A26701:28
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 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.)
I know that thou maist 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.)
And, alas, it is possible thou mayest hear some of the Tribe of Levi, (or rather of Cain,) deriding this Serious Godliness as mere Hypocrisy, and Fanaticism, and Self-conceitedness: As if you must be no better than the Devils slaves, lest you be Proud in thinking that you are better than they; That is, you must go with them to Hell, lest in Heaven you be Proud Hypocrites for thinking your selves happier than they.
And, alas, it is possible thou maist hear some of the Tribe of Levi, (or rather of Cain,) deriding this Serious Godliness as meer Hypocrisie, and Fanaticism, and Self-conceitedness: As if you must be no better than the Devils slaves, lest you be Proud in thinking that you are better than they; That is, you must go with them to Hell, lest in Heaven you be Proud Hypocrites for thinking your selves happier than they.
It may be they will tell you, that this talk of Conversion is fitter for Pagans and Infidels to hear, than Christians and Protestants. Because such mens big Looks or Coats may make the poison the easilier taken down, I will entreat thee but as before God to answer these following questions, or to get them answered, and then judge whether it be they or we that would deceive thee? and whether as men use to talk against Learning that have none themselves, so such men prate not against