A30243:1107
Spiritual refining
Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel College in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.Spiritual refining: or A treatise of grace and assurance Wherein are handled, the doctrine of assurance. The use of signs in self-examination. How true graces may be distinguished from counterfeit. Several true signs of grace, and many false ones. The nature of grace under divers Scripture notions or titles, as regeneration, the new-creature, the heart of flesh, vocation, sanctification, &c. Many chief questions (occasionally) controverted between the orthodox and the Arminians. As also many cases of conscience. Tending to comfort and confirm saints. Undeceive and convert sinners. Being CXX sermons preached and now published by Anthony Burgess sometime fellow of Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and now pastor of the church of Sutton-Coldfield in Warwickshire.
London: printed by A. Miller for Thomas Underhill, 1652
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A TREATISE OF GRACE and ASSURANCE; Being CXX. SERMONS. › Section 5 › Sermon 40
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
If a man should say, There are so many forms of Church-Government, and if a man be for this form, or the other, it is nothing unless a man be a new Creature; he saith truly: but to infer from thence, that Therefore it's no matter for that form which hath clearest testimony from Scripture, it is a great inconsequence; and the ground of all this is, Although outward duties, and the Religious forms God hath appointed, be not the essence of grace; yet being commanded by God, we are to use them, and thereby testify our worship of him; and withal where true grace is, they do increase grace, and by daily frequent exercise therein, we come to an higher degree in holiness; for they are the Pool, in which not an Angel, but God comes in with healing; they are the Garden, wherein Christ walks; they are the Feast, at which God himself is present; and for these spiritual effects, the Saints of God have such admirable ravishing expressions about them. Take heed therefore of that dangerous Rock on one hand, to neglect the ordinances, expecting immediate Revelations, and Enthusiasms; or on the other hand, a profane contempt of them, even as the Swine doth a Pearl.
If a man should say, There are so many forms of Church-Government, and if a man be for this form, or the other, it is nothing unlesse a man be a new Creature; he saith truely: but to infer from thence, that Therefore it's no matter for that form which hath clearest testimony from Scripture, it is a great inconsequence; and the ground of all this is, Although outward duties, and the Religious forms God hath appointed, be not the essence of grace; yet being commanded by God, we are to use them, and thereby testifie our worship of him; and withall where true grace is, they doe increase grace, and by dayly frequent exercise therein, we come to an higher degree in holinesse; for they are the Pool, in which not an Angel, but God comes in with healing; they are the Garden, wherein Christ walks; they are the Feast, at which God himself is present; and for these spirituall effects, the Saints of God have such admirable ravishing expressions about them. Take heed therfore of that dangerous Rock on one hand, to neglect the ordinances, expecting immediate Revelations, and Enthusiasms; or on the other hand, a propliane contempt of them, even as the Swine doth a Pearl.