A26701:410
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 7: Containing the Motives to Conversion.
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.
Secondly, his soul-encouraging calls and promises do invite thee. Ah what an earnest suitor is mercy to thee! how lovingly, how instantly it calleth after thee! how passionately it wooeth thee! Return thou back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity. Turn O back-sliding children, ⟨p. 192⟩saith the Lord, for I am married unto you: return and I will heal your back-slidings. Thou hast plaid the harlot with many lovers, yet return unto me saith the Lord, Jer. 3. 11, 12, 13, 14, 22. As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezek. 33. 11. If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him; in his righteousness that he hath done shall •e live. Repent, and turn your selves from all your transgressions, so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, and make you a clean heart, and a new spirit, for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God; wherefore turn your selves, and live ye, Ezek. 18. 21, 23, 30, 31, 32.
Secondly, his soul-encouraging calls and promises do invite thee. Ah what an earnest suitor is mercy to thee! how lovingly, how instantly it calleth after thee! how passionately it wooeth thee! Return thou back-sliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you; for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity. Turn O back-sliding children, ⟨p. 192⟩saith the Lord, for I am married unto you: return and I will heal your back-slidings. Thou hast plaid the harlot with many lovers, yet return unto me saith the Lord,