A26701:126
The way to true happiness in a serious treatise /
The way to true happiness in a serious treatise / by Joseph Alleine.
London : Printed and are to be sold by Nevil Simmons, 1678
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Now according to this new light, the man is of another mind, another judgment, than before he was: Now God is all with him: he hath none in Heaven nor in Earth like him, Ps. 73. 25. He prefers him truly before all the World: his favour is his life: the light of his Countenance is more than Corn and Wine and Oil, (the good that he formerly enquired after, and set his heart upon, Psal. 4. 6, 7.) Now let all the World be set on one side, and God alone on the other? Let the Harlot put on her paint, and gallantry, and present her self to the soul (as when Satan would have tempted our Saviour with her) in all the glory of her Kingdoms, yet the soul will not fall down and worship her; but will prefer a naked, yea a crucified, persecuted Christ before her, Phil. 3. 8. 1 Cor, 22. Not but that a Hypocrite may come to yield a general assent to this, that God is the chief good: yea the wiser Heathens (some few of them) have at last stumbled upon this: but there is a difference between the absolute, and comparative judgment of the understanding. No Hypocrite comes so far, as to look upon God, as the most desirable and suitable good to him, and thereupon to acquiesce in him. This was the converts voice; The Lord is my portion saith my soul Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth, that I desire besides thee. God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever, Psal. 73. 25, 26. Lam. 3. 24.
Now according to this new light, the man is of another mind, another judgment, than before he was: Now God is all with him: he hath none in Heaven nor in Earth like him, Ps. 73. 25. He prefers him truly before all the World: his favour is his life: the light of his Countenance is more than Corn and Wine and Oyl, (the good that he formerly enquired after, and set his heart upon, Psal. 4. 6, 7.) Now let all the World be set on one side, and God alone on the other? Let the Harlot put on her paint, and gallantry, and present her self to the soul (as when Satan would have tempted our Saviour with her) in all the glory of her Kingdoms, yet the soul will not fall down and worship her; but will prefer a naked, yea a crucified, persecuted Christ before her,