A26701:393
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.
Introduction › Chapter 6 › A short Soliloqui for an unregenerate sinner.
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.
Who am I, Lord, that I should make any claim unto thee, or have any part or portion in thee, who am not worthy to lick up the dust of thy feet? Yet since thou holdest forth the golden Sceptre, I am bold to come, and touch. To despair, would be to disparage thy mercy; and to stand off when thou biddest me come, would be at once to undo my self, and rebel against thee, under pretence of humility. Therefore I bow my soul unto thee, and with all possible thankfulness accept thee, as mine, and give up my self to thee, as thine. Thou shalt be Sovereign over me, my King, and my God. Thou shalt be in the Throne, and all my powers shall bow to thee, they shall come, and worship before thy feet. Thou shalt be my portion, O Lord, and I will rest in thee.
Who am I, Lord, that I should make any claim unto thee, or have any part or portion in thee, who am not worthy to lick up the dust of thy feet? Yet since thou holdest forth the golden Scepter, I am bold to come, and touch. To despair, would be to disparage thy mercy; and to stand off when thou biddest me come, would be at once to undo my self, and rebel against thee, under pretence of humility. Therefore I bow my soul unto thee, and with all possible thankfulness accept thee, as mine, and give up my self to thee, as thine. Thou shalt be Soveraign over me, my King, and my God. Thou shalt be in the Throne, and all my powers shall bow to thee, they shall come, and worship before thy feet. Thou shalt be my portion, O Lord, and I will rest in thee.
Thou callest for my heart. Oh that it were any way fit for thine acceptance! I am unworthy, O Lord, everlastingly unworthy to be thine. But since thou wilt have it so, I freely give up my heart to thee. Take it, it is thine. Oh that it were better! But Lord, I put it into thine hand, who alone canst mend it. Mould it after thine own heart; make it as thou wouldst have it, holy, humble, heavenly, soft, tender, flexible, and write thy Law upon it.