A26701:415
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.
But if thou say, thou believest, let me next know thy resolutions. Wilt thou embrace this for thy happiness? Wilt thou forgo thy sinful gains, thy forbidden pleasures? Wilt thou trample on the worlds esteem, and spit in the harlots face, and stop thine ears at her flatteries, and wrest thee out of her embraces? Wilt thou be content to take up with present reproach and poverty, if it lie in thy way to Heaven, and to follow the Lord with humble self-denial, in a mortified and flesh-displeasing life? if so, all is thine, and that for ever. And art not thou fairly offered? Is it not pity but he should be damned, that will needs go on and perish, when all this may be had for the taking? In a word, wilt thou now close with these proffers? Wilt thou take God at his word? Wilt thou let go thy hold-fast of the world, and rid thy hands of thy sins, and lay hold on eternal life? If not, let conscience tell thee, whether thou •rt not distracted, or bewitched, that thou shouldest neglect so happy a choice, by which thou mightest be made for ever.
But if thou say, thou believest, let me next know thy resolutions. Wilt thou embrace this for thy happiness? Wilt thou forgo thy sinful gains, thy forbidden pleasures? Wilt thou trample on the worlds esteem, and spit in the harlots face, and stop thine ears at her flareries, and wrest thee out of her embraces? Wilt thou be content to take up with present reproach and poverty, if it lie in thy way to Heaven, and to follow the Lord with humble self-denial, in a mortified and flesh-displeasing life? if so, all is thine, and that for ever. And art not thou fairly offered? Is it not pity but he should be damned, that will needs go on and perish, when all this may be had for the taking? In a word, wilt thou now close with these proffers? Wilt thou take God at his word? Wilt thou let go thy hold-fast of the world, and rid thy hands of thy sins, and lay hold on eternal life? If not, let conscience tell thee, whether thou •rt not distracted, or bewitched, that thou shouldest neglect so happy a choice, by which thou mightest be made for ever.
3. God will settle unspeakable privileges at present upon thee.