A26695:157
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.
Doth not thy unbridled Tongue, thy brutish Intemperance, thy wicked Company, thy neglect of Prayer, of hearing and reading the Word, now witness against thee, and say, We are thy works, and we will follow thee? Or if I have not hit thee right, doth not the Bird within tell them, there is such or such a way, that thou knowest to be evil, that yet for some carnal respect thou dost tolerate thy self in, and art willing to spare? If this be thy Case, thou art to this day unregenerate, and must be changed or condemned.
Secondly, Satan. Conversion binds the strong man, spoils his Armour, casts out his Goods, turns men from the power of Satan unto God, Acts. 26. 18. Before, the Devil could no sooner hold up his Finger to the Sinner, to call him to his wicked Company, sinful Games, filthy Delights, but presently he followed, like an Ox to the Slaughter, and a Fool ⟨p. 35⟩to the correction of the Stocks, as the Bird that hasteth to the prey, and knoweth not that it is for his life. No sooner could Satan bid him lie, but presently he had it upon the top of his Tongue, Acts 5. 3. no sooner could Satan offer a wanton Object, but he was stung with lust. The Devil could do more with him than God could. If the Devil say, Away with these Family Duties, be sure they shall be rarely enough performed in his house. If the Devil say, Away with this strictness, this preciseness, he will keep far enough from it: If he tells him there's no need of these Closet Duties, he shall go from day to day, and scarce perform them. But now he is converted, he serves another Master, and takes quite another Course, 1 Pet. 4. 4. he goes and comes at Christ's beck, Col. 3. 24. Satan may sometimes catch his foot in a Trap; but he will no longer be a willing Captive. He watches against the Snares and Baits of Satan, and studies to be acquainted with his devices. He is very suspicious of his Plots, and is very jealous, in what comes athwart him, lest Satan should have some design upon him. He wrestles against Principalities and Powers,