A26701:62
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.
Much of our hardest Work would be over, if we could see the sinners to whom we are sent, to be convinced sinners. If we could but open the blind eyes, there were hope we should shortly raise the dead.
Sinner, of a truth, thou art in evil case whether thou know it or not; thou art among the dead, and there is but a step betwixt thee and Hell. Thou wilt not believe it though it be told thee, yet once again let ⟨image 15⟩me beseech thee, come to the Glass that is here presented to thee, and narrowly observe whether the very marks of the dead be not found upon thee.
If there be a miscarriage in this first work, if thou wilt not understand thy misery and thy danger, there's an end of all hopes concerning thee. Whilst self-ignorance abides upon thee, all the Counsels, that are necessary to a man in thy case, will do thee no good; they are never like to prosper with thee, because thou wilt not count them proper for thee. Who will be persuaded to do that, which he believes is already done? Who will take the Counsel of the Physician that does not think himself sick? The man of God may spare his pains of persuading thee to Conversion, whilst thou art confident thou art converted already. Who will be at the pains of repentance that concludes he hath repented? Who will bear the labour and the pangs of the new birth that is confident he is already passed from death to life?
If there be a miscarriage in this first work, if thou wilt not understand thy misery and thy danger, there's an end of all hopes concerning thee. Whilst self-ignorance abides upon thee, all the Counsels, that are necessary to a man in thy case, will do thee no good; they are never like to prosper with thee, because thou wilt not count them proper for thee. Who will be perswaded to do that, which he believes is already done? Who will take the Counsel of the Physitian that does not think himself sick? The man of God may spare his pains of perswading thee to Conversion, whilst thou art confident thou art converted already. Who will be at the pains of repentance that concludes he hath repented? Who will bear the labour and the pangs of the new birth that is confident he is already passed from death to life?