A30243:1117
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.
8. These external duties are nothing without a new Creature, Because while 1this is absent there cannot be faith to apply Christ, and bring him to dwell in the soul who only is the meritorious cause of all acceptance with God. Without faith its impossible to please God. By faith we are justified, we have boldness: Now this faith cannot be but in a new nature; yea its made equivalent to this new Creature; for that which the Apostle calls here a new Creature, in the Chapter mentioned before he expresseth it, By faith working with love. As in the Holy of Holies every thing was Gold, or covered with Gold; so all that is accepted with God, is either Christ, or Duties covered with Christ. Till therefore thou art a new Creature, thou canst not put forth an act of faith, there wants that Hyssop which should sprinkle Christs blood upon thee; and howsoever people may think and say they believe in Christ, yet its impossible for them to do it, till they be born again; for to believe in Christ is the greatest grace, and so needeth the greater power of God.
8. These externall duties are nothing without a new Creature, Because while 1this is absent there cannot be faith to apply Christ, and bring him to dwell in the soul who onely is the meritorious cause of all acceptance with God. Without faith its impossible to please God. By faith we are justified, we have boldnesse: Now this faith cannot be but in a new nature; yea its made equivalent to this new Creature; for that which the Apostle calls here a new Creature, in the Chapter mentioned before he expresseth it, By faith working with love. As in the Holy of Holies every thing was Gold, or covered with Gold; so all that is accepted with God, is either Christ, or Duties covered with Christ. Til therefore thou art a new Creature, thou canst not put forth an act of faith, there wants that Hyssop which should sprinkle Christs bloud upon thee; and howsoever people may think and say they believe in Christ, yet its impossible for them to doe it, till they be born again; for to believe in Christ is the greatest grace, and so needeth the greater power of God.
- 18. No faith interesting us in Christ without the new creature.