A26695:97
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.
4. It consists not in an external conformity to the Rules of Piety 'Tis too manifest, men may have a form of godliness, without the power, 2 Tim. 3. 5. Men may pray long, Mat. 23. 14. and fast often, Luke 18. 12. and heav gladly, Mark 6. 20. and be very forward in the service of God, though costly and expensive, Isa. 1. 11. and yet be strangers to Conversion. They must have more to plead for themselves, than that they keep their Church, and give alms, and make use of prayer to prove themselves sound Converts. No outward service but an hypocrite may do it; even to the giving all his goods to the poor, and his members to the fire, 1 Cor. 13. 3.
5. It lies not in the chaining up of corruption, by education, humane laws, or the force of incumbent affliction. 'Tis too common and easy, to mistake education for grace; but if this were enough, who a better man than Jehoash: While Jehojadah his uncle lived he was very forward in Gods service, and calls upon him to repair the house of the Lord, 2 Kings 12. 2, 7. But here was nothing more than good education all this while: for when his good Tutor was taken out of the way, he appears to have been but a wolf chained up; and falls on to Idolatry.
5. It lies not in the chaining up of corruption, by education, humane laws, or the force of incumbent affliction. 'Tis too common and easie, to mistake education for grace; but if this were enough, who a better man than Iehoash: While Iehojadah his uncle lived he was very forward in Gods service, and calls upon him to repair the house of the Lord,