An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners, Author to the reader 2
TO THE UNCONVERTED Reader.
READER,
HOw well were it if there were no more unconverted ones among us, than those to whom this is directed? Vnconverted persons how many are there, but how few unconverted Readers? especially of such Books as this before thee? A Play or a Romance better suits the lusts, and therefore must have more of the eye of such; what will cherish the evil heart is only grateful, not what will change it.
How many are there to whom this is directed, who will not know, that they are the men? and how little hope is there that this excellent Treatise should reach its end, with those who apprehend not themselves concern'd in it? Art not thou one of them? Art thou a Convert, or art thou not yet in thy sins? What is sin? What is Conversion? It may be, thou canst tell me neither, and yet a Convert thou sayst, thou art. But to what purpose is it then like to be, for the servant of God to treat with thee about this matter? Let him bid thee believe, thou art a be… …ever already; let him bid thee repent and turn to the Lord, that work thou say… is not now …o do. What can there be said to this man, that's like to bring him to good? Friend, know thy self better, or thou perishest without remedy. Thou maist pray, but what hope is there in thy praying? Thou maist read, but what hope is there in thy reading? Yet read on, this little hope there is; In this book there's Eye-Salve that may heal thee of thy blindness. In this book there is a Glass that will shew thee thy face. Dost thou know thine own face when thou seest it? Behold thy very Image in those Marks that are given of an unconverted person; Read and consider them, and then say, if thou be not the man.
Be willing to know thy self, and to know the worst of thy case; wink not at the light, hide not thy self from thine own soul. Wilt thou never know thy disease, till thou be past remedy?
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 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. Whilest this 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 Physician that does not think himself sick? The man of God may spare his pains of perswading thee to Conversion, whilest 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 put. Dost thou know that thine heart is false and deceitful, and yet because it speaks good concerning thee, must it not be question'd 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.
And if upon trial by the marks that are before thee, thou come to be undeceived, and see thy self wrapped up in that misery which hitherto thou wouldst not suspect, the next news I expect to hear from thee is, What must I do to be saved? O were it come to that once! Then thou hast an answer at hand in those Means thou wilt find prescribed thee: And because they are such as thou wilt hardly be perswaded to use, take in the Motives that follow, and these will help down the means. Consider both the one and the other, and if thou dost not find the means proper, and the motives weighty, I think I shall do thee no wrong if I tell thee, thou art still of a blind mind and an harder heart.
Friend, the matter which this little book comes to treat with thee about, is of highest importance; 'tis a matter of life and death. If thou sayest, The terms upon which Life is offered, are hard; consider, is it not harder to dye? He is worthy to dye who will lose his soul to save his labour. If thou couldst step down into the deep, and take a turn or two with those damned souls who are drench'd with fire and brimstone, and bound in everlasting chains of vengeance, & shouldest ask them, Now what do you think of the terms upon which life was offered? Now what think you of that repentance, of that obedience, of that holy circumspection, self denyal, and the greatest severity which by the Gospel were imposed upon you? If you might once again have the same terms granted you for your redemption from this place of torment, would you yet say, Hard terms! Let me rather dye this death for ever, than live such a life! let me broil in this furnace, rather than escape with such difficulty! Shouldst thou ask them thus that have felt what 'tis to be damned, what answer dost thou think they would make? O friend, never again groan under the difficulties of conversion, till thou believe them to be worse than Hell. But I will not farther anticipate my worthy Author.
Nor is there much need I should commend either himself or his works; for the Author himself thou maist at a small charge get acquaintance with him in that History of his life and death, which is extant; concerning which I shall only say, Sic mihi contingat vivere sicque mori.
And for this work of his, what commendation I should give of it, would be needed no longer than till thou hast read it over. Thou wilt find such Wine in it as needs no Bush. This only I shall say, as far as my credit will go, it is exceedingly well worth thy most serious perusal. O maist thou hear that voice, (such a voice from Heaven there is whether thou hear it or no) Tolle & lege, take up and read. Read, friend, and read over again. Read and understand, understand and pray, pray and consider, consider and consent unto him, who by the pen of his servant calls to thee from Heaven, why wilt thou dye? turn and live. O suffer this word of instruction and exhortation, to open thy blind eyes, to turn thee from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God, that thou maist receive forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance among them that are sanctified. Et cum talis fueris memento mei. When it is thus with thee then pray for
The Friend and Servant of thy Soul, Richard Alleine.