A26701:204
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.
Oh dreadful thought to think of! That God should build such a world as this, and lay out ⟨p. 65⟩such infinite power, and wisdom and goodness thereupon, and all in vain; and man should be guilty at last, of robbing, and spoiling him of the glory of all. Oh think of this, while thou art unconverted, all the offices of the creatures to thee are in vain: thy meat nourishes thee in vain, the Sun holds forth his light to thee in vain, the Stars, that serve thee in their courses by their most powerful, though hidden influence, Judges 5. 20. Hos. 2. 21, 22. do it in vain; thy Clothes warm thee in vain; thy Beast carries thee in vain: in a word, the labour unwearied, and continual travel of the whole creation (as to thee) is in vain. The service of all the creatures, that drudge for thee, and yield forth their strength unto thee (that therewith thou shouldst serve their maker) is all but lost labour. Hence the whole Creation groaneth under the abuse of the unsanctified world, Rom. 8. 22. that pervert them to the service of their lusts, quite contrary to the very end of their being.
Oh dreadful thought to think of! That God should build such a world as this, and lay out ⟨p. 65⟩such infinite power, and wisdom and goodness thereupon, and all in vain; and man should be guilty at last, of robbing, and spoiling him of the glory of all. Oh think of this, while thou art unconverted, all the offices of the creatures to thee are in vain: thy meat nourishes thee in vain, the Sun holds forth his light to thee in vain, the Stars, that serve thee in their courses by their most powerful, though hidden influence, Iudges 5. 20. Hos. 2. 21, 22. do it in vain; thy Cloaths warm thee in vain; thy Beast carries thee in vain: in a word, the labour unwearied, and continual travel of the whole creation (as to thee) is in vain. The service of all the creatures, that drudge for thee, and yield forth their strength unto thee (that therewith thou shouldst serve their maker) is all but lost labour. Hence the whole Creation groaneth under the abuse of the unsanctified world,