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A Sure Guide to Heaven
It is no anachronism to republish Joseph Alleine's book, A Sure Guide to Heaven , from a day when men were more deeply conscious of the world to come. When the spiritual history of the Western World in the 20th century is written, it may well be seen as the epoch of spiritual sloth and slumber. Eternal realities seemed vaguely-defined and far-removed from daily life, and conformity to the world took the form of carelessness and neglect of spiritual issues. Written by a servant of God whose preaching and writing were used to alarm and awaken many to the concerns of life and death.
This book was previously published by the Trust under the title An Alarm to the Unconverted .
This book was previously published by the Trust under the title An Alarm to the Unconverted .
148 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1688
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 24, 2017
What is Joseph Alleine's definition of the word "unsanctified"? It caused me great problems with understanding this book. For whom was this book written? Christians or non-Christians? You can't require non-Christians to be holy until they first have Christ; and you can't condemn Christians for not being "perfect". Christians are perfect in Christ. And Christians are holy in Christ. Alleine writes with a passion rarely seen, to urge the sinner to run to Christ to be converted. I believe he should have written two books: One for the non-Christian, to look to Christ for salvation; and another to encourage the Christian, to seek holiness in every part of his life, to be sanctified more and more, to lead a more pious life, etc. I'm convinced Alleine saw many Christians in his day (as most people went to church), who were nominal Christians only. So he wrote this book as a reaction to that.
October 24, 2021
One of the best books on the doctrine of salvation I've ever read - so clear, thorough, and passionate. Why isn't this book considered more of a mainstream Christian classic?
November 23, 2013
Powerful, convicting, informing, compelling. How can one neglect so great a salvation offered in the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ? And how can a believer forget the majesty of Christ's person and work and the vile sin he has been redeemed from?
June 8, 2020
Starts off wonderfully, but becomes repetitive. It ends up about 20 pages too long.
December 9, 2023
#5 of 60+ in the Puritan Paperbacks series by Banner of Truth.
Think of the ruckus caused over John MacArthur’s, “The Gospel According to Jesus”. People were furious because he audaciously argued for Christ’s lordship. Three centuries earlier, in 1671, Joseph Alleine published a series of sermons originally titled, “An Alarm to the Unconverted,” that argued the same. Perhaps MacArthur should have pointed his critics, who believed he was positing a novel idea, to the puritan pastor. Only this would not do because the Holy Spirit, not Alleine, was the author. People eschew lordship because they balk at the authority of scripture which clearly teaches more than easy believism. Early in this book, Alleine pleads with his sheep about what they will say when confronted in judgment, “What have you to plead for yourselves? Is it that you wear Christ’s livery; that you bear his name; that you are a member of the visible 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.” (11) Something more is required: conversion.
Alleine’s thesis is simple: “No conversion – no salvation.” (3) Conversion is something more than simply taking upon us the profession of Christianity. “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.” (19) Our affections are turned, our desires only to glorify God. “Religion is no longer a casual matter with him, but his main care.” (32)
Foremost, however, is our turning from sin. “The sound convert is heartily engaged against sin. He struggles with it, he wars against it; he is too often foiled, but he will never yield the cause. He feels it like the cutting gravel in his shoes, pricking and paining him as he goes.” (28) Alleine implores his congregation to “set up a tribunal in your own breasts. Bring the word and conscience together. Hear what the word concludes of your state. Follow the search til you find how the case stands. Make a mistake here, and you perish.” (78) He argues that we must confront our sin and whatever “the particular sin you are most addicted to…labor to make this sin odious to your soul.” (111) What a wonderful concept to meditate upon…laboring against your sin. Alleine strikes a chord though when he ties our inability to see our sin and hear our conscience to the busyness of life. He says when “the hurry of worldly business” dominates our life “the voice of conscience is drowned.” (81) Oh what a message for today’s Christian!
Don’t stop at verbal or intellectual assent. Make Christ Lord and be truly converted. This book is a begging account of a man who cared deeply for the souls under his care. Let it benefit you as well.
Think of the ruckus caused over John MacArthur’s, “The Gospel According to Jesus”. People were furious because he audaciously argued for Christ’s lordship. Three centuries earlier, in 1671, Joseph Alleine published a series of sermons originally titled, “An Alarm to the Unconverted,” that argued the same. Perhaps MacArthur should have pointed his critics, who believed he was positing a novel idea, to the puritan pastor. Only this would not do because the Holy Spirit, not Alleine, was the author. People eschew lordship because they balk at the authority of scripture which clearly teaches more than easy believism. Early in this book, Alleine pleads with his sheep about what they will say when confronted in judgment, “What have you to plead for yourselves? Is it that you wear Christ’s livery; that you bear his name; that you are a member of the visible 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.” (11) Something more is required: conversion.
Alleine’s thesis is simple: “No conversion – no salvation.” (3) Conversion is something more than simply taking upon us the profession of Christianity. “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.” (19) Our affections are turned, our desires only to glorify God. “Religion is no longer a casual matter with him, but his main care.” (32)
Foremost, however, is our turning from sin. “The sound convert is heartily engaged against sin. He struggles with it, he wars against it; he is too often foiled, but he will never yield the cause. He feels it like the cutting gravel in his shoes, pricking and paining him as he goes.” (28) Alleine implores his congregation to “set up a tribunal in your own breasts. Bring the word and conscience together. Hear what the word concludes of your state. Follow the search til you find how the case stands. Make a mistake here, and you perish.” (78) He argues that we must confront our sin and whatever “the particular sin you are most addicted to…labor to make this sin odious to your soul.” (111) What a wonderful concept to meditate upon…laboring against your sin. Alleine strikes a chord though when he ties our inability to see our sin and hear our conscience to the busyness of life. He says when “the hurry of worldly business” dominates our life “the voice of conscience is drowned.” (81) Oh what a message for today’s Christian!
Don’t stop at verbal or intellectual assent. Make Christ Lord and be truly converted. This book is a begging account of a man who cared deeply for the souls under his care. Let it benefit you as well.
March 29, 2017
Wonderful evangelistic book. It broke me good. Learned alot.
May 23, 2024
Evidently Voddie Baucham’s favorite Puritan book? If it’s true, I can see why.
May 19, 2024
…conversion is a work above man's power. We are
"born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God' (Jn i 13). Never think you can convert yourself.
Before conversion, man seeks to cover himself with his own fig-leaves, and to make himself whole with his own duties. He is apt to trust in himself, and set up his own righteousness, and to reckon his counters for gold, and 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, '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 sees the need of Christ in every duty, to justify his person and sanctify his performances; he cannot live without Him; he cannot pray without Him. Christ must go with him, or else he cannot come into the presence of God; he leans upon Christ, and so bows himself in the house of his God. He sets himself down for a lost undone man without Him; his life is hid in Christ, as the root of a tree spreads in the earth for stability and nourishment.
"born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God' (Jn i 13). Never think you can convert yourself.
Before conversion, man seeks to cover himself with his own fig-leaves, and to make himself whole with his own duties. He is apt to trust in himself, and set up his own righteousness, and to reckon his counters for gold, and 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, '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 sees the need of Christ in every duty, to justify his person and sanctify his performances; he cannot live without Him; he cannot pray without Him. Christ must go with him, or else he cannot come into the presence of God; he leans upon Christ, and so bows himself in the house of his God. He sets himself down for a lost undone man without Him; his life is hid in Christ, as the root of a tree spreads in the earth for stability and nourishment.
December 19, 2022
In all honesty, I would not have sought this book out if it were not for the recent discovery that my 8X great grandfather authored it. I wanted to see what he had to say. One definite take away from reading it is seeing how passionate he was about saving souls for Christ. I couldn't agree more with his observation that all too often people believe that baptism is all it takes - no further work is necessary. His stand that one must appropriate the person of Christ is a strong and sound one. But all the turn and burn language is way off the mark as far as I'm concerned. His argument that Satan tries to persuade us that the Lord is made up of mercy so that we can do pretty much whatever we want and ask for forgiveness later flies in the face of a very merciful God who will actually forgive us. This might be a factor of the time A Sure Guide To Heaven was written but I think a more loving and accepting approach will win a lot more souls than this book ever did.
May 3, 2025
A sure guide to heaven is… A sure guide to something . It is like a street preacher yelling the same thing over and over again. Would it lack and substance it makes up in the message. Repent now come to Christ now. It takes 150 pages to say just that. He often asks a series of questions that take up paragraphs. Those paragraphs basically say will you choose life or will you choose death. His writing comes with a sense of urgency. His messages is simple. Jesus saves us not from punishment, but from slavery to sin. He spends a lot of time speaking to the unconverted and even more time saying who that is. He tells them to hate their sin Under the guise of a threat of hell or a promise reward. Simply put repent now for the day of salvation is upon us.
June 30, 2022
This treatise by Joseph Alleine focuses on conversion - what it's not, what it is, the need for it, and the mistakes that can be made about it. He discusses the marks of the unconverted and compares that with the marks of the converted. There is a sense of urgency in this book, and it has been used as an evangelistic tool to exhort men to consider their estate and to close with Christ. Both Whitefield and Spurgeon benefitted greatly from this work and referenced it often. Alleine ultimately lands on a biblically faithful understanding of conversion and all readers will be convicted and encouraged when reading this.
July 26, 2025
A book on the nature of conversion (what it is and what it isn't) and a call to it. Typical vivid Puritan language. A huge emphasis on the reality of condemnation which is sobering everytime. Possibly a book for those on the fence, deciding between the world and Christ. I’d give it to an obstinate unbeliever but I can’t imagine he’d make it too far…
March 7, 2017
This was a tough read. The author, a Puritan, definitely calls sinners to repentance and questions the salvation of professed believers. It is sound in doctrine, as a Puritan would be. Maybe tried to read it too quickly, but it also has many points, which would make it harder to sum up the book.
January 5, 2018
If you believe you are saved but have doubts worrying you. If you lack assurance of your salvation, read this little Puritan book, and it will either confirm your doubts or affirm your salvation. Excellent treatise on conversion. It took my doubts away.
March 30, 2022
This book reminds me of a Paul Washer sermon!
July 14, 2024
A very clear and thorough presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ for thoughtful seekers.
September 8, 2025
The best book I’ve read on the doctrine of salvation. The Puritan Joseph Alleine is not defending a thesis as much as he’s writing a love letter pleading to the unconverted to be saved. This book is Alleine’s desperate call to the lost which is why it’s no surprise that it had a significant impact on the evangelistic ministries of both George Whitefield and Charles Spurgeon.
Alleine closes with the prayer, “Lord put Thy hand upon the heart of this reader, and send Thy Spirit … and though I should never know it while I live, yet I beseech Thee, O Lord God, let it be found at the last day that some souls are converted by these labours; and let some be able to stand forth and say that by these persuasions they were won unto Thee.”
Oh and for those fans of what MacArthur calls “Lordship Salvation”, Alleine is all over it when he writes: “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. Let him beware here … they divide what God has joined, the King and the Priest… the sound convert takes a whole Christ … the dominion of Christ as well as deliverance by Christ.”
And for those ascribing to what Piper calls “Christian Hedonism”, Alleine literally has a section on desiring God: “Have you taken God for your happiness? … go into the gardens of pleasure, and gather all the fragrant flowers there … if God can make you happy, you must be happy; for you have taken the Lord to be your God.”
Some of my favorite quotes:
"My work is not to please you, but to save you."
"Christianity ... doe not lie in word, but in power."
"Study your own hearts; do not rest till God has made thorough work with you; for you must be other men, or else you are lost men."
"God finds nothing in man to turn His heart, but enough to turn His stomach."
"Do not stand still disputing about your election, but set to repenting and believing ... revealed things belong to you; in these busy yourself."
"Conversion turns the bias of the will ... and ... turns the bent of the affections."
"Here is the root of man's misery by the fall, He is turned aside to the creature, and gives that esteem, confidence, and affection to the creature that is due to God alone."
"There is no surer evidence of an unconverted state than to have the things of the world uppermost in our aim, love, and estimation."
"Verily you are in vain, except you are for God."
"Scriptures ... will prove either as thunderbolts to awaken ... or searing irons to harden."
"Till men are weary and heavy laden, and pricked at the heart, and quite sick of sin, they will not come to Christ for cure ... they must see themselves as dead men, before they will come unto Christ that they may live."
Alleine closes with the prayer, “Lord put Thy hand upon the heart of this reader, and send Thy Spirit … and though I should never know it while I live, yet I beseech Thee, O Lord God, let it be found at the last day that some souls are converted by these labours; and let some be able to stand forth and say that by these persuasions they were won unto Thee.”
Oh and for those fans of what MacArthur calls “Lordship Salvation”, Alleine is all over it when he writes: “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. Let him beware here … they divide what God has joined, the King and the Priest… the sound convert takes a whole Christ … the dominion of Christ as well as deliverance by Christ.”
And for those ascribing to what Piper calls “Christian Hedonism”, Alleine literally has a section on desiring God: “Have you taken God for your happiness? … go into the gardens of pleasure, and gather all the fragrant flowers there … if God can make you happy, you must be happy; for you have taken the Lord to be your God.”
Some of my favorite quotes:
"My work is not to please you, but to save you."
"Christianity ... doe not lie in word, but in power."
"Study your own hearts; do not rest till God has made thorough work with you; for you must be other men, or else you are lost men."
"God finds nothing in man to turn His heart, but enough to turn His stomach."
"Do not stand still disputing about your election, but set to repenting and believing ... revealed things belong to you; in these busy yourself."
"Conversion turns the bias of the will ... and ... turns the bent of the affections."
"Here is the root of man's misery by the fall, He is turned aside to the creature, and gives that esteem, confidence, and affection to the creature that is due to God alone."
"There is no surer evidence of an unconverted state than to have the things of the world uppermost in our aim, love, and estimation."
"Verily you are in vain, except you are for God."
"Scriptures ... will prove either as thunderbolts to awaken ... or searing irons to harden."
"Till men are weary and heavy laden, and pricked at the heart, and quite sick of sin, they will not come to Christ for cure ... they must see themselves as dead men, before they will come unto Christ that they may live."
December 24, 2014
This book was fantastic and a refreshing kick in the rear. No other book I have read has motivated me so greatly to evangelism and away from lazy excuses. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because of its age their were some parts that were hard to understand and many times I had to stop and Google a word. Had this been updated into contemporary English I think it would have been easier to read, but it also would have lost some of the appeal as well. Perhaps as I read more old literature and my brain grows accustom to the antiquated English this will be an easier read, and I shall bump it to 5 stars, but for now if your not familiar with old English have a dictionary handy!
June 4, 2025
This is an excellent little book on conversion that packs a real punch, acting as a great rebuttal to easy believism and a wake-up call to the importance of both evangelism and of "making our calling and election sure".
Chapter two on the nature of conversion, chapter five on the miseries of the unconverted, and an extended description of sin in chapter six, were particularly memorable.
"Be your sins ever so many, ever so great, or of ever so long continuance, yet you shall be most certainly pardoned and saved, if you do not wretchedly neglect the offer that in the name of God is here made to you."
Chapter two on the nature of conversion, chapter five on the miseries of the unconverted, and an extended description of sin in chapter six, were particularly memorable.
"Be your sins ever so many, ever so great, or of ever so long continuance, yet you shall be most certainly pardoned and saved, if you do not wretchedly neglect the offer that in the name of God is here made to you."
September 4, 2015
Sobering account on what it means to be saved and the dangers and consequences of still being in our sin. How can we be so sure? There is alot of evidence in one's life that illuminate our assurance in Christ, and the author thoroughly addresses the evidence.
It's a bit hard to read, both because of the older language and because it's a dense book despite being a bit over hundred pages.
It's a bit hard to read, both because of the older language and because it's a dense book despite being a bit over hundred pages.
April 12, 2009
The book that is a must read by all people claim themselves to be genuinely converted or born again. Read this book and you'll be benefited from detail exhortation given in this book with regards to the subject of true conversion and the unconverted.
October 20, 2009
I thought this was an excellent book, especially for those Christians suffering from melanchology in thier spiritual walk. This left a spirtual fire within me and highly recommend it to all.
September 19, 2013
This book is really convicting and seriously challenges a lax faith. However this work could be about 100 pages shorter and have the same effect.
January 21, 2012
Wow. Hard hitting. Salvation is sure so make sure you are sure!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews