A26695:81
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.
It is storied, that when Jupiter let down the golden Chaplets from Heaven, all of them but one were stolen: Whereupon (lest they should lose a relic of so great esteem) they made five others so like it that if any were so wickedly minded, as to steal that also, they should not be able to discern which was it. And truly my bel•ved the Devil hath made many counterfeits of this Conversion; and cheats one with this, and another with that; and such a craft and artifice he hath, in this mystery of deceits; (that if it were possible) he would deceive the very Elect. Now that I may cure the damnable mistakes of some, who think they are converted when they are not, as well as remove the troubles, and fears of others, that think they are not converted when they are; I shall show you the nature of conversion, both negatively, or what it is not; and positively what it is.
It is storied, that when Iupiter let down the golden Chaplets from Heaven, all of them but one were stolen: Whereupon (lest they should lose a relique of so great esteem) they made five others so like it that if any were so wickedly minded, as to steal that also, they should not be able to discern which was it. And truly my bel•ved the Devil hath made many counterfeits of this Conversion; and cheats one with this, and another with that; and such a craft and artifice he hath, in this mystery of deceits; (that if it were possible) he would deceive the very Elect. Now that I may cure the damnable mistakes of some, who think they are converted when they are not, as well as remove the troubles, and fears of others, that think they are not converted when they are; I shall shew you the nature of conversion, both negatively, or what it is not; and positively what it is.
We will begin with the Negative.