A26701:64
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.
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?
But Friend, let me a little reason with thee; thou art confident it is well with thee, yet why wilt thou not yield to thus much at least, to put it to the question, am I not mistaken? Thou art worse than mad, if thou thinkest such a question may not be ⟨image 16⟩put. Dost thou know that thy heart is false and deceitful, and yet because it speaks good concerning thee, must it not be questioned whether it speak truth or no? Be so wise as to conclude I may be mistaken, and thus come to the trial whether thou art mistaken or not.