghted upon an old copy, in black letter,
without the title-page, and a leaf. The desire
came to remembrance, and the book was eagerly
purchased.
Years rolled away, and the book had been to
the uttermost parts ofthe earth, and back again.
That God had directed John Bunyan to write
the "Pilgrim's Progress," in allegory, through
the means of this book, appeared not at all
improbable; and as savoury meat was in it
which is agreeable to the taste of many, a re-
"
publication, for the good of the household,"
was fondlyentertained. It was not so favourable
to do this abroad; but, returning home again,
Mr. Wilson kindly undertook to bring it forth
in a new dress. Efforts not a few were made to
findanothercopy,but invain; andtheProspectus
informed subscribers that, "although it is minus
tprheesetrivteled-.p"age,AafnrdienodneinleEanf,glyeatndalwlrtohtee tghoaltdhies
had an incomplete copy, in plain type, and sent
thesame,containingthededicationbytheauthor,
and the leaf awanting. Another servant of
Christ also wrote that he had the book, and
sent a copy ofthe title-page.
Thus, from three copies, it now appears entir—e.
The Lord, the God of Israel add his blessing
"To feed the Church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood," Amen,
In an edition of the "Plain Man's Pathwa^y,"
published in 1704, it is stated to be the fortieth
edition, and that, upon a computation, one
hundred thousand copies of this work had been
sold. At a more recent date, we learn that it
was again reprinted as the forty-Srst edition;
ITS AUTHOR. V.
and from what we have heard concerning other
editions,we thinkitprobablethat thiswillbethe
fiftieth edition. In the old editions, there is no
division in the work: though embracing a great
vwaerrieettyhoefstaompei.cs, tWhee hterausdtintgheoflailblertthyetcahkaeptnerisn
givingthe title to each new subject will prove
helpful to the reader, as it wiU enable him more
easilytorefer to anyparticular in the book. The
only other liberty taken has been to modernise
the spelling: in all other respects it is bonaJide
as first issued in 1601.
ITS AUTHOE.
The Author, Aethtjb Db^tt, was minister of
South Shooberry, a village near to Southend, in
Essex, but persecuted by Bishop Aylraer for
nonconformity. About the year 1584 he endured
many troubles from this prelate, for refusing to
wear the surplice, and omitting the sign of the
cross in baptism. With several ofhis persecuted
brethren, many of whom were suspended and in
prison, h—e thus petitions thelords of the Queen's
Council:
"We cheerfdlly and boldly offer this oar humble suit
unto your honours, being our only sanctuary upon earth,
next to her Majesty,*to which we repair in our present
*QueenQixabeth.
VI. ITS ATJTHOE.
necessity; and, most of all, we are encouraged when we
consider how richlyGod hath adorned your honours with
knowledge, wisdom, andzealforthegospel, andwithgodly
care andtenderlove to thosewho professthesame. Most
humbly, therefore, we beseech your honours, with your
accustomedfavourinall godlyandjustcauses,tohear and
to judgeof ourmatters. We havereceived the charge,as
loyaland faithful men,to instructand teachourpeople in
the wayof life; and everyoneof us hearing this sounded
fromtheGod of heaven, 'Woe be untome,ifIpreach not
the gospel!' we have all endeavoured to discharge our
duties, and to approve ourselves both to God and man.
Notwithstanding this,yfe are ingreat heaviness,andsome
of usalreadyputtosilence,andtherestlivinginfear; not
thatwehave been, or canbe charged, we hope,with false
doctrine, or slanderous life; butbecause we refuseto sub-
scribe 'that there is nothing contained in the book of
Common Prayer contrary to the word of God.' We do
protest,in thesightof God, who searchethallhearts,that
wedonotrefusefromadesiretodissent,orfromanysinister
affection,butin thefearof God, and fromthe necessityof
conscience. Tlie apostle teacheth, that a person who
doubteth is condemned ifhe eat: if a man,then, be con-
demnedfordoingalawfulaction,becausehedoubtswhether
itbelawful;howmuchmoreshouldweincurthedispleasure
of the Lord, and justly deserve his wrath, if we should
subscribe,being fullypersuadedthatthere aresomethings
in the book contrary to his word! If our reasons might
beso answeredbythe doctrine of the Bible, andwecould
bepersuaded that wemight subscribelawfully, and inthe
fear of God, we would willingly consent. In these and
otherrespects,wehumblycraveyourhonoiirableprotection,
as those whofrom the heart do entirelylove,honour,and
obeyherexcellentMajesty, and your honours, intheLord.
Givingmost heartythanks toGodfor all the blessings we
have received from him, byyour government; constantly
praying, nightand day,thathewill bless andpreserveher
ITS AUTHOB. VU.
Ms^estfandyourhonourstoeternalsalvation,yourhonours'
poorandhiuublesupplicants."*
In a work of ABTHrE Dkbtt's, called "The
Ruin ofRome, or an ExpositionofRevelations,"
his friend Ezekiel Cu—ltekwell, gives the
following account ofhim:
"Togivesomepublictestimonyofmylovetowardshim,
andreverenceofthe raregrace which we all who enjoyed
his sweet society did continually behold in him, whose
learning his labours do shew; and whose diligence, yea,
extreme and unwearied pains in his ministry, publicly,
privately,athome,andabroad,foratleastfour-and-twenty
years,allour countrycantestify: all whichbeing adorned
withsuchspecial humility,domake hisname the greate—r,
and(5urlossthemoregrievous. Imaynotle—aveoutthis
whichIavowtobeascertainasitissuignlar that,besides
allothers hisgreat labours,hehadaspecialcareof allthe
chxtrches night and day, by study and fervent prayer,
procuring the prosperity of Zion and the ruin of Rome.
And, to end with his blessed end, his life was not more
profitabletoothers,thanhisdeathwaspeaceabletohimself:
scarcely a groan was heard, though his fever must have
*
Thispetitioiiissignedby
G. GYFFARD. R. HAWDEN. R. BLACKWELL.
R. ROGERS. J JESSELIii. T. HOWELL.
X. COLPOTTS. T.UPCHE. M. WIRSDALE.
LW..XDEIAK^ETI.AJr. JR..WCIALRTBO.N. AR. PEIDGMOLT'.M)S.
T. CHAPLAIN. S. COTESFORD. C. RUSTICrS.
A. PENT. R. ILLISOX. J. HUCKLE.
T. REDKICH. W. SERDGE. T. CAREW.
G. WHITIKG. E. BARKER. 3.BISHOP.
moTshteefmiirsnteinntthmiasnh,onaonodraablveerliyst,noMtre.dGpyrfeearcdh,erwaosfvGiocda'rsofwMoarld.don,Hea
eudnred hearv persecutions and grierous tronbles. The lord high
wtmroaernaksysurfeaorrr,etBrhueerlcmeoiimngmihse,tnwedriesdohfebdsyttatoDee.fnatv,Hopueragwheaism2,56a.buvtolStuehmeei"nboBiurssohoowkpr'sistwelrei.rveesHtioosof
ofthePuritans,"VoLU.273-8.
VUl. ITS AUTHOE.
been violent, whichdespatchedhiminthreedays. Having
inade a pithyconfession of hisfaith, 'This faith,' saidhe.,
'have Ipreached; thisfaithhaveI believed in; thisfaithI
dodiein;andthisfaithwoiddIhavesealedwithmyblood,
if Godhadsothoughtgood;and tellmybrethrenso.' He
afterwardssaid, 'Ihavefoughtagoodfight,Ihavefinished
mycourse,I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid
np for me the crown of righteousness:' and,with his last
breath, added, 'I have seen an end of all perfection, but
thylawisexceedingbroad.'"
TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL
SIR JULIUS CESAR, Kkight,
1?oftheMastersofthe'Requeststo the King'sMajesty,Judgeofthe
HighCourtofAdmiralty,andMasterofSt.Catherine's,
wiskethallgoodtUngttaChristJesus.
Hating finished, Right Worshipful, and made
ready for the press this little Dialogue, I be-
thought me,sincethecommonmanner ofall that
write any books in this age, is to dedicate the
same to one or to other of gi'eat place, to whom
.I might dedicate these ray poor labours. At
last 1 did resolve with myself, none to be more
fit than your Worship; both in regard of some
aflfinity in the flesh, as also because of those
manifold good parts wherewith the Almighty
hath enduedyou. Having therefore none other
thing to present your Worship withal, in token
of a thankful heart for your courtesies shewed
towards me,behold,I do here send unto you this
third fruit of my labours now published. Most
humblybeseeching you to take it in good worth;
not weighing the value of the thing, which is of
no value,but thesimple and goodmeaningofthe
giver. This work doth sharplyreprove and evict
the world of sin, and therefore is likely to find
many deadly enemies, which with cruel hatred
will most eagerly pursue it unto death. Zoilus
also, and his fellows, I know will bitterly carp at
it. Therefore, it flieth unto your Worship for
X. DEDICATIOir.
protection,and humblydesirethtotakesanctuary
under your wings. Wherefore, I humblyintreat
you, to take upon you the patronage and defence
of it; that by your means it may be delivered
both from the calumnious obloquies of evil-dis-
posedpersons,andalsofromtheworld'smalignity;
so as it maytakenoinjury. Andconcerningthis
little volume, the sum of the matter of it, you
shall find in the Epistle to theReader. As con-
cerning the manner, here is no great matter in
learning, wit, art, eloquence, or ingenious inven-
tion; (for I have herein specially respected the
ignorant and vulgar sort, whose edification I do
chiefly aim at) yet somewhat thereis, whichmay
concern the learned,and givethemsomecontent-
ment. Whatsoever it be, I leave it with your
Worship,beseechingyoutogiveitentertainment.
And so T do most humbly take my leave, com-
mending both yourself, your good wife, and your
whole family to the merciful protection of the
ever living Grod.
Your Worship's, to command in the Lord,
ARTHUR DENT.
SouthShooherry,Essex,
AprU10,1601.