A30243:1112
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.
Thirdly, as Religious duties cannot be performed graciously without this, so, Neither is a man a fit subject to receive those spiritual benefits communicated by God 1in them, without this. Unless a man be a new Creature he knoweth not what it is to have Communion and Fellowship with God in Prayer and Sacraments; He cannot taste of the comforts and joys in the Holy Ghost; such expressions as those, I will come and sup with him, and he with me; and my soul panteth after the living God, when shall I come and enjoy him? he is not able to understand: There is in the spiritual discharge of holy duties, a very heaven, a comfortable enjoying of Gods presence; I will dwell with them, saith God, 2 Cor. 6. and ye are the Temple of the Holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 3. But (alas) these are unspeakable miseries to an unregenerate man. In all duties they have but the bone as it were, not the marrow; they stand in the Porch of the Temple, they do not enter into the Holy of Holies; They do not feel what David and Paul, and all those holy Servants of God have felt in Gods Word; what should move you more to seek after this new Creature than this? To think these Ordinances are but husks to me, and Manna to others; they are but a Wilderness to me, when a Garden to others; others go home blessing ⟨p. 248⟩and praising God, as if they had been in a glorious transfiguration, but I return earthly and stupid. Oh why is all this, but because I want this new Creature; then it would be new praying, and new hearing.
Thirdly, as Religious duties cannot be performed graciously without this, so, Neither is a man a fit subject to receive those spirituall benefits communicated by God 1in them, without this. Unlesse a man be a new Creature he knoweth not what it is to have Communion and Fellowship with God in Prayer and Sacraments; He cannot taste of the comforts and joyes in the Holy Ghost; such expressions as those, I will come and sup with him, and he with me; and my soul panteth after the living God, when shall I come and enjoy him? he is not able to understand: There is in the spirituall discharge of holy duties, a very heaven, a comfortable enjoying of Gods presence; I will dwell with them, saith God,