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"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" Hebrews 2:1-3 (KJV)

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An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners

by

Joseph Alleine

Joseph Alleine (1634-1668) was an English Puritan Christian Divine and a Nonconformist Pastor.

Originally Published 1672. Prefixed with an Epistle by Rev. Richard Baxter entitled "To the Unconverted Reader."

1818 Edition

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An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners by Joseph Alleine

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

AN EPISTLE TO THE UNCONVERTED READER by Richard Baxter (page 6)

TO THE READER by Joseph Alleine (page 30).

AN EARNEST INVITATION TO SINNERS TO TURN TO GOD in order to their eternal salvation (page 36).

CHAPTER 1 – Showing what Conversion is not (page 38).

CHAPTER 2 – Showing what Conversion is (page 44).

CHAPTER 3 – Of the Necessity of Conversion (page 73).

CHAPTER 4 – Showing the Marks of the Unconverted (page 92).

CHAPTER 5 – Showing the Miseries of the Unconverted (page 104).

CHAPTER 6 – Containing Directions for Conversion (page 125).

TO THE UNCONVERTED READER

Miserable Soul,

There is that life, and light, and love, in every true believer, but especially in every faithful minister of Christ, which engages them to long and labour for your salvation. Life is communicative and active: it maketh us sensible that faith is not a phantasm, nor true religion a stage-play, nor our hopes of eternal happiness a dream: and as we desire nothing more for ourselves than to have more of that holy life (which we have, alas, in so small a measure) so what is it we should more desire for others? With the eye of an infallible (though too weak) faith we see the heaven which you neglect, and the blessed souls in glory with Christ, whose companions you might be for ever. We see multitudes of souls in hell, who came thither by the same way that you are going in, who are shut out of the glorious presence of God, and are now among those devils that deceived them, remembering that they had their good things here, (Luke 16:25,) and how they spent

"Will you still be cheated by this deceitful world, and spend all your days in pampering your guts, and providing for the flesh, that must be rotting shortly in a grave? Were you made for no better use than this?

May not we bring you to some sober thoughts of your condition? Not one hour seriously to think whither you are going? What! not one awakened look into the world where you must be for ever?"

the day of their visitation, and how light they once set by God, by Christ, by heaven, by Mercy, whilst Mercy was an earnest solicitor for their hearts; and with our bodily eyes we see, at the same time, abundance of poor sinners living about us as if there were no God, no Christ, no heaven, no hell, no judgment - no, nor death to be expected; as if a man were but a master-beast to rule the rest, and feed upon, and perish with them. And if it were your own case to see what souls do in heaven and hell, and at once to see how unbelievingly, carelessly, and senselessly most men live on earth, as if there were no such difference in another world, would it not seem a pitiful sight to you? If you had once seen the five brethren of Dives on earth, eating, drinking, laughing, and merry, clothed and faring daily with the best, and at the same time seen their brother's soul in hell, begging in vain for a little ease, and wishing that one from the dead might go and warn them, that they came not to that place of torment; would it not seem to you a pitiful sight? Would not pity have made you think, 'Is there no way to open these gentlemen's eyes? - no way to acquaint them what is become of their brother, and where Lazarus is, and whither they themselves are going? No one driveth or forceth them to hell, and will they go thither of themselves? And is there no way to stop them, or keep them back? Did you but see yourselves, what we see by faith, (believing God) and at once behold the saints in heaven, the lost despairing souls in hell, and the senseless, sensual sinners on earth, that will lay none of this to heart, surely it would make you wonder at the stupidity of mankind. - Would you not say, O what a deceiver is the devil, that can thus lead on souls to their own damnation! O what a cheat is this transitory world, that can make men so forget that world where they must live for ever! O what an enemy is this flesh, that thus draweth down men's souls from God! O what a besotting thing is sin, that turneth a reasonable soul into worse than a beast! What a bedlam is this wicked world, when thousands are so busy labouring to undo themselves and others, and gratifying the devil against their God and Saviour, who would give them everlasting blessed life!

And as we have such a sight as this by faith, to make us pity you, so we have so much taste of the goodness of God, the sweetness of his ways, and the happiness of believers, as must needs make us wish that you had but once tried the same delights: they would turn the pleasures of sin into detestation. God knows, we desire nothing more for ourselves than the perfection and eternity of this holiness and happiness which we believe and taste; and should we not desire the same for you?

"How unbelievingly, carelessly, and senselessly most men live on earth. ... If you had once seen the five brethren of 'Dives' on earth, eating, drinking, laughing, and merry ... and at the same time seen their brother's soul in hell, begging in vain for a little ease, and wishing that one from the dead might go and warn them, that they came not to that place of torment; would it not seem to you a pitiful sight? ... No one driveth or forceth them to hell, and will they go thither of themselves? ...

Did you but see yourselves, what we see by faith, (believing God) and at once behold the saints in heaven, the lost despairing souls in hell, and the senseless, sensual sinners on earth, that will lay none of this to heart, surely it would make you wonder at the stupidity of mankind. - Would you not say, O what a deceiver is the devil, that can thus lead on souls to their own damnation! O what a cheat is this transitory world, that can make men so forget that world where they must live for ever! O what an enemy is this flesh, that thus draweth down men's souls from God! O what a besotting thing is sin, that turneth a reasonable soul into worse than a beast! What a bedlam is this wicked world, when thousands are so busy labouring to undo themselves and others, and gratifying the devil against their God and Saviour, who would give them everlasting blessed life!"

And being thus moved with necessary pity, we ask of God what he would have us do for your salvation; and he hath told us in Scripture, that the preaching of his Gospel, to acquaint you plainly with the truth, and earnestly and frequently entreat you to turn from the flesh and the world to God, by Jesus Christ, is the means with which his grace is ready to concur for your salvavation; whereas obstinate resistance causeth the Holy Spirit to forsake the sinner, and leave him to himself, to pursue his own counsels, lusts, and will.

In this hope we undertook the sacred ministry, and gave up ourselves to this great and most important work. In the great sense of our own unworthiness, but yet in a sense of our soul's necessity, we were not such fools at our first setting out as not to know it would be a life of labour, self-denial, and patience; and the devil will do his work to hinder us, and have all his instruments ready to serve him against our labours and against your souls. Christ, our Captain, was, saved by patient conquest, and so must we save ourselves and you; and so must you save yourselves, under Christ, if ever you be saved. It was no strange thing to Paul that bonds and afflictions did every where attend him; nor did he account his life dear, that he might finish his course with joy, and the ministry committed to him by the Lord, Acts 20:23-24. It was no strange thing to him to be forbidden preaching to the Gentiles, that they might be saved, by such as were filling up the measure of their sins, and were under God's utmost wrath on earth: 1 Thess ii. 16. Devils and Pharisees, and most men where they came, both high and low, were against the Apostles preaching the Gospel; and yet they would not sacrilegiously and cruelly break their covenant with Christ, and perfidiously desert the souls of men; even as their Lord, for the love of souls, did call Peter Satan, who would have tempted him to save his life and flesh, instead of making it a sacrifice for our sins: Mattew 16:23.

What, think you, should make us undertake a calling so contrary to our fleshly ease and interests? Do we not know the way of ease and honour, wealth and pleasure, as well as others? - and have we not flesh as well as others? Could we not be content that the cup of reproach, scorn, slander, poverty, and labours might pass from us, if it were not for the will of God, and your salvation? Why should we love to be the lowest, and trodden down by malignant pride, and counted as the filth of the world, and the off-scouring of all things, and represented to rulers, whom we honour, as schismatics, disobedient, turbulent, unruly, by every church-usurper whom we refuse to make a god of? Why give we not over this preaching of the Gospel at the will of Satan, who is for the everlasting suffering of your souls, under pretence of its making us suffer? Is not all this that you may be converted and saved? If we be herein beside ourselves, it is for you: could the words of the ignorant or proud - have persuaded us that either your wants or dangers are so inconsiderable (or your other supplies and helps sufficient) that our labours had been unnecessary for you, God knoweth, we should have readily obeyed the silencing sort of pastors, and have betaken us to some other land where our service had been more necessary. Let shame be the hypocrite's reward, who takes not the saving of souls and pleasing of God for a sufficient reward, without ecclesiastical dignities, preferment, or worldly wealth.

I have told you our motives, I have told you our business, and the terms of our undertaking. It is God and you, sinners, that next must tell us what our entertainment and success shall be. Shall it still be neglect and unthankful contempt, and turning away your ears and hearts, and saying, 'We have something else to mind?' Will you still be cheated by this deceitful world, and spend all your days in pampering your guts, and providing for the flesh, that must be rotting shortly in a grave? Were you made for no better use than this? May not we bring you to some sober thoughts of your condition? Not one hour seriously to think whither you are going? What! not one awakened look into the world where you must be for ever? Not one heart-piercing thought of everlasting glory! Not one heart-piercing thought of your Saviour's love! Not one tear for all your sinful lives! O! God forbid: let not our labours be so despised: let not your God, your Saviour, and your souls be so lightly set by: O let there be no more profane persons among you, like Esau, who for one morsel sold his birthright.

Poor sinners! we talk not to you as on a stage, in customary words, and as if talking was our trade: we are in as good earnest with you as if we saw you murdering yourselves, and were persuading you to save yourselves. Can any man be in jest with you, who believes God, who by faith foresees whither you are going, and what you lose, and where the game of sin will end? It is little better to jest with you now in a pulpit, or in private, than to stand jesting over your departing souls, when at death you are breathing out your last!

Alas! with shame and grief we confess, we never speak to you of these things as their truth and weight deserve, nor with the skill and wisdom, the affection and fervency that beseemeth men engaging in the saving of souls; but yet you may perceive that we are in earnest with you (for God is so.) What else do we study for, labour for, suffer for, live for? Why else do we so much trouble ourselves and trouble you with this ado, and anger them that would have made us silent? For my own part, I will make my free confession to you, to my shame, that I never grew cold, and dull, and pitiless to the souls of others, till I first grew cold and careless of my own, (unless when weakness or speculative studies cool me, which I must confess they often do.) We never cease pitying you, till we are growing too like you, and oft have need of pity ourselves. ... read more »

Richard Baxter

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AN EARNEST INVITATION TO SINNERS TO TURN TO GOD, IN ORDER TO THEIR ETERNAL SALVATION

by Joseph Alleine

Dearly beloved and longed for, I gladly acknowledge myself a debtor to you all, and am concerned, as I would be found a good steward to the household of God, to give to every one his portion; but the physician is most solicitous for those patients whose case is most hazardous; and the father's bowels are especially turned towards his dying child. The numbers of unconverted souls call for my most earnest compassion; and therefore to these, first, I shall apply myself.

But, Lord, wherewith shall I woo them? Wherewith shall I woo them? O that I could but tell! I would write unto them in tears; I would weep out every argument, verily, were I able, I would. O! how thankful should I be, if they would be prevailed with to repent and turn! 'But, Lord, how insufficient am I for this work! Lord, what a task hast thou sent me to do! Alas, wherewith shall I make the heart to feel that is hard as a piece of the nether millstone! Shall I go and lay my mouth to the grave, and look when the dead will obey me and come forth? Shall I give the blind to see? From the beginning of the world was it ever heard that a man opened the eyes of the blind? But thou, O Lord, canst pierce the scales and prick the heart of the sinner: I can but draw the bow at a venture, but do thou direct the arrow between the joints of the harness, kill the sin, and save the soul of the sinner that casts his eyes on these labours.'

But some of you do not know what is meant by conversion and therefore for your sakes I shall shew what conversion is. Others cherish secret hopes of mercy, though they continue as they are; and for them I must shew the necessity of conversion. Others harden themselves with a vain conceit that they are converted already; unto whom I must shew the marks of the unconverted. Others, because they feel no harm, fear none, and so sleep on the top of the mast: to them I shall shew the misery of the unconverted. Others sit still because they see not their way out: to them I shall shew the means of conversion. And finally, for the quickening of all, I shall close with the motives to conversion.

CHAPTER 1 – SHOWING WHAT CONVERSION IS NOT

Let the blind Samaritans worship they know not what; (John 4:22;) let the heathen Athenians superscribe their altar, Unto the unknown God; (Acts 17:23:) they that know man's constitution cannot but know that the understanding having the empire in the soul, he that will go rationally to work, must labour to let in the light: therefore, that you may not mistake me, I shall shew you what I mean by the conversion I persuade you to endeavour after.

"The devil hath made many counterfeits of conversion, and cheats one with this, and another with that; and such craft and artifice he hath, that (if it were possible) he would deceive the very elect."

The devil hath made many counterfeits of conversion, and cheats one with this, and another with that; and such craft and artifice he hath, that (if it were possible) he would deceive the very elect. Now, that I may cure the damnable mistakes of some, who think they are converted when they are not, I shall shew you the nature of conversion, both what it is not, and what it is.

1. It is not the taking upon us the profession of Christianity. Doubtless, Christianity is more than a name. If we will hear Paul, it lies not in word, but in power; (1 Corinthians 4:20.) If to cease to be Jews and Pagans, and to put on the Christian profession, had been true conversion, who better Christians than they of Sardis and Laodicea? These were all Christians by profession, and had a name to live; but because they had but a name, are condemned by Christ. Are there not many that mention the name of the Lord Jesus, that yet depart not from iniquity? And will God receive these for true converts? What! converts from sin, when yet they live in sin! We find not only professors, but preachers of Christ, and wonder-workers, turned off because evil-workers; (Matthew 7:22-23.)

"Many wear the livery of Christ, that yet never stand to their colours, nor follow their Leader. Ananias and Sapphira were baptized as well as the rest. How fondly do many mistake here, deceiving and being deceived! Dreaming that grace is necessarily tied to the external administration of baptism, and so every infant shall be regenerated, not only sacramentally, but really and properly. Hence men fancy that, being regenerated already when baptized, they need no farther work. Friends and brethren, be not deceived; God is not mocked; (Galatians 6:7.) Whether it be your baptism, or whatever else that you pretend, I tell you from the living God, that if any of you be prayerless persons, or unclean, or malicious, or covetous, or riotous, or a lover of evil company: in a word, if you are not holy, strict, and self-denying Christians, you cannot be saved."

2. It is not the being washed in the Laver of Regeneration, or putting on the badge of Christ in baptism. Many wear the livery of Christ, that yet never stand to their colours, nor follow their Leader. Ananias and Sapphira were baptized as well as the rest. How fondly do many mistake here, deceiving and being deceived! Dreaming that grace is necessarily tied to the external administration of baptism, and so every infant shall be regenerated, not only sacramentally, but really and properly. Hence men fancy that, being regenerated already when baptized, they need no farther work.

Friends and brethren, be not deceived; God is not mocked; (Galatians 6:7.) Whether it be your baptism, or whatever else that you pretend, I tell you from the living God, that if any of you be prayerless persons, or unclean, or malicious, or covetous, or riotous, or a lover of evil company: in a word, if you are not holy, strict, and self-denying Christians, you cannot be saved.

3. It lies not in a moral righteousness. This exceeds not the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, and therefore cannot bring us to the kingdom of God. St. Paul, while unconverted, touching the righteousness which is in the law, was blameless. The Pharisee could say, "I am no extortioner, adulterer, unjust," Thou must have something more than all this to shew, or else, however thou mayest justify thyself, God will condemn thee. I condemn not morality, but warn you not to rest here. Piety includes morality, as Christianity doth humanity; and grace includes reason; but we must not divide the tables.

4. It consists not in an external conformity to the rules of piety. It is too manifest men may have a form of godliness without the power. Men may pray long and fast often, and hear gladly, and be very forward in the service of God, though costly and expensive, (Isaiah 1:11,) and yet be strangers to conversion: they must have more to plead for themselves than that they keep their church, give alms, and make use of prayer, to prove themselves sound converts; no outward service but a hypocrite may do it, even to the giving all his goods to feed the poor; (1 Corinthians 13:3.)

5. It lies not in the chaining up of corruption by education, human laws, or afflictions. It is common to mistake education for grace; but if this were enough, who better man than Jehoash? While, Jehoida, his uncle, lived, he was very forward in God's service: but here was nothing more than good education; for when his good tutor was taken out of the way, he appears to have been but a wolf chained up, and falls into idolatry.

"I set about it as a surgeon, when he is to cut off a putrefied member from his well-beloved friend, which of course he must do, though with an aching heart and a trembling hand."

6. It consists not in conviction, in a superficial change, or partial, reformation. A Felix may tremble under conviction, and a Herod amend many things. It is one thing to have sin alarmed by convictions, and another to have it captivated and crucified by converting grace. Many, because they have been troubled for their sins, think well of their case, miserably mistaking conviction for conversion. Others think, that because they have given off their riotous courses, and are broken off from evil company, and reduced to sobriety, they are now real converts, forgetting that there is a vaste difference between being sanctified and civilized; and that many seek to enter into the kingdom of heaven, and are not far from it, and arrive to the almost of Christianity, (Acts 26:28,) and yet fall short at last. While conscience holds the whip over them, many will pray, hear, read, and forbear their delightful sins; but no sooner is the lion asleep, but they are at their vomit again. Who more religious than the Jews, when the hand of God was upon them? - yet, no sooner was the affliction over, but they forgot God, and shewed their religion to be a fit. Hear, then, O sinners! Why would you wilfully deceive yourselves, or build your hopes upon the sand? I know he shall find hard work of it that goes to pluck away your hopes. It cannot but be ungrateful to you, and truly it is not pleasing to me. I set about it as a surgeon, when he is to cut off a putrefied member

"Why would you wilfully deceive yourselves, or build your hopes upon the sand?"

from his well-beloved friend, which of course he must do, though with an aching heart and a trembling hand. But understand me, brethren, I am only taking down the ruinous house, (which will otherwise speedily fall of itself, and bury you in the rubbish) that I may build it up fair, strong, and firm forever. 'The hope of the wicked shall perish.' And hadst not thou better, O sinner, let the word convince thee now in time, and let go thy false hopes, than have Death to open thine eyes, and find thyself in hell before thou art aware? Let your conscience speak: what is it that you have to plead for yourselves. Is it that you wear Christ's livery? - that you bear his name? - that you are of the church? - that you have knowledge in the points of religion; are civilized, perform religious duties, are just in your dealings, have been troubled in conscience for your sins? I tell you from the Lord, these pleas will never be accepted at God's bar. All this, though good in itself, will not prove you converted, and so will not suffice to your salvation. O! bethink yourselves of turning speedily and soundly: set to praying, to reading and studying your own hearts! rest not till God has made thorough work with you; for you must be other men, or else you are lost men.

But if these be short of conversion, what shall I say of the profane sinner? He must know from the Lord that made him, that he is far from the kingdom of God. May a man be civilized and not converted? Where then shall the drunkard and the glutton appear? May a man keep company with the wise virgins, and yet be shut out? Shall not a companion of fools much more be destroyed? May a man be true and just in his dealings, and yet not be justified of God? What then will become of thee, O wretched man, whose conscience tells thee thou art false in thy trade, and false of thy word, and maketh thy advantage by a lying tongue? If men may be brought to the performance of holy duties, and yet go down to perdition for resting in them, and sitting down on this side of conversion, what will become of you, O miserable families, that live without God in the world? and of you, O wretched sinners! with whom God is scarce in all your thoughts? that are so ignorant that you cannot, or careless that you will not pray! O repent and be converted; break off your sins by righteousness: away to Christ for pardoning and renewing grace: give up yourselves to him, to walk with him in holiness, or else you shall never see God. O that you would take the warning of God! In his name I once more admonish you: turn you at my reproof: be sober, righteous, godly: wash your hands, ye sinners; purify your hearts, ye double-minded: cease to do evil: learn to do well: but if you will go on, you must die."

CHAPTER 2 – SHOWING WHAT CONVERSION IS

"Wilful ignorance. O how many poor souls doth this sin kill in the dark! While they think verily they have good hearts, and are in the ready way to heaven! This is the murderer that despatches thousands in a silent manner, when they suspect nothing. Ah! Would it not have grieved a man's heart to have seen the woeful spectacle, when the poor Protestants were shut up (a multitude together) in a barn, and a butcher comes, and leads them one by one (blindfold) to a block, where he slew them one after another? But how much more should your hearts bleed to think of the hundreds in great congregations, that wilful ignorance doth butcher in secret, and leads blindfold to the block? Beware this be not your case; make no plea for ignorance; if you spare that sin, know that it will not spare you."

I may not leave you with your eyes half open, as he that saw men as trees walking. The word is profitable for doctrine, as well as reproof; and therefore having thus far conducted you by the rocks of so many mistakes, I would guide you into the harbor of truth.

Conversion, then, is a thorough change both of the heart and life: I shall briefly describe it in its nature and causes.

1. The Author, it is the Spirit of God, and therefore it is called "the sanctification of the Spirit;" yet not excluding the other Persons in the Trinity: for the Apostle teaches us to "bless the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for that he hath begotten us again:" and Christ is said to give repentance unto Israel, and the children which God hath given him: yet this work is principally ascribed to Holy Spirit, and so we are to be born of the Spirit, (John 3:8).

So then it is a work above a man's power. Never think that you can convert yourself: if ever you would be converted, you must despair of doing it in your own strength. It is a resurrection from the dead, a new creation, a supernatural work (Galations 6:15).

The moving cause is internal or external.

2. The internal mover only free grace. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but of his own mercy he saved us.

God finds nothing in a man to turn his heart, but enough to provoke his loathing. Look back upon yourself: look upon yourself in your body: open your sepulchre: behold your putrid soul, your loathsome members. Behold your ghastly visage, your crawling lusts, your slime and corruption! ... read more »

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MORE BY JOSEPH ALLEINE

Read additional works and quotations by Joseph Alleine:

SERMONS (ALL) – sermons and exhortations by Joseph Alleine

SERMONS (EBOOK) – free online ebook: "Earail Dhurachdach do Pheacaich Neo-Iompaichte" le Joseph Alleine (1860 Gaelic Edition of "An Alarm to the Unconverted Sinners")

ARTICLES ON DOCTRINE – Joseph Alleine on Baptism

QUOTATIONS: WORDS OF WISDOM – quotes from the writings of Joseph Alleine