--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The right procedure: You begin at the…" description: "\"The right procedure: You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election. Prove your conversion, and then never doubt your election. If..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/joseph-alleine-22077_arguing_the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wro_2799249.jpg" --- # The right procedure: You begin at the wrong end if you… ![“The right procedure: You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election. Prove your conversion, and then never doubt your election. If you cannot yet prove it, set upon a present and thorough turning. Whatever purposes be, which are secret, I am sure His promises are plain. How…” quote by Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/joseph-alleine-22077_arguing_the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wro_2799249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/joseph-alleine-22077_arguing_the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wro_2799249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/joseph-alleine-22077_arguing_the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wro_2799249.jpg) > “The right procedure: You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election. Prove your conversion, and then never doubt your election. If you cannot yet prove it, set upon a present and thorough turning. Whatever purposes be, which are secret, I am sure His promises are plain. How desperately do rebels argue! "If I am elected I shall be saved, do what I will. If not, I shall be damned, do what I can." Perverse sinner, will you begin where you should end?” [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Correct order of belief: first prove conversion, then trust election; doubt leads to rebellion. **In simple terms:** Prove faith before trusting destiny. Key Takeaway Secure conviction before action. Themes faith election doubt Mood reflective serious Type religious didactic When to use this quote - religious conversion - personal conviction - church doctrine Key Concepts theology spiritual discipline Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance proof of faith with humility? - What role does doubt play in spiritual growth? A Different Perspective May be rigid for modern pluralism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Rebel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebel/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) ## Related quotes > [It is a common mistake in going to war to begin at the wrong end, to act first, and wait for disasters to discuss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/it-is-a-common-mistake-in-going-to-war-to-begin-at-the-wrong-end-to/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [“It was nearly incomprehensible to him that the same people—that is, the media—who had violently criticized him for saying he might dispute the election…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wolff/it-was-nearly-incomprehensible-to-him-that-the-same-people-that-is/) [Michael Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wolff/) > [“Whoever shall call on God, shall be saved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-shall-call-on-god-shall-be-saved/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [We therefore need to know the gifts given us by God, so that we may use them, for by these we shall be saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-hilton/we-therefore-need-to-know-the-gifts-given-us-by-god-so-that-we-may/) [Walter Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-hilton/) > [“ROM5.9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ROM5.10 For if, when we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rom5-9-much-more-then-being-now-justified-by-his-blood-we-shall-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > ['Africa shall be saved.' I heard God's message so clearly. In response, my family moved from Lesotho to South Africa in 1974.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/africa-shall-be-saved-i-heard-god-s-message-so-clearly-in-response-my/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goddey-wilson/for-god-did-not-appoint-us-to-suffer-wrath-but-to-receive-salvation/) [GODDEY WILSON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goddey-wilson/) > [For God So Loved The World, He Gave His Only Begottten Son, And Whomever Shall Believe In Him, Shall Be Saved. -John 3:16](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-bible/for-god-so-loved-the-world-he-gave-his-only-begottten-son-and/) [The Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-bible/) > [When you are under the power of sexual desire, anger and worldly attachment, or a greedy miser in love with your wealth; if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-guru-granth-sahib/when-you-are-under-the-power-of-sexual-desire-anger-and-worldly/) [Sri Guru Granth Sahib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-guru-granth-sahib/) > [“ROM10.9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rom10-9-that-if-thou-shalt-confess-with-thy-mouth-the-lord-jesus-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If God absolutely and pretemporally decrees that particular persons shall be saved and others damned, apart from any cooperation of human freedom, then God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-c-oden/if-god-absolutely-and-pretemporally-decrees-that-particular-persons/) [Thomas C. Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-oden/) > [If I die prematurely at any rate I shall be saved from being bored to death by my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-i-die-prematurely-at-any-rate-i-shall-be-saved-from-being-bored-to/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [If you can but give to the fainting soul at your door a cup of water from the wells of truth, it shall flash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moncure-d-conway/if-you-can-but-give-to-the-fainting-soul-at-your-door-a-cup-of-water/) [Moncure D. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moncure-d-conway/) > [If I die prematurely I shall be saved from being bored to death at my own success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/if-i-die-prematurely-i-shall-be-saved-from-being-bored-to-death-at-my/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) > [“ACT15.11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/act15-11-but-we-believe-that-through-the-grace-of-the-lord-jesus/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Joseph Alleine > [Christ does not control his subjects by force, but is King of a willing people. They are, through His grace, freely devoted to His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by-force-but-is-king-of-a/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ, but is not for sanctification. He is for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-unsound-convert-takes-christ-by-halves-he-is-all-for-the/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [For a soul to come to Jesus, is the grandest event in its history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/for-a-soul-to-come-to-jesus-is-the-grandest-event-in-its-history/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [with the true convert, holiness is woven into all his powers, principles, and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/with-the-true-convert-holiness-is-woven-into-all-his-powers/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [While we keep aloof in general statements, there is little fruit to be expected; it is the hand-fight that does execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/while-we-keep-aloof-in-general-statements-there-is-little-fruit-to-be/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [A man may as certainly miscarry by his seeming righteousness and supposed graces, as by gross sins; and that is, when a man doth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/a-man-may-as-certainly-miscarry-by-his-seeming-righteousness-and/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [I will watch over My flock by night (Isaiah 27:3). Behold, I have appointed My ministers as your watchmen, as overseers who watch for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/i-will-watch-over-my-flock-by-night-isaiah-27-3-behold-i-have/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Satan turned Eve's eye to the apple, Achan's eye to the wedge of gold, Ahab's eye to Naboth's vineyard, and then what work did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/satan-turned-eve-s-eye-to-the-apple-achan-s-eye-to-the-wedge-of-gold/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [The Lord Jesus Christ would have the whole world to know, that though He pardons sin, He will not protect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-lord-jesus-christ-would-have-the-whole-world-to-know-that-though/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Though sin may be in the Christian, yet it hath no more dominion over him; he hath an unfeigned respect to all God's commandments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/though-sin-may-be-in-the-christian-yet-it-hath-no-more-dominion-over/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [A man may as well hew marble without tools, or paint without colors or instruments, or build without materials, as perform any acceptable service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/a-man-may-as-well-hew-marble-without-tools-or-paint-without-colors-or/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Conversion is a work above man's power... Never think you can convert yourself. If ever you would be savingly converted, you must despair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/conversion-is-a-work-above-man-s-power-never-think-you-can-convert/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [There is no surer evidence of an unconverted state than to have the things of the world uppermost in our aim, love, and estimation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/there-is-no-surer-evidence-of-an-unconverted-state-than-to-have-the/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Woe unto thee if after all thy profession thou shouldst be found under the power of ignorance, lost in formality, drowned in earthly-mindedness, envenomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/woe-unto-thee-if-after-all-thy-profession-thou-shouldst-be-found/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Come from your knees to the sermon, and come from the sermon to your knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/come-from-your-knees-to-the-sermon-and-come-from-the-sermon-to-your/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) [Explore all 28 Joseph Alleine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The right procedure: You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election. Prove your conversion, and then never doubt your election. If you cannot yet prove it, set upon a present and thorough turning. Whatever purposes be, which are secret, I am sure His promises are plain. How desperately do rebels argue! \"If I am elected I shall be saved, do what I will. If not, I shall be damned, do what I can.\" Perverse sinner, will you begin where you should end?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Alleine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wrong-end-if-you-first-dispute/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arguing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wrong-end-if-you-first-dispute/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/joseph-alleine-22077_arguing_the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wro_2799249.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/joseph-alleine-22077_arguing_the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wro_2799249.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aaa/joseph-alleine-22077_arguing_the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wro_2799249.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The right procedure: You begin at the wrong end if you first dispute about your election. Prove your…” — Joseph Alleine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joseph Alleine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The right procedure: You begin at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wrong-end-if-you-first-dispute/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-right-procedure-you-begin-at-the-wrong-end-if-you-first-dispute/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```