A26682:69
An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners
An alarm to unconverted sinners, in a serious treatise ... whereunto are annexed Divers practical cases of conscience judiciously resolved / by Joseph Alleine, late preacher of the Gospel at Taunton in Somerset-shire.An alarme to unconverted sinners, in a serious treatise ... whereunto are annexed Divers practical cases of conscience judiciously resolved / by Joseph Alleine, late preacher of the Gospel at Taunton in Somerset-shire.
London: printed by E.T. and R.H., 1672
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.
If there be a miscarriage in this first work, if thou wilt not understand thy misery and thy danger, there's an end of all hopes concerning thee. Whilst this ⟨image 21⟩self-ignorance abides upon thee, all the Counsels, that are necessary to a man in thy case, will do thee no good; they are never like to prosper with thee, because thou wilt not count them proper for thee. Who will be persuaded to do that, which he believes is already done? Who will take the Counsel of the Physician that does not think himself sick? The man of God may spare his pains of persuading thee to Conversion, whilst thou art confident thou art converted already. Who will be at the pains of repentance that concludes he hath repented? Who will bear the labour and the pangs of the new birth that is confident he is already passed from death to life?
If there be a miscarriage in this first work, if thou wilt not understand thy misery and thy danger, there's an end of all hopes concerning thee. Whilest this ⟨image 21⟩self-ignorance abides upon thee, all the Counsels, that are necessary to a man in thy case, will do thee no good; they are never like to prosper with thee, because thou wilt not count them proper for thee. Who will be perswaded to do that, which he believes is already done? Who will take the Counsel of the Physician that does not think himself sick? The man of God may spare his pains of perswading thee to Conversion, whilest thou art confident thou art converted already. Who will be at the pains of repentance that concludes he hath repented? Who will bear the labour and the pangs of the new birth that is confident he is already passed from death to life?
But Friend, let me a little reason with thee; Thou art confident it is well with thee, yet why wilt thou not yield to thus much at least, ⟨image 22⟩to put it to the question, am I not mistaken? Thou art worse than mad, if thou thinkest such a question may not be put. Dost thou know that thine heart is false and deceitful, and yet because it speaks good concerning thee, must it not be questioned whether it speak truth or no? Be so wise as to conclude I may be mistaken, and thus come to the trial whether thou art mistaken or not.