I was first introduced to Joseph Alleine during my internship under Steve Martin in Fayetteville, GA. There I was encouraged to read and teach through a reprint of his work, An Alarm to the Unconverted, which was re-entitled, Wake Up and Live. This is a wonderful work that has helped many souls to Christ. Upon reading more of his life in Meet the Puritans I have been further challenged and humbled by his ministry.
First there is an encouragement to the young from the testimony of his life growing up in Wiltshire, England.
Joseph Alleine loved and served the Lord from childhood…From eleven years of age onward, “the whole course of his youth was an even-spun thread of godly conversation.”
I think sometimes today it is easy as a youth to think you have to “experience” life before you can be committed to what is right. Or one may buy into the lie that you have to go through teenage rebellion or finding yourself. Lose your life in Christ that you may live all of your days for Him.
Secondly, I am moved by his own personal piety.
Alleine rose early, devoting the time between four and eight o’clock in the morning to the exercises of private worship…he would be much troubled if he heard the smiths or other craftsmen at work at their trades, before he was at communion with God: saying…”How this noise shames me! Doth not my Master deserve more than theirs?”
How often we give greater to our earthly masters than to our heavenly one!
Third I am encouraged by his evangelism. Ian Murry said of Alleine, “Never did the evangel of Jesus Christ burn more fervently in any English heart!” It was also noted that during the time just after graduating from Oxford that he “devoted much time to preaching to prisoners in county jails, visiting the sick, and ministering to the poor.” He was devoted to instructing his own congregation and it was said of him, “He was infinitely and insatiably greedy for the conversion of souls, wherein he had no small success.” After being imprisoned for preaching it is noted that he continued preaching through the prison bars.
All of this and numerous writings and he died at only 34. What a challenge to all, especially felt by those of us who are pastors in our young thirties.
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