N03796:421
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.
If it be little, that Men and Angels would rejoice at thy Conversion, know that God himself would rejoice over thee, even with singing, and rest in his Love, Luke 15.9. Isa. 62.5. Never did Jacob with such Joy weep over the Neck of his Joseph, as thy heavenly Father would rejoice over thee, upon thy coming in to him. Look over the Story of the Prodigal; methinks I see how the aged Father lays aside his Estate, and forgets his Years. Behold how he runneth, Luke 15.20. Oh the Haste that Mercy makes! the Sinner makes not half that Speed. Methinks I see how his Bowels turn, how his Compassions yearn. (How quick-sighted is Love!) Mercy spies him a great Way off, forgets his riotous Courses, unnatural Rebellion, horrid Unthankfulness, debauched Practice (not a Word of these) but receives him with open Arms, clasps about his Neck, forgets the Nastiness of his Rags, kisseth the Lips that deserve to be loathed, the Lips that had been joined to Harlots, that had been Commoners with the Swine; calls for the fatted Calf, the best Robe, the Ring, the Shoes, the best Cheer in Heaven's Store, the best Attire in Heaven's Wardrobe, Luke 15.6, 9, 23. Yea, the Joy cannot be held in one Breast, &c. others must be called to participate; the Friends must meet, and make merry: Angels must wait, but the Prodigal must be set at the Table, under his Father's Wing: He is the Joy of the Feast; he is the sweet Subject of the Father's Delight: The Friends sympathize, but none knows the Felicity the Father takes in his new-born Son, whom he hath received from the Dead. Methinks I hear the Music and the Dancing at a Distance. Oh the Melody of the heavenly Choristers! I cannot learn the Song, Rev. 14.3. but methinks I over-hear the Burden, at which all the Harmonious Quire with one Consent strike sweetly in; for thus goes the Round at Heaven's Table, For this my Son was dead, and ⟨p. 141⟩is alive again, was lost, and is found, Luke 15.23, 24, 32