only as thy goods, during thy leave, resigning all to
thee. I will have no king but thee to reign over
me. Other lords have had dominion over me ; but
now I will make mention of thy name only, and do
here take an oath of fealty to thee, promising to
serve and fear thee above all competitors. I disa-
vow mine own righteousness, and despair of ever
being pardoned and saved for my own duties or
graces, and lean solely on thy all-sufficient sacrifice
and intercession for pardon, and life, and acceptance
before God. I take thee for my only guide and in-
structor, resolving to be directed by thee, and to
wait for thy counsel."

Lastly, God the Spirit must be taken for thy
sanctifier, for thy advocate, thy counsellor, thy com-



142 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

forter, the teacher of thy ignorance, the pledge and
earnest of thy inheritance. "Awake thou North
wind, and come, thou South, and blow upon my
garden." "Come, thou Spirit of the Most High;
here is a temple for thee ; here do thou rest for
ever ; dwell here ; lo, I give possession to thee, full
possession ; I send thee the keys of my heart, that
all may be thine. I give up the use of all to thee,
that every faculty and every member may be thy
instrument to work righteousness and do the will of
my Father who is in heaven."

2. In all his essential perfections. Consider how
the Lord hath revealed himself to you in his word.
Will you take him as such a God ? O, sinner, here
is the most blessed news that ever came to the sons
of men : " The Lord will be thy God," if thou wilt
but close with him in his excellences. Wilt thou
have the merciful, the gracious, the sin-pardoning
God to be thy God ? "0 yes," saith the sinner,
" I am undone else." But he farther tells thee, I
am the holy and sin-hating God; if thou wilt be
owned as one of my people, thou must be holy
holy in heart, holy in life ; thou must put away all
thy iniquities, be they ever so dear, ever so natural,
ever so necessary to the maintaining of thy worldly
interest. Unless thou wilt be at enmity with sin, I
cannot be thy God. Cast out the leaven. "Put
away the evil of thy doings ; cease to do evil ; learn
to do well." Bring forth mine enemies, or there is



DIRECTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED. 143

no peace to be had with me. What doth thine
heart answer? "Lord, I desire to have thee as
such a God ; I desire to be holy as thou art holy,
and to be made partaker of thy holiness. I love
thee, not only for thy goodness and mercy, but for
thy holiness and purity. I take thy holiness for my *
happiness : O be to me a fountain of holiness ; set
on me the stamp and impress of thy holiness : I will
thankfully part with all my sins at thy command.
My wilful sins I do forthwith forsake ; and for mine
infirmities that cleave unto me, though I would be
rid of them, I will strive against them continually :
I detest them, and will pray against them, and never
let them have rest in my soul." Beloved, whoever
of you will thus accept the Lord, he shall be your
God.

Again, he tells you, "I am the all-sufficient God."
Will you lay all at my feet, give up all to my dis-
posal, and take me for your only portion? Will
you own and honor my all- sufficiency ? Will you
take me as your happiness and treasure, your hope
and bliss ? I am a sun and a shield all in one ; will
you have me for your all ? Now what dost thou
say to this ? Doth thy soul long for the" onions and
flesh-pots of Egypt ? Art thou loath to change thy
earthly happiness for a portion in God ; and though
thou wouldst be glad to have God and the world
too, yet canst thou not think of having him, and
nothing but him ; but hadst rather take up with the



144 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

earth below, if God would but let tb.ee keep it as
long as thou wouldst ? This is a fearful sign. But
now, if thou art willing to sell all for the pearl of
great price ; if thine heart answer, " Lord, I desire
no other portion but thee ; take the corn, and the
wine, and the oil who will, so I may have the light
of thy countenance ; I fix upon thee for my happi-
ness ; I gladly venture myself on thee, and trust
myself with thee ; I set my hope in thee ; I take up
my rest with thee ; let me hear thee say, I am thy
God, thy salvation, and I have enough, all I wish
for ; I will make no terms with thee but for thyself ;
let me but have thee sure ; let me be able to make
my claim and see my title to thyself ; and for other
things, I leave them to thee ; give me more or less,
any thing or nothing ; I will be satisfied in my God."
Take him thus, and he is thy own.

Again, he tells you, I am the sovereign Lord ; if
you will have me for your God you must give me
the supremacy. You must not make me second to
sin or any worldly interest. If you will be my
people I must have the rule over you ; you must
not live at your own pleasure. Will you come
under my yoke? Will you bow to my govern-
ment ? Will you submit to my discipline, to my
word, to my rod? Sinner, what sayest thou to
this? "Lord, I had rather be at thy command
than live at my own will ; I had rather have thy
will to be done than mine ; I approve of and con-



DIRECTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED. 145

sent to thy laws, and account it my privilege to be
under them. And though the flesh rebel, and often
bieuk its bounds, I have resolved to take no other
Lord but thee. I willingly take the oath of thy
supremacy, and acknowledge thee for my Sovereign,
and resolve all my days to pay the tribute of wor-
ship, obedience, love, and service to thee, and to live
to thee to the end of my life." This is a right ac-
ceptance of God.

To be short, he tells you, I am the true and
faithful God. If you will have me for your God
you must be* content to trust me. Will you venture
yourselves upon my word, and depend on my faith-
fulness, and take my bond for your security ? Will
you be content to follow me in poverty, and re-
proach, and affliction here ; and to tarry till the
next world for your preferment ? Will you be con-
tent to labor and suffer, and to tarry for your returns
till the resurrection of tlfe just ? My promise will
not always be instantly fulfilled ; will you have the
patience to wait ? Now, beloved, what say you to
this ? Will you have this God for your God ? Will
you be content to live by faith, and trust him for an
unseen happiness, an unseen heaven, an unseen
glory? Do your hearts answer, "Lord, we will
venture ourselves upon thee ; we commit ourselves
to thee ; we cast ourselves upon thee ; we know
whom we have trusted ; we are willing to take thy
word ; we prefer thy promises before our own pos-

AIUIu' Alarm. 1



146 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

sessions, and the hopes of heaven before all the en-
joyments of earth ; we will do thy pleasure what
thou wilt here, so that we may have but thy faith-
ful promise for heaven hereafter." If you can in
truth, and upon deliberation, thus accept of God,
he will be yours. Thus there must be, in a right
conversion to God, a closing with him suitable to
his excellences. But when men close with his
mercy, but yet love sin, hating holiness and purity ;
or will take him for their benefactor, but not for
their sovereign ; or for their patron, and not for
their portion ; this is no thorough and sound con-
version.

DIRECTION VII. Accept of the Lord Jesus in all
his offices, as thine.

Upon these terms Christ may be had. Sinner,
thou hast undone thyself, and art plunged into the
ditch of most deplorable misery, out of which thou
art never able to escape ; but Jesus Christ is able
and ready to help thee, and he freely tenders him-
self to thee. Be thy sins ever so many, ever so
great, or of ever so long continuance, yet thou shalt
be most certainly pardoned and saved, if thou dost
not wretchedly neglect the offer that in the name
of God is here made to thee. The Lord Jesus
calleth thee to look to him and be saved. " Come
unto him, and he will in nowise cast thee out."
Yea, he beseecheth thee to be reconciled. He
crieth in the streets ; he knocketh at thy door ; he



DIRECTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED. 147

inviteth thee to accept of him, and live -with him.
If thou diest, it is because thou wouldst not come
to him for life.

Now accept of an offered Christ, and thou art
made for ever ; now give thy consent to him, and
the match is made ; all the world cannot hinder it.
Do not stand off because of thy unworthiness. I
tell thee, nothing can undo thee but thine own un-
willingness. Speak, man; art thou desirous of the
honor ? Wilt thou have Christ in all his relations
to be thine, thy king, thy priest, thy prophet ? Wilt
thou have him and bear his cross ? Take not Christ
without consideration, but sit down first and count
the cost. Wilt thou lay all at his feet ? Wilt thou
be content to run all hazards with him ? Wilt thou
take thy lot with him, fall where it will ? Wilt thou
"deny thyself, take up thy cross, and follow him?"
Art thou deliberately, understandingly, freely de-
termined to cleave to him in all times and conditions ?
If so, thou shalt never perish, but art passed from
death unto life. Here lies the main point of thy
salvation, that thou be found in thy covenant-closure
with Jesus Christ ; and therefore, if thou love thy-
self, see that thou be faithful to God and thy soul
here.

DIRECTION VIII. Resign all thy powers and facul-
ties, and thy whole interest to be his.

" They gave their own selves unto the Lord."
" Present your bodies a living sacrifice." The Lord



148 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

seeks not yours, but you ; resign therefore thy body,
with all its members, to him ; and thy soul, with all
its powers, that he may be glorified in thy body and
in thy spirit, which are his.

In a right closing with Christ all thy faculties are
given up to him. Thy judgment says, " Lord, thou
art worthy of all acceptation, chief of ten thousand :
happy is the man that findeth thee. All the things
that are to be desired are not to be compared with
thee." Prov. 3 : 13-15. The understanding lays
aside its corrupt reasonings and cavils, and its prej-
udices against Christ and his ways. It is now past
questioning, and determines for Christ against all
the world. It concludes it is " good to be here,"
and sees such a treasure in this field, such a value
in this pearl, as is worth all. Matt. 13 : 44-46.
" here is the richest prize that ever man was
offered; here is the most sovereign remedy that
ever -mercy prepared ; he is worthy of my esteem,
worthy of my choice, worthy of my love, worthy to
be embraced, adored, admired, for evermore. Rev.
5 : 12. I approve of his articles: his terms are
righteous and reasonable, full of equity and mercy."
Again, the will resigns. It stands no longer waver-
ing, but is peremptorily determined : " Lord, thy
love hath overcome me, thou hast won me, and thou
shalt have me. Come in, Lord ; to thee I freely
open ; I consent to be saved in thine own way.
Thou shalt have any thing nay, have all, let me



DIRECTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED. 149

have but thee." The memory gives up to Christ :
" Lord, here is a storehouse for thee ; out with this
trash ; lay in the treasure ; let me be a repository
of thy truth, thy promises, thy providences." The
conscience comes in : " Lord, I will ever side with
thee ; I will be thy faithful registrar ; I will warn
when the sinner is tempted, and smite when thou
art offended ; I will witness for thee, and judge for
thee, and guide into thy ways, and will never let
sin have quiet in this soul." The affections also
come in to Christ : " 0," saith Love, " I am sick for
thee." "0," saith Desire, "now I have what I
sought for ; here is the Desire of nations ; here is
bread for me, and balm for me : all that I want."
Fear bows the knee with awe and veneration :
" Welcome, Lord, to thee will I pay my homage ;
thy word and rod shall command my motions ; thee
will I reverence and adore ; before thee will I fall
down and worship." Grief likewise puts in : "Lord,
thy displeasure and thy dishonor, thy people's ca-
lamities and my own iniquities, shall be what shall
set me a weeping. I will mourn when- thou art
offended ; I will weep when thy cause is wounded."
Anger likewise comes in for Christ : " Lord, nothing
so enrages me as my folly against thee, that I should
be so besotted as to hearken to the flatteries of sin
and the temptations of Satan against thee." Hatred,
too, will side with Christ : " I protest mortal enmity
to thine enemies, that I never will be a friend to thy



150 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

foes ; I row an eternal quarrel with every sin : I
will give no quarter ; I will make no peace." Thus
let all thy powers yield to Jesus Christ.

Again, thou must give up thy whole interest io
him. If there be any thing that thou keepest back
from Christ, it will be thy undoing. Luke 14 : 33.
Unless thou wilt forsake all, in preparation and
resolution of thy heart, thou canst not be his dis-
ciple. Thou must hate father and mother, yea,
and thine own life also, in comparison with Him,
and as far as it stands in competition with him. In
a word, thou must give him thyself, and all that
thou hast, without reservation, or else thou canst
have no part in him.

DIRECTION IX. Make choice of the laws of
Christ as the rule of thy words, thoughts, and
actions.

This is the true convert's choice. But here re-
member these three rules : 1. You must choose
them all, there is no getting to heaven by a partial
obedience. None may think it enough to take up
with the -cheap and easy part of religion, and let
alone the duties that ' are costly and self-denying,
and oppose the interests of the flesh; you must
take all or none. A sincere convert, though he
makes most conscience of the greatest sins and
weightiest duties, yet he makes true conscience of
little sins and of all duties. 2. You must choose
Christ's laws for all times, for prosperity and ad-



DIRECTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED. 151

versity. A true convert is resolved in his course ;
he will stand to his choice, and will not set his back
to the wind, and he of the religion of the times.
"I have stuck to thy testimonies ; I have inclined
my heart to perform thy statutes always, even to
the end. Thy testimonies have I taken as a heritage
for ever. I will have respect to thy statutes con-
tinually." 3. This must be done deliberately and
understandingly. The disobedient son said, " I go,
sir ; but he went not." How fairly did they promise,
" All that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee
we will do it !" And it is likely they spake as they
meant. But when it came to the trial it was found
that there was not such a heart in them as to do
what they had promised.

If you would be sincere in closing with the laws
and the ways of Christ, study the meaning, and
breadth, and extent of them. Remember that they
are spiritual ; they reach the very thoughts and in-
clinations of the heart ; so that, if you will walk by
this rule, your very thoughts and inward motions
must be under government. Again, they are very
strict and self-denying, quite contrary to your natu-
ral inclinations. You must take the strait gate, the
narrow way, and be content to have the flesh curbed
from the liberty it desires. In a word, they are
very large, for " thy commandments are exceeding
broad."

Rest not in generals, for there is much deceit in



152 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

them, but bring down thine heart to the particular
commands of Christ. Those Jews, in the prophet,
seemed as well resolved as any in the world, and
called God to witness that they meant as they said :
but they rested in generals ; when God's command
crosses their inclination, they will not obey. Art
thou resolved, in the strength of Christ, to set upon
the conscientious practice of every duty that thou
findest to be required of thee, and to set against
every sin that thou findest to be forbidden ? This
is the way to be sound in God's statutes, that thou
mayest never be ashamed.

Observe the special duties that thy heart is most
against, and the special sins that it is most inclined
to, and see whether it be truly resolved to perform
the one and forego the other. What sayest thou to
thy bosom sin, thy gainful sin ? What sayest thou
to costly, hazardous, and flesh-displeasing duties ?
If thou haltest here, and dost not resolve, by the
grace of God, to cross the flesh and be in earnest,
thou art unsound.

DIRECTION X. Let all this be completed in a
solemn covenant between God and thy soul.*

Set apart some time, more than once, to be spent
in secret before the Lord in seeking earnestly his
special assistance and gracious acceptance of thee
in searching thy heart, whether thou art sincerely
willing to forsake all thy sins, and to resign thyself,
body and soul, unto God and his service ; to serve



DIRECTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED. 153

him in holiness and righteousness all the days of
thy life.

Compose thy spirit into the most serious frame
possible, suitable to a transaction of so high im-
portance. Lay hold on the covenant of God, and
rely on his promise of giving grace and strength,
whereby thou mayest be enabled to perform thy
promise. Trust not to thine own strength, to the
strength of thine own resolutions ; but take hold on
his strength.

Being thus prepared, on some convenient time
set apart for the purpose, enter upon the work, and
solemnly, as in the presence of the Lord, fall down
on thy knees, and open thy heart to him in words
like those of the covenant, or soliloquy, annexed to
these directions.

DIRECTION XI. Take heed of delaying thy con-
version, but make a speedy, an immediate surrender
of thy heart to God.

"I made haste, and delayed not." Remember
and tremble at the sad instance of the foolish vir-
gins, that came not till the " door of mercy was
shut ;" and of a convinced Felix, who put off Paul
to another season ; and we never find that he had
such another season. come in while it is called
to-day, lest thou shouldst be hardened through the
deceitfulness of sin ; lest the day of grace should be
over, and the things which belong to thy peace
should be "hidden from thine eyes." Now mercy



154 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

is wooing thee ; now Christ is waiting to be gracious
to thee, and the Spirit of God is striving with thee ;
now ministers are calling ; now conscience is stirring ;
now Christ is to be had, if accepted. strike in
with the offers of grace ; now or never. If thou
make light of this offer, God may swear in his wrath,
thou shalt not taste of his supper.

DIRECTION XII. Attend conscientiously upon the
word, as the means appointed for thy conversion.

Attend, I say, not customarily, but conscien-
tiously ; with this desire, design, hope, and expecta-
tion, that thou mayest be converted by it. To every
sermon thou hearest come with this thought : " O
I hope God will now come in ; I hope this day may
be the time, this may be the man by whom God
will bring me home." When thou art coming to
the privileges of God's house, lift up thy heart thus
to God : " Lord, let this be the Sabbath, let this be
the season wherein I may receive renewing grace.
let it be said that this day such a one was born
unto thee."

Objection. Thou wilt say, I have been long a
hearer of the word, and yet it hath not been effect-
ual to my conversion. Answer. Yea ; but thou
hast not. attended upon it in this manner, as a
means of thy conversion, nor with this design, nor
praying for and expecting the happy effect from it.

DIRECTION XIII. Strike in with the Spirit when
he begins to work upon thy heart.



DIRECTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED. 155

When he works convictions, do not stifle them,
but join in with him, and beg the Lord to give you
saving conversion. " Quench not the Spirit ;" do
not reject him, do not resist him. Beware of stifling
convictions with evil company or worldly business.
When thou art in anguish on account of sin and
fears about thy eternal state, beg of God that you
may have peace only in thoroughly renouncing all
sin, loathing it in thy inmost soul, and giving thy
whole heart, without reserve, to Christ. Say to
him, " Strike home, Lord ; leave not the work in the
midst. go to the bottom of my corruption, and
let out the life-blood of my" sins." Thus yield up
thyself to the working of the Spirit, and hoist thy
sails to his gusts.

DIRECTION XIV. Set upon the constant and dili-
gent use of serious and fervent prayer.

He that neglects prayer is a profane and unsanc-
tified sinner. He that is not constant in prayer is
but a hypocrite, unless the omission be contrary to
his ordinary course, under the force of some instant
temptation. This is one of the first things conver-
sion appears in, that it sets men a praying. There-
fore set to this duty ; let not one day pass over thee
wherein thou hast not, morning and evening, set
apart some time for solemn prayer in secret. Call
thy family also together daily and duly to worship
God with thee. Woe be unto thee, if thou be found
among the families that call not upon God's name.



156 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

But cold and lifeless devotions will not reach half
way to heaven. Be fervent and importunate. Im-
portunity will carry it ; but without violence the
kingdom of heaven will not be taken. Thou must
strive to enter, and wrestle with tears and supplica-
tions, as Jacob, if thou wouldst gain the blessing.
Thou art undone for ever without grace, and there-
fore thou must set to it, and resolve to take no
denial. That man who is fixed in this resolution
says, "Well, I must have grace, or I will never
give over till I have grace ; I will never cease
earnestly pleading, and striving with God and my
own heart, till he doth renew me by the power of
his grace."

DIRECTION XV. Forsake thy evil company, and
forbear the occasions of sin.

Thou wilt never be turned from sin till thou wilt
decline and forego the temptations of sin. I never
expect thy conversion from sin, unless thou art
brought to some self-denial, so as to flee the occa-
sions. If thou wilt be nibbling at the bait, and
playing on the brink, and tampering with the snare,
thy soul will surely be taken. Where God doth
expose men, in his providence, unavoidably to temp-
tation, and the occasions are such as we cannot re-
move, we may expect special assistance in the use
of his means ; but when we tempt God by running
into danger, he will not engage to support us when
we are tempted. And, of all temptations, one of



DIRECTIONS TO THE UNCONVERTED. 157

the most fatal and pernicious is evil companions.
what hopeful beginnings have these often stifled!
O the souls, the estates, the families, the towns, that
these have ruined ! How many poor sinners have
been enlightened and convinced, and been just ready
to escape the snare of the devil, and have even
escaped it; and yet wicked company has pulled
them back at last, and made them seven-fold more
the children of hell ! In a word, I have no hopes
of thee, except thou wilt shake off thy evil com-
pany. Thy life depends upon it : forsake this, or
thou canst not live. Wilt thou be worse than the
ass of Balaam, to run on when thou seest the Lord
with a drawn sword in the way? Let this sentence
be written in capitals upon thy conscience : "A COM-
PANION OF FOOLS SHALL BE DESTROYED." The Lord

hath spoken it, and who shall reverse it ?

And wilt thou run upon destruction, when God
himself doth forewarn thee? If God doth ever
change thy heart, it will appear in the change of
thy company. fear and flee the gulf by which
so many thousand souls have been swallowed up in
perdition. It will be hard for thee indeed to make
thy escape. Thy companions will be mocking thee
out of thy religion, and will study to fill thee with
prejudices against strictness, as ridiculous and com-
fortless. They will be flattering thee and alluring
thee ; but remember the warnings of the Holy
Ghost: "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent



158 ALLEINE'S ALARM.

thou not. If they say, Come with us, cast in thy
lot among us ; walk thou not in the way with them,
refrain thy foot from their path ; avoid it, pass not
by it, turn from it, and pass away. For the way
of the wicked is as darkness, they know not at what
they stumble. They lie in wait for their own blood,
they lurk privily for their own lives." My soul is
moved within me to see IIOAV many of my hearers
and readers are likely to perish, both they and their
houses, by this wretched mischief, even the haunting
of such places and company, whereby they are
drawn into sin. Once more I admonish you, as
Moses did Israel : " Depart, I pray you, from the
tents of these wicked men." fly them as you
would those that had the plague-sores running in