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Choice excerpts from Joseph Alleine's
"An Alarm to the Unconverted" 1671
But now the tune is changed
Conversion turns the bent of the affections. These all
run in a new channel. Christ is now his hope. This is his
prize. Here his eye is—here his heart. He is content to
cast all overboard, as the merchant in the storm about
to perish—so that he may but keep this jewel.
The first of his desires is not after gold—but grace. He
hungers for it, he seeks it as silver, he digs for it as for
hidden treasure. He had rather be gracious than great.
He had rather be the holiest man on earth than the most
learned, the most famous, the most prosperous. While
carnal, he said, 'O if I were but in great esteem, rolling
in wealth, and swimming in pleasure—then I would be
a happy man!' But now the tune is changed. 'Oh!'
says the convert, 'if I had but my corruptions subdued,
if I had such a measure of grace, and fellowship with
God—though I were poor and despised, I would not
care, I would account myself a blessed man!'
Reader, is this the language of your soul?
The hypocrite's life
The hypocrite's life is sadly deficient. He speaks, it may
be, like an angel—but he has a covetous eye, or the gain
of unrighteousness is in his hand. His hand is white—but
his heart is full of rottenness (Matt 23:27), full of unmortified
cares, a very oven of lust, a shop of pride, the seat of malice!
It may be, with Nebuchadnezzar's image, he has a golden
head—a great deal of knowledge; but he has feet of clay—his
affections are worldly, he minds earthly things, and his way
and walk are sensual and carnal.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It opens the eye of the mind
Conversion is a deep work, a heart work. It makes a new
man in a new world. It extends to the whole man—to the
mind, to the members, to the motions of the whole life.
Conversion turns the balance of the judgment, so that God
and His glory outweigh all carnal and worldly interests. It
opens the eye of the mind, and makes the scales of its
native ignorance fall off, and turns men from darkness to
light. The man who before saw no danger in his condition,
now concludes himself lost and forever undone—except
renewed by the power of grace. He who formerly thought
there was little hurt in sin, now comes to see it to be the
chief of evils. He sees the unreasonableness, the deformity
and the filthiness of sin; so that he is affrighted with it,
loathes it, dreads it, flees from it, and even abhors himself
for it (Rom 7:15; Job 42:6; Ezek 36:31). He who could see
little sin in himself, and could find no matter for confession,
now sees the rottenness of his heart, the desperate and
deep pollution of his whole nature. He cries, 'Unclean!
Unclean! Lord, purge me with hyssop, wash me thoroughly,
create in me a clean heart.' He sees himself altogether filthy,
corrupt both root and branch. He writes 'unclean' upon all
his parts, and powers, and performances. He discovers the
filthy corners that he was never aware of, and sees the
blasphemy, and theft, and murder, and adultery, that is
in his heart, of which before he was ignorant.
His hatred boils, his anger burns against sin. He has no
patience with himself; he calls himself 'fool' and 'beast';
and thinks any name too good for himself—when his
indignation is stirred up against sin. He could once wallow
in it with much pleasure; now he loathes the thought of
returning to it, as much as of licking up the filthiest vomit!
Hitherto he saw no form nor loveliness in Christ, no beauty
that he should desire Him; but now he finds the Hidden Treasure,
and will sell all to buy this field. Christ is the Pearl he seeks.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Like a splinter in his eye
When a man is converted, he is forever at enmity with sin;
yes, with all sin—but most of all with his own sins—and
especially with his bosom sin. Sin is now the object of his
indignation. His sin swells his sorrows. It is sin which pierces
him and wounds him; he feels it like a thorn in his side, like
a splinter in his eye. He groans and struggles under it,
and not formally—but feelingly cries out, 'O wretched man!'
He is not impatient of any burden—so much as of his sin.
If God should give him his choice, he would choose any
affliction so he might be rid of sin; he feels it like the
cutting gravel in his shoes, pricking and paining him
as he goes.
Before conversion he had light thoughts of sin. He cherished
it in his bosom, as Uriah his lamb; he nourished it up, and it
grew up together with him; it did eat, as it were, of his own
plate, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and
was to him as a sweet daughter. But when God opens his
eyes by conversion, he throws it away with abhorrence, as
a man would a loathsome toad, which in the dark he had
hugged fast in his bosom—and thought it had been some
pretty and harmless pet.
When a man is savingly changed, he is deeply convinced
not only of the danger but the defilement of sin; and O,
how earnest is he with God to be purified! He loathes
himself for his sins. He runs to Christ, and casts himself
into the fountain set open for him and for uncleanness.
If he falls into sin, what a stir is there to get all clean
again! He has no rest until he flees to the Word, and
washes and rubs and rinses in the infinite fountain,
laboring to cleanse himself from all filthiness both of
flesh and spirit.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When a man is converted, he is forever at enmity with sin;
yes, with all sin—but most of all with his own sins—and
especially with his bosom sin. Sin is now the object of his
indignation. His sin swells his sorrows. It is sin which pierces
him and wounds him; he feels it like a thorn in his side, like
a splinter in his eye. He groans and struggles under it,
and not formally—but feelingly cries out, 'O wretched man!'
He is not impatient of any burden—so much as of his sin.
If God should give him his choice, he would choose any
affliction so he might be rid of sin; he feels it like the
cutting gravel in his shoes, pricking and paining him
as he goes.
Before conversion he had light thoughts of sin. He cherished
it in his bosom, as Uriah his lamb; he nourished it up, and it
grew up together with him; it did eat, as it were, of his own
plate, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and
was to him as a sweet daughter. But when God opens his
eyes by conversion, he throws it away with abhorrence, as
a man would a loathsome toad, which in the dark he had
hugged fast in his bosom—and thought it had been some
pretty and harmless pet.
When a man is savingly changed, he is deeply convinced
not only of the danger but the defilement of sin; and O,
how earnest is he with God to be purified! He loathes
himself for his sins. He runs to Christ, and casts himself
into the fountain set open for him and for uncleanness.
If he falls into sin, what a stir is there to get all clean
again! He has no rest until he flees to the Word, and
washes and rubs and rinses in the infinite fountain,
laboring to cleanse himself from all filthiness both of
flesh and spirit.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Satan may sometimes catch his foot in a trap
Before conversion, the devil could no sooner hold up his
finger to the sinner to call him to his wicked company,
sinful games, and filthy delights—and immediately he
followed, 'like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer
stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like
a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him
his life' (Prov 7:22-23). No sooner could Satan bid him to
lie—but immediately he had it on his tongue. No sooner
could Satan offer a filthy object—but he was overcome
with lust.
But after he is converted he serves another Master, and
takes quite another course; he goes and comes at Christ's
bidding. Satan may sometimes catch his foot in a trap
—but he will no longer be a willing captive. He watches
against the snares and baits of Satan, and studies to be
acquainted with his devices and plots.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Before conversion, the devil could no sooner hold up his
finger to the sinner to call him to his wicked company,
sinful games, and filthy delights—and immediately he
followed, 'like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer
stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like
a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him
his life' (Prov 7:22-23). No sooner could Satan bid him to
lie—but immediately he had it on his tongue. No sooner
could Satan offer a filthy object—but he was overcome
with lust.
But after he is converted he serves another Master, and
takes quite another course; he goes and comes at Christ's
bidding. Satan may sometimes catch his foot in a trap
—but he will no longer be a willing captive. He watches
against the snares and baits of Satan, and studies to be
acquainted with his devices and plots.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
His once-idolized righteousness
Before conversion, man seeks to cover himself with his
own fig-leaves, and to make himself acceptable with God
by his own duties. He trusts in himself, sets up his own
righteousness—and does not to submit to the righteousness
of God. But conversion changes his mind; now he counts his
own righteousness as filthy rags. He casts it off, as a man
would the verminous tatters of a nasty beggar! Now he is
brought to poverty of spirit, complains of and condemns
himself; and all his inventory is, 'I am poor, and miserable,
and wretched, and blind, and naked!' He sees a world of
iniquity in his holy things, and calls his once-idolized
righteousness but filth and loss; and would not for a
thousand worlds be found in it! Now he begins to set a
high price upon Christ's righteousness. He sets himself
down for a lost undone man without Him. Before, the
gospel of Christ was a stale and tasteless thing; but
now—how sweet is Christ! In a word, the voice of the
convert is, 'None but Christ!'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They cannot leave the lap of Delilah
The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all
for the salvation of Christ—but he is not for sanctification.
He divides the offices and benefits of Christ. Hypocrites do
not love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. They will not have Him
as God offers, 'to be a Prince and a Savior' (Acts 5:31).
They divide what God has joined, the King who rules—and
the Priest who saves. They desire salvation from suffering—
but they do not desire to be saved from sinning. They would
have their souls saved—but still would have their lusts. They
would be content to have some of their sins destroyed—but
they cannot leave the lap of Delilah, or divorce the
beloved Herodias. They cannot be cruel to the right eye
or right hand.
The sound convert takes a whole Christ, and takes Him
for all intents and purposes, without exceptions, without
limitations, without reserve. He is willing to have Christ
upon any terms. He is willing to have the dominion of
Christ as well as deliverance by Christ. He says with Paul,
'Lord, what will you have me to do?' Anything, Lord! He
gives Christ the blank page—to write down His own conditions.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What would you ask for?
That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream and
said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!"
2 Chronicles 1:7
If God should give you your choice, as He did to Solomon,
what would you ask for? Go into the gardens of pleasure,
and gather all the fragrant flowers there—would these satisfy
you? Go to the treasures of mammon; suppose you may carry
away as much as you desire. Go to the towers, to the trophies
of honor—and become a man of renown. Would any of these,
would all of these satisfy you, and make you to count yourself
happy? If so, then certainly you are carnal and unconverted.
Converting grace turns the heart from its idols—to the living
God. Before conversion, the man minded his farm, friends,
pleasures—more than Christ. He found more sweetness in his
merry company, wicked games, earthly delights—than in Christ.
Now he says, 'But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss
for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them
rubbish, that I may gain Christ!' Philippians 3:7-8
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Before conversion, man seeks to cover himself with his
own fig-leaves, and to make himself acceptable with God
by his own duties. He trusts in himself, sets up his own
righteousness—and does not to submit to the righteousness
of God. But conversion changes his mind; now he counts his
own righteousness as filthy rags. He casts it off, as a man
would the verminous tatters of a nasty beggar! Now he is
brought to poverty of spirit, complains of and condemns
himself; and all his inventory is, 'I am poor, and miserable,
and wretched, and blind, and naked!' He sees a world of
iniquity in his holy things, and calls his once-idolized
righteousness but filth and loss; and would not for a
thousand worlds be found in it! Now he begins to set a
high price upon Christ's righteousness. He sets himself
down for a lost undone man without Him. Before, the
gospel of Christ was a stale and tasteless thing; but
now—how sweet is Christ! In a word, the voice of the
convert is, 'None but Christ!'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
They cannot leave the lap of Delilah
The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all
for the salvation of Christ—but he is not for sanctification.
He divides the offices and benefits of Christ. Hypocrites do
not love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. They will not have Him
as God offers, 'to be a Prince and a Savior' (Acts 5:31).
They divide what God has joined, the King who rules—and
the Priest who saves. They desire salvation from suffering—
but they do not desire to be saved from sinning. They would
have their souls saved—but still would have their lusts. They
would be content to have some of their sins destroyed—but
they cannot leave the lap of Delilah, or divorce the
beloved Herodias. They cannot be cruel to the right eye
or right hand.
The sound convert takes a whole Christ, and takes Him
for all intents and purposes, without exceptions, without
limitations, without reserve. He is willing to have Christ
upon any terms. He is willing to have the dominion of
Christ as well as deliverance by Christ. He says with Paul,
'Lord, what will you have me to do?' Anything, Lord! He
gives Christ the blank page—to write down His own conditions.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
What would you ask for?
That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream and
said, "What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!"
2 Chronicles 1:7
If God should give you your choice, as He did to Solomon,
what would you ask for? Go into the gardens of pleasure,
and gather all the fragrant flowers there—would these satisfy
you? Go to the treasures of mammon; suppose you may carry
away as much as you desire. Go to the towers, to the trophies
of honor—and become a man of renown. Would any of these,
would all of these satisfy you, and make you to count yourself
happy? If so, then certainly you are carnal and unconverted.
Converting grace turns the heart from its idols—to the living
God. Before conversion, the man minded his farm, friends,
pleasures—more than Christ. He found more sweetness in his
merry company, wicked games, earthly delights—than in Christ.
Now he says, 'But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss
for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them
rubbish, that I may gain Christ!' Philippians 3:7-8
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Certain signs of an unconverted sinner
"If any man loves the world, the love of the Father
is not in him." 1 John 2:15
The predominant love of the world is a sure evidence
of an unsanctified heart. But how often does this sin
lurk under the fair cover of profession. Yes, such a
power of deceit is there in this sin that many times,
when everybody else can see the man's worldliness
and covetousness—he cannot see it himself! He has
so many excuses and pretenses for his eagerness after
the world, that he blinds his own eyes and perishes in
his self-deceit! How many professing Christians are
there, with whom the world has more of their hearts
and affections than Christ, 'who mind earthly things',
and thereby are evidently after the flesh, and likely
to end in destruction (Rom 8:5; Phil 3:19).
Did they but carefully search their hearts, they would
quickly see that their greatest satisfaction is in the world,
and that their greatest care and main endeavor are to get
and secure the world—which are the certain signs of an
unconverted sinner.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Death will knock off their fingers
"When the wicked die—their hopes all perish." Pr. 11:7
Wicked men are fixed in their carnal hope, and will not
be beaten out of it; they hold it fast, they will not let it
go; but death will knock off their fingers. Though we
cannot undeceive them, death and judgment will. When
death strikes his dart through the wicked man's heart,
it will ruin both his soul and his hopes together.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Your enemy!
"I myself, the Sovereign Lord, am now your enemy!"
Ezekiel 5:8
Unconverted sinner! You are not only against God—but
God is against you! As there is no friend like Him—so
there is no enemy like Him. As much as heaven is above
the earth, omnipotence above impotence—so much more
terrible is it to fall into the hands of the living God, than
into the paws of bears and lions, yes, furies or devils!
God Himself will be your tormentor! Who or what shall
deliver you out of His hands? Sinner, I think this would
go like a dagger to your heart—to know that God
Himself is your enemy! Oh where will you go?
Where will you shelter yourself?
The infinite God is engaged against you! He hates all workers
of iniquity. Man, does not your heart tremble to think of your
being an object of God's hatred? "As surely as I live, when I
sharpen My flashing sword and begin to carry out justice, I
will bring vengeance on My enemies and repay those who
hate Me!" (Deuteronomy 32:40-41)
The power of God is mounted like a mighty cannon against
you. Sinner, the power of God's anger is against you—and
power and anger together make fearful work. There is no
escaping His hands—no breaking loose from His prison.
"O consider this, you who forget God, lest He tear you in
pieces, and there be none to deliver!" (Psalm 50:22)
Submit to mercy. Let not dust and stubble battle against
the Almighty. "Woe to him who strives with his Maker!"
(Isaiah 45:9)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Devil's trap
"Then they may come to their senses and escape
the Devil's trap, having been captured by him
to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:26
It is the common misery of all the unsaved—that the
devil is their god. His drudges they are, and his lusts
they do. However Satan may provide his slaves with
various pleasures—yet it is but to draw them into
endless perdition. O dreadful case!
The serpent comes with the fruit in his mouth, but,
like Eve—you do not see the deadly sting! He who is
now your tempter—will one day be your tormentor!
O that I could but make you see how bad a master
you serve, how merciless a tyrant you gratify; whose
pleasure is to make your perdition and damnation
sure, and to heat the furnace hotter and hotter in
which you must burn for millions and millions of ages!
"If any man loves the world, the love of the Father
is not in him." 1 John 2:15
The predominant love of the world is a sure evidence
of an unsanctified heart. But how often does this sin
lurk under the fair cover of profession. Yes, such a
power of deceit is there in this sin that many times,
when everybody else can see the man's worldliness
and covetousness—he cannot see it himself! He has
so many excuses and pretenses for his eagerness after
the world, that he blinds his own eyes and perishes in
his self-deceit! How many professing Christians are
there, with whom the world has more of their hearts
and affections than Christ, 'who mind earthly things',
and thereby are evidently after the flesh, and likely
to end in destruction (Rom 8:5; Phil 3:19).
Did they but carefully search their hearts, they would
quickly see that their greatest satisfaction is in the world,
and that their greatest care and main endeavor are to get
and secure the world—which are the certain signs of an
unconverted sinner.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Death will knock off their fingers
"When the wicked die—their hopes all perish." Pr. 11:7
Wicked men are fixed in their carnal hope, and will not
be beaten out of it; they hold it fast, they will not let it
go; but death will knock off their fingers. Though we
cannot undeceive them, death and judgment will. When
death strikes his dart through the wicked man's heart,
it will ruin both his soul and his hopes together.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Your enemy!
"I myself, the Sovereign Lord, am now your enemy!"
Ezekiel 5:8
Unconverted sinner! You are not only against God—but
God is against you! As there is no friend like Him—so
there is no enemy like Him. As much as heaven is above
the earth, omnipotence above impotence—so much more
terrible is it to fall into the hands of the living God, than
into the paws of bears and lions, yes, furies or devils!
God Himself will be your tormentor! Who or what shall
deliver you out of His hands? Sinner, I think this would
go like a dagger to your heart—to know that God
Himself is your enemy! Oh where will you go?
Where will you shelter yourself?
The infinite God is engaged against you! He hates all workers
of iniquity. Man, does not your heart tremble to think of your
being an object of God's hatred? "As surely as I live, when I
sharpen My flashing sword and begin to carry out justice, I
will bring vengeance on My enemies and repay those who
hate Me!" (Deuteronomy 32:40-41)
The power of God is mounted like a mighty cannon against
you. Sinner, the power of God's anger is against you—and
power and anger together make fearful work. There is no
escaping His hands—no breaking loose from His prison.
"O consider this, you who forget God, lest He tear you in
pieces, and there be none to deliver!" (Psalm 50:22)
Submit to mercy. Let not dust and stubble battle against
the Almighty. "Woe to him who strives with his Maker!"
(Isaiah 45:9)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Devil's trap
"Then they may come to their senses and escape
the Devil's trap, having been captured by him
to do his will." 2 Timothy 2:26
It is the common misery of all the unsaved—that the
devil is their god. His drudges they are, and his lusts
they do. However Satan may provide his slaves with
various pleasures—yet it is but to draw them into
endless perdition. O dreadful case!
The serpent comes with the fruit in his mouth, but,
like Eve—you do not see the deadly sting! He who is
now your tempter—will one day be your tormentor!
O that I could but make you see how bad a master
you serve, how merciless a tyrant you gratify; whose
pleasure is to make your perdition and damnation
sure, and to heat the furnace hotter and hotter in
which you must burn for millions and millions of ages!
CHOICE EXCERPTS from John
Flavel's "The Method of Grace"
You have all your hearts can wish!
"My God will supply all your needs according to His
riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
O say with a melting heart—I have a full Christ,
and He is filled for me! I have . . .
His pure and perfect righteousness to justify me,
His holiness to sanctify me,
His wisdom to guide me,
His comforts to refresh me,
His power to protect me,
His all-sufficiency to supply me.
O be cheerful, be thankful—you have all your
hearts can wish! And yet be humble—it is all
from free-grace to empty and unworthy creatures!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
No sin startles less—or damns surer!
Unbelief is man's great sin, and condemnation is
his great misery. How dreadful a sin is the sin of
unbelief, which brings men under the condemnation
of the great God. No sin startles less—or damns
surer! Unbelief is a sin which does not affright the
conscience as some other sins do, but it kills the soul
more certainly than any of those sins. Other sins could
not damn us were it not for unbelief, which fixes the
guilt of them all upon us. Unbelief is the sin of sins;
and when the Spirit comes to convince men of sin,
He begins with this as the capital sin.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Only fully understood in hell
Condemnation is a word of deep and dreadful
signification. It is a word whose deep sense and
emphasis are only fully understood in hell.
Condemnation is the judgment or sentence of
God, condemning a man to bear the punishment
of His eternal wrath for sin.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
O the blessed chemistry of heaven!
The Lord makes use even of your sins and
infirmities to do you good. By these, He . . .
humbles you,
beats you off from self-dependence,
makes you admire the riches of grace,
makes you long more ardently for heaven,
causes you to entertain sweeter thoughts of death.
Does not the Lord then make blessed fruits to spring
up from such a bitter root? O the blessed chemistry
of heaven—to extract such mercies out of such miseries!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
O what a hell will it be!
"For what is the hope of the hypocrite—when
God takes away his soul?" Job 27:8
Nothing more aggravates a man's damnation,
than to sink suddenly into it from amid so many
hopes and such high confidence of safety. For
a man to find himself in hell when he thought
himself within a step of heaven—O what a
hell will it be! The higher vain hopes lifted
men up—the more dreadful must their fall be.
"The hypocrite's hope shall perish!" Job 8:13
"The expectation of the wicked shall perish!"
Proverbs 10:28
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Adorn the gospel
"That they may adorn the doctrine of God
our Savior in all things." Titus 2:10
Your duty is to adorn the gospel by your life.
The words signify to deck or adorn the gospel,
to make it attractive and lovely to the eyes of
beholders. When there is a beautiful harmony
and lovely proportion between Christ’s doctrine
and our practice—then do we walk suitably to
the Lord of glory.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The mirth of unregenerate men!
How groundless is the mirth of unregenerate men!
They feast in their prison and dance in their fetters.
O the madness that is in their hearts! If men did but
realize that they are condemned already, it would be
impossible for them to live in vanity as they do. And is
their condition less dangerous because it is not understood?
Surely not, but much more so! O poor sinners, perhaps you
have found out a way to prevent your present troubles. It
would be infinitely better if you could find out how to
prevent eternal misery! But it is easier for a man to stifle
conviction, than to prevent damnation. Your mirth prevents
repentance and increases your future torment. O what a hell
will theirs be—who drop into it out of all the sinful pleasures
of this world!
"In hell, where he was in torment." Luke 16:23
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Does it not deserve a tear?
As death takes the believer from many sorrows, and
brings him to the vision of God, to a state of freedom
and full satisfaction; so it drags the unregenerate
from all his sensual delights to the place of torment!
Death is the king of terrors—a serpent with a deadly
sting to every man who is out of Christ.
How lamentable is the state of unregenerate persons!
Were this truth heartily believed, we could not but mourn
over them with the most tender compassion and sorrow.
If our husbands, wives, or children are dying a natural
death—how are our hearts rent with pity and sorrow for
them; what cries, tears, and wringing of hands show the
deep sense we have of their misery! O Christians, is all
the love you have for your relatives spent upon their
bodies? Are their souls of no value? Is spiritual death
no misery? Does it not deserve a tear? May the Lord
open your eyes, and affect your hearts with the
wretchedness of spiritual death.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In a deep sleep!
The Christless and unregenerate world are in a deep
sleep! A spirit of slumber and security is fallen upon
them, though they lie immediately exposed to eternal
wrath, ready to drop into hell every moment!
A man fast asleep in a house on fire, and while the
consuming flames are round about him, having his
imagination sporting itself in some pleasant dream,
is a very accurate picture of the unregenerate soul.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The old has gone, the new has come!
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Cor. 5:17
All the faculties of the soul are renewed by regeneration.
The understanding was dark—but now is light in the Lord.
The conscience was dead, or full of guilt and horror—but
is now become tender, watchful, and full of peace.
The will was rebellious and inflexible—but is now obedient
to the will of God.
The desires once pursued vanities—now they are set upon God.
Love once doated upon earthly things—now it is swallowed
up in the infinite excellencies of God and Christ.
Joy was once in trifles—now his rejoicing is in Christ Jesus.
Fear once was about worldly things—now God is the
object of his reverence, and sin the object of his dread.
The expectations were once only from this world—but
now are from that to come.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"That they may adorn the doctrine of God
our Savior in all things." Titus 2:10
Your duty is to adorn the gospel by your life.
The words signify to deck or adorn the gospel,
to make it attractive and lovely to the eyes of
beholders. When there is a beautiful harmony
and lovely proportion between Christ’s doctrine
and our practice—then do we walk suitably to
the Lord of glory.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The mirth of unregenerate men!
How groundless is the mirth of unregenerate men!
They feast in their prison and dance in their fetters.
O the madness that is in their hearts! If men did but
realize that they are condemned already, it would be
impossible for them to live in vanity as they do. And is
their condition less dangerous because it is not understood?
Surely not, but much more so! O poor sinners, perhaps you
have found out a way to prevent your present troubles. It
would be infinitely better if you could find out how to
prevent eternal misery! But it is easier for a man to stifle
conviction, than to prevent damnation. Your mirth prevents
repentance and increases your future torment. O what a hell
will theirs be—who drop into it out of all the sinful pleasures
of this world!
"In hell, where he was in torment." Luke 16:23
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Does it not deserve a tear?
As death takes the believer from many sorrows, and
brings him to the vision of God, to a state of freedom
and full satisfaction; so it drags the unregenerate
from all his sensual delights to the place of torment!
Death is the king of terrors—a serpent with a deadly
sting to every man who is out of Christ.
How lamentable is the state of unregenerate persons!
Were this truth heartily believed, we could not but mourn
over them with the most tender compassion and sorrow.
If our husbands, wives, or children are dying a natural
death—how are our hearts rent with pity and sorrow for
them; what cries, tears, and wringing of hands show the
deep sense we have of their misery! O Christians, is all
the love you have for your relatives spent upon their
bodies? Are their souls of no value? Is spiritual death
no misery? Does it not deserve a tear? May the Lord
open your eyes, and affect your hearts with the
wretchedness of spiritual death.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In a deep sleep!
The Christless and unregenerate world are in a deep
sleep! A spirit of slumber and security is fallen upon
them, though they lie immediately exposed to eternal
wrath, ready to drop into hell every moment!
A man fast asleep in a house on fire, and while the
consuming flames are round about him, having his
imagination sporting itself in some pleasant dream,
is a very accurate picture of the unregenerate soul.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The old has gone, the new has come!
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Cor. 5:17
All the faculties of the soul are renewed by regeneration.
The understanding was dark—but now is light in the Lord.
The conscience was dead, or full of guilt and horror—but
is now become tender, watchful, and full of peace.
The will was rebellious and inflexible—but is now obedient
to the will of God.
The desires once pursued vanities—now they are set upon God.
Love once doated upon earthly things—now it is swallowed
up in the infinite excellencies of God and Christ.
Joy was once in trifles—now his rejoicing is in Christ Jesus.
Fear once was about worldly things—now God is the
object of his reverence, and sin the object of his dread.
The expectations were once only from this world—but
now are from that to come.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~