A26701:444
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.
Ho, every formal professor, that art but a luke-warm and dough-baked Christian, and ⟨p. 212⟩restest in the form of godliness, give over thy halving, and thy halting; be a throughout Christian, and be zealous and repent, and then though thou hast been an offence to Christ's stomach, thou shalt be the joy of his heart, Rev. 3. 16, 19, 20.
And now bear witness, that mercy hath been offered you. I call Heaven and Earth to record against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that you may live, Deut. 30. 19. I can but woo you, and warn you: I cannot compel you to be happy: if I could, I would. What answer will you send me with to my Master? Let me speak unto you as Abraham's servant to them; and now if you will deal kindly and truly with my Master, tell me, Gen. 24. 49. Oh for such a happy answer, as Rebekah gave to them! Gen. 24. 57, 58. And they said, we will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her. Wilt thou go with this man? and she said, I will go. Oh that I had but thus much from you! Why should I be your accuser, Mat. 10. 14, 15. who thirst for your salvation? Why should the passionate pleadings and wooings of mercy be turned into the horrid aggravations of your obstinacy and additions to your misery. Judge in your selves: Do you not think their condemnation will be doubly dreadful, that shall still go on in their sins, after all endeavours to recall them? Doubtless, it shall be more tolerable for Tire and Sidon, yea for Sodom and Gomorrah, in the day of Judgment, than for you,