Joseph Alleine
Joseph Alleine (b. 1634 - d. 1668) was an English Nonconformist pastor.[1] It seems Joseph may have been "born again" in 1645 following the death of his brother, Edward, who was a clergyman. His father approved and sent him to Poulshot, which led him to study under a man, William Spinage, of Exeter College, Oxford. In April 1649, 15-year-old Joseph Alleine would enroll at Lincoln College, Oxford--whose president at the time was Dr. Paul Hood, with Dr. John Owen as the vice-chancellor. By 1653, Joseph had earned a B.D. and became a tutor of his college. Providence would lead Joseph to Rev. George Newton of Taunton, where he would be ordained as an associate to this revered puritan father.
Around the same time of his ordination, he married Theodosia Alleine--daughter of Richard Alleine.
Joseph was a scholar at heart, keeping his nose in the books. One of his works, Theologia Philosophica, a treatise meant to draw harmony between creation and revelation earned him the respect of Richard Baxter. However, his luxury of study and safety in Taunton would be compromised in 1662 by the Act of Conformity where over 2,000 ministers were ejected from the Church of England. However, filled with the Spirit and a love for Christ, Joseph would continue preaching publicly after the model of Galilee. His partner in evangelizing would be Mr. John Westley--not to be confused with his grandson John Wesley who founded Methodism. This would get him arrested and thrown in prison, beaten harshly and made to suffer. He was released in 1664; however, Joseph would return to preaching the gospel which got him thrown in jail and beaten time and time again. It is likely that these injuries lead to his rather premature death on 17 November 1668. His mourners remembering his words, "If I should die fifty miles away, let me be buried at Taunton," buried him in his old church's chancel--a very privileged place of burial, which attests to how impactful his ministry was to a large following of people. Besides Richard Baxter, few other puritans were so affectionately cherished by the English-speaking people of God. Baxter would end up writing a biography and tribute to Joseph Alleine with Theodosia Alleine called "The Life and Death of Joseph Alleine." *Link is to an 1840 reprint*
List of works:
- An Alarm to Unconverted Sinners (1672) *reprinted posthumously, extensively* **Given the language within the work, most likely written when Alleine was in prison toward the end of his life (1664-68)**
- A Call to Archippus (1664)
- Christian Letters; full of spiritual instructions, tending to the promoting of the power of godliness, both in persons, and families (1673) *compiled posthumously*
- Divers practical cases of conscience satisfactorily resolved (1673) *posthumously reprinted, hyperlink is to a 1675 reprint which is in better condition*
- A most familiar explanation of the Assemblies Shorter Catechism (1674) *posthumously reprinted*
- The true way to happiness, in a serious treatise, ... (1675) *posthumously reprinted*
