Joseph Alleine

Joseph Alleine (baptised 8 April 1634 – 17 November 1668) was an English Nonconformist pastor and author of many religious works.

Life Joseph Alleine's family had its root in Suffolk. Some descendants of Alan, Lord of Buckenhall settled in Wiltshire around Calne and Devizes as early as 1430. These were the immediate ancestors of "worthy Mr Tobie Alleine of Devizes", father of Joseph, who was the fourth of a large family, born at Devizes early in 1634. His elder brother Edward, who was a clergyman, died in 1645; and Joseph entreated his father that he might be educated to succeed his brother in the ministry.

In April 1649 he entered Lincoln College, Oxford, and on 3 November 1651 he became scholar of Corpus Christi College. On 6 July 1653, he took the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, and became a tutor and chaplain of Corpus Christi, preferring this to a fellowship. In 1654 he had offers of high preferment in the state, which he declined; but in 1655 George Newton of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, sought him for assistant and Alleine accepted the invitation. Almost coincident with his ordination as associate pastor came his marriage with Theodosia Alleine, daughter of Richard Alleine. Theodosia was a cousin but it is not known how close a cousin.

His chief literary work was An Alarm to the Unconverted (1672), otherwise known as The Sure Guide to Heaven, which had an enormous circulation. His Remains appeared in 1674.

Death Worn out by the continued persecution, he died in November 1668; and the mourners, remembering their beloved minister's words while yet with them, "If I should die fifty miles away, let me be buried at Taunton", found a grave for him in St Mary's chancel. His wife and others created An Account of the Life and Death of That Excellent Minister of Christ, the Rev. Joseph Alleine. Written by Richard Baxter, Theodosia Alleine, and Other Persons, to Which are Added His Christian Letters.

Works Joseph Alleine's Alarme went through numerous editions and abridgements across the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; versions appeared in Welsh, Gaelic and German, and were published in Scotland and North America. It was also an important text to John Wesley, abridged and printed by him, and sold through Methodist catalogues and booksellers. Some of the most important editions are listed below, together with Alleine's other published works (mostly posthumous).

A Call to Archippus, [London: s.n.], 1664 An Alarme to Unconverted Sinners, London, 1672 Divers Practical Cases of conscience, Satisfactorily Resolved, London, 1672 A Most Familiar Explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism, London, 1672 Mr. Joseph Alleines Directions, for Covenanting vvith God, London, 1674 Remaines, London, 1674 The True Way to Happiness, London, 1675 A Sure Guide to Heaven: or An Earnest Invitation to Sinners to Turn to God, London, 1688 Hyfforddwr Cyfarwydd I'r Nefoedd, London, 1693 Christian Letters Full of Spiritual Instructions, London, [1700?] Mr. Joseph Alleine's Rules for Self-Examination, Boston, [174-?] The Saint's Pocket-Book, Glasgow, 1742 The Works of the Truly Pious and Learned Mr Joseph Allan, Edinburgh, 1752 Useful Questions, Whereby a Person may Examine himself Every Day, Philadelphia, 1753 The Shorter Catechism Agreed Upon by the Reverend Assembly of Divines at Westminster. To Which is Added, Some Serious Questions very Proper for True Christians to Ask Themselves Every Day, by the Late Reverend Mr.Joseph Allaine. Also a Cradle Hymn, by the Reverend Dr. Isaac Watts, New-London, 1754 The Voice of God in His Promises, London, 1766 The Believer's Triumph in God's Promises, London, 1767 A Remedy of God's Own Providing for a Sinner's Guilty Conscience, [London?, 1770?] An Admonition to Unconverted Sinners, (London, 1771) Earail Dhùrachdach Do Pheacaich Neo-Iompaichte, Edinburgh, 1781 An Abridgement of Alleine's Alarm to Unconverted Sinners, London, 1783 Joseph Alleins Grundlegung zum thatigen Christenthum, Lancaster, 1797 An Earnest Invitation to the Reader to Turn to God, Grantham, 1799

Books still in print by Joseph Alleine include: A Sure Guide To Heaven, , An Alarm to the Unconverted, ,