A26695:121
A sure guide to heaven, or, An earnest invitation to sinners to turn to…
A sure guide to heaven, or, An earnest invitation to sinners to turn to God in order to their eternal salvation showing the thoughtful sinner what he must do to be saved / by Joseph Alleine.A sure guide to heaven, or, An earnest invitation to sinners to turn to God in order to their eternal salvation shewing the thoughtful sinner what he must do to be saved / by Joseph Alleine.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1688
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.
Thou beginnest at the wrong end, if thou disputest first about thine election. Prove thy Conversion, and then never doubt of thine election. Or canst thou not yet prove it? Set upon a present and thorough turning. Whatever God's purposes be, (which are secret) I am sure his promises are plain. How desperately do rebels argue? If I am elected I shall be saved, do what I will; if not, I shall be damned, do what I can. Perverse sinner, wilt thou begin where thou shouldest end? Is not the word before thee? What saith it? Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted su•, Acts 3. 19. If you mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live, Rom. 8. 13. Believe and be saved, Acts 16. 31. What can be plainer? Do not stand still, disputing about thine election, ⟨p. 22⟩but set to repenting and believing. Cry to God for converting grace. Revealed things belong to thee, in these busy thy self. 'Tis just (as one well said) that they that will not feed on the plain food of the word, should be choked with the bones. Whatever Gods purposes be, I am sure his promises be true. Whatever the decrees of Heaven be, I am sure, that if I repent and believe I shall be saved; and that if I repent not, I shall be damned. Is not here plain ground for thee, and wilt thou yet run upon the rocks?
Thou beginnest at the wrong end, if thou disputest first about thine election. Prove thy Conversion, and then never doubt of thine election. Or canst thou not yet prove it? Set upon a present and thorough turning. Whatever God's purposes be, (which are secret) I am sure his promises are plain. How desperately do rebels argue? If I am elected I shall be saved, do what I will; if not, I shall be damned, do what I can. Perverse sinner, wilt thou begin where thou shouldest end? Is not the word before thee? What saith it? Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted su•, Acts 3. 19. If you mortifie the deeds of the body, you shall live,