A26701:27
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.
I know, poor Sinner, that Flesh is brutish, and lust and appetite have no reason: But I know that thou hast reason thy self which was given thee to over-rule them; and that he that will not be a Man cannot be a Saint, nor a Happy man. I know that thou livest in a tempting and a wicked world, where things or persons will be daily hindering this. But I know that this is no more to a man, that by Faith seeth Heaven and Hell before him, than a Grain of Sand is to a Kingdom, or a ⟨image 8⟩blast of Wind, to one that is fighting or flying for his life, Luke 12. 4. O man! that thou didst but know the difference between that which the Devil and sin will give thee, if thou wilt sell thy soul and Heaven, and that which God hath promised and sworn to give thee, if thou wilt heartily give up thy self to him.
I know, poor Sinner, that Flesh is bruitish, and lust and appetite have no reason: But I know that thou hast reason thy self which was given thee to over-rule them; and that he that will not be a Man cannot be a Saint, nor a Happy man. I know that thou livest in a tempting and a wicked world, where things or persons will be daily hindering this. But I know that this is no more to a man, that by Faith seeth Heaven and Hell before him, than a Grain of Sand is to a Kingdom, or a ⟨image 8⟩blast of Wind, to one that is fighting or flying for his life, Luke 12. 4. O man! that thou didst but know the difference between that which the Devil and sin will give thee, if thou wilt sell thy soul and Heaven, and that which God hath promised and sworn to give thee, if thou wilt heartily give up thy self to him.
I know that thou mayest possibly fall into Company (at least among some sots and drunkards) that will tell thee, all this is but troublesome preciseness, and making more ado than needs: But I know withal what that Man deserveth, who will believe a Fool before his Maker: (for he can be no better than a Miserable Fool, that will contradict and revile the Word of God, even the Word of Grace that would save Mens Souls.)