A26682:72
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.
Friend, the matter which this little book comes to treat with thee about, is of highest importance; 'tis a matter of life and death. If thou sayest, The terms upon which Life is offered, are hard; consider, is it not harder to dye? He is worthy to dye who will lose his soul to save his labour. If thou couldst step down into the deep, and take a turn or two with those damned souls who are drenched with fire and brimstone, and bound in everlasting chains of vengeance, & shouldest ask them, Now what do you think of the terms upon which life was offered? Now what think ⟨image 23⟩you of that repentance, of that obedience, of that holy circumspection, self denial, and the greatest severity which by the Gospel were imposed upon you? If you might once again have the same terms granted you for your redemption from this place of torment, would you yet say, Hard terms! Let me rather dye this death for ever, than live such a life! let me broil in this furnace, rather than escape with such difficulty! Shouldst thou ask them thus that have felt what 'tis to be damned, what answer dost thou think they would make? O friend, never again groan under the difficulties of conversion, till thou believe them to be worse than Hell. But I will not farther anticipate my worthy Author.
Friend, the matter which this little book comes to treat with thee about, is of highest importance; 'tis a matter of life and death. If thou sayest, The terms upon which Life is offered, are hard; consider, is it not harder to dye? He is worthy to dye who will lose his soul to save his labour. If thou couldst step down into the deep, and take a turn or two with those damned souls who are drench'd with fire and brimstone, and bound in everlasting chains of vengeance, & shouldest ask them, Now what do you think of the terms upon which life was offered? Now what think ⟨image 23⟩you of that repentance, of that obedience, of that holy circumspection, self denyal, and the greatest severity which by the Gospel were imposed upon you? If you might once again have the same terms granted you for your redemption from this place of torment, would you yet say, Hard terms! Let me rather dye this death for ever, than live such a life! let me broil in this furnace, rather than escape with such difficulty! Shouldst thou ask them thus that have felt what 'tis to be damned, what answer dost thou think they would make? O friend, never again groan under the difficulties of conversion, till thou believe them to be worse than Hell. But I will not farther anticipate my worthy Author.