N03796:286
An alarm to unconverted sinners. In a serious treatise: showing I. What conversion is…An alarm to unconverted sinners. In a serious treatise: shewing I. What conversion is…
An alarm to unconverted sinners. In a serious treatise: showing I. What conversion is not, and correcting some mistakes about it. II. What conversion is, and wherein it consisteth. III. The necessity of conversion. IV. The marks of the unconverted. V. The miseries of the unconverted. VI. Directions for conversion. VII. Motions [i.e., Motives] to conversion. : Whereunto are annexed Divers practical cases of conscience judiciously resolved. / By Joseph Alleine, late Minister of the Gospel at Taunton, in Somersetshire.An alarm to unconverted sinners. In a serious treatise: shewing I. What conversion is not, and correcting some mistakes about it. II. What conversion is, and wherein it consisteth. III. The necessity of conversion. IV. The marks of the unconverted. V. The miseries of the unconverted. VI. Directions for conversion. VII. Motions [i.e., Motives] to conversion. : Whereunto are annexed Divers practical cases of conscience judiciously resolv'd. / By Joseph Alleine, late Minister of the Gospel at Taunton, in Somersetshire.
Philadelphia: printed by B. Franklin, 1741
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.
But here I find my self a-ground at first putting forth. What Tongue can tell the Heirs of Hell sufficiently of their Misery, unless 'twere Dives's in that Flame? Luke 16.24. Where is the ready Writer whose Pen can decipher their Misery, that are without God in the World? Eph. 2.12. This cannot fully be done, unless we knew the infinite Ocean of that Bliss and Perfection which is in that God, which a State of Sin doth exclude Men from: Who knoweth (saith Moses) the Power of thine Anger? Psalm 90.11. And how shall I tell Men that which I do not know? Yet so much we know, as one would think, would shake the Heart of that Man that had the least Degree of spiritual Life and Sense.
But this is yet the more posing Difficulty, that I am to speak to them that are without Sense. Alas, this is not the least Part of Man's Misery upon him, that he is dead, stark dead in Trespasses and Sins, Eph. 2.1.
Could I bring Paradise into View, or represent the Kingdom of Heaven to as much Advantage as the Tempter did the Kingdoms of the World, and all the Glory thereof to our Saviour; or could I uncover the face of the Deep, and devouring Gulf of Tophet, in all its Terrors, and open the Gates of the Infernal ⟨p. 79⟩Furnace; alas, he hath no Eyes to see it, Matth. 1• 14, 15. Could I paint out the Beauties of Holiness or Glory of the Gospel to the life; or could I bring above board the more than diabolical Deformity and Ugliness of Sin, be can no more judge of the Loveliness and Beauty of the one, nor the Filthiness and Hatefulness of the other, than the blind Man of Colours. He is alienated from the Life of God, thro the Ignorance that is in him, because of the Blinds of his Heart,