A30243:1111
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.
Secondly, God doth not regard outward duties unless we be new Creatures because 1we are not able without this to perform them upon spiritual and supernatural grounds: And unless all our duties be grafted upon this stock, they are no more than Brambles and Thorns fit for burning: now the supernatural ground in praying and hearing is because of God, and in reference to him: Israel was an empty Vine, in all her duties, because she brought forth fruit for her self, Hos. 10. 1. she did not turn to God, even unto him. The Motive or Lodestone to draw our affections in any spiritual exercise, must be Gods goodness, holiness, and spiritual excellency: The Virgins love thee, because of thy ointment poured forth, Cant. 1. 2. Christ raxeth his followers because of his loaves; and the Apostle reckoneth it as an Argument, That all old things are passed away, and all things are become new, because, they know no man, no nor Christ himself after the Flesh, 2 Cor. 5. They do not look for carnal advantages by Christ, but love him and obey him because of spiritual grounds; now a stone may as well fly up into the air, as a man without this new Creature be carried out in Religious duties upon spiritual grounds. A Beast may as well speak and understand reason as a natural man discern and be affected with spiritual Motives; and yet if this be not, a man in all religious duties is like David in Sauls Armour, they are too big and great for him, he knoweth not how to manage them: Consider then, How can I pray, or hear upon those supernatural Motives which God requires, if this new nature be wanting? How can Im prayer rejoice in the promises of God, mourn because of the foul and loathsome nature of sin, if there be not this good foundation laid? This then is all in all, and yet we do not above all attend to this: Therefore as Paul said, commending the gifts of the Holy Ghost, speaking with tongues, working of Miracles, &c. Yet I show y•u a more excellent way. So, though ye do well in praying, in hearing, yet there is a more excellent and more necessary way, and that is to perform all these by a sanctified, renewed principle within.
Secondly, God doth not regard outward duties unlesse we be new Creatures because