N03796:587
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.
Direct. V. Take the first Opportunity when God gives a fit season for any Duty. Let not Satan beguile you, by telling you of another or better Time. It may be thou hast a Purpose to reprove thy Brother for his Sin, but how long wilt thou be a Purposing? Now God gives thee an Opportunity, it may be thy backward Heart saith, [not now, but another time.] And so it is put off, till he or thyself are removed, or he is hardened, or at least thou art guilty of the Sin that he commits in the mean while; because thou hast not done thy Duty to prevent it. It is in thine Heart to deal with thine unconverted Friend or Neighbour about his spiritual Estate, but it may be while thou art delaying, Death comes and snatches him away in his Sins, or takes thee off, and so farewell for ever to any Opportunity for doing the Soul of thy Brother any good. How often are our Closet Duties hindered or miserably disturbed, for want of Care to lay hold on the first Opportunity? We think another Hour in the Day may do as well, but then one thing or another unexpectedly falls in, that nothing is done, or nothing to purpose. Therefore beware of this Cheat. A Man scarce peeps into the World, but one Briar or Thorn, or another will catch him. Therefore, take Opportunity by the Fore-top. Our Saviour would take his Season for Prayer before Day, when his other Work was pressing, Mark 1.35.
Direct. V. Take the first Opportunity when God gives a fit season for any Duty. Let not Satan beguile you, by telling you of another or better Time. It may be thou hast a Purpose to reprove thy Brother for his Sin, but how long wilt thou be a Purposing? Now God gives thee an Opportunity, it may be thy backward Heart saith, [not now, but another time.] And so it is put off, till he or thyself are removed, or he is hardned, or at least thou art guilty of the Sin that he commits in the mean while; because thou hast not done thy Duty to prevent it. It is in thine Heart to deal with thine unconverted Friend or Neighbour about his spiritual Estate, but it may be while thou art delaying, Death comes and snatches him away in his Sins, or takes thee off, and so farewell for ever to any Opportunity for doing the Soul of thy Brother any good. How often are our Closet Duties hindred or miserably disturbed, for want of Care to lay hold on the first Opportunity? We think another Hour in the Day may do as well, but then one thing or another unexpectedly falls in, that nothing is done, or nothing to purpose. Therefore beware of this Cheat. A Man scarce peeps into the World, but one Briar or Thorn, or another will catch him. Therefore, take Opportunity by the Fore-top. Our Saviour would take his Season for Prayer before Day, when his other Work was pressing,