A30243:1241
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 45
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.
A second Counterfeit pretending to this new Creature, may be every one who formerly being given to some profane and wretched ways is now turned a new man; for 1what can be thought the new creature, if this be not? But every man changed from his former wicked ways is not presently a new Creature, though he be a new man. Ahab was a new man in his humiliations; he had new affections, new sorrow, new humiliation, yet not a new Creature; This is diligently to be considered, that so men may see upon what grounds and motives they set upon a new course of life. And first, this new man may not be a new Creature for want of constancy and duration. This new Creature is incorruptible, being born of the seed of God, and therefore liveth and groweth under discouragements as well as encouragements, under temptations and oppositions, as well as fair and pleasant opportunities; like Camomile it groweth the most by treading upon it; The new Creature hath always been in its most spiritual glory when it hath been in greatest outward reproaches. Golden times of peace and plenty made rusty new Creatures, as I may so allude; but times of persecution took off all their rust, and made a lustre upon them. This new Creature therefore is unchangeable in all changes, at least for the main substance and root of grace; but there is many a man became new and wonderfully changed for a fit, for a pang; It's but a Land-flood not a Fountain, and so is quickly dried up. The people of Israel in their afflictions were wonderfully changed, but their hearts were not steadfast within them; we have a notable instance in one particular, Jer. 34. 15, 16. where the Prophet Jeremiah warneth the people of Israel to let their servants go free at the time appointed by God, otherwise they should not go free from judgements: Hereupon they entered into a Covenant, to proclaim liberty to their servants; but they did not hold long in this new change: Therefore mark that expression, Ye were turned to day, and had done right; but ye turned again, and polluted my name: See here how a people may be changed from evil to good, and then not long after change good unto evil again. Thus the Swine new washed is all over new for a while, but she returneth to her mire again: Thus Johns Hearers did rejoice [Greek or Hebrew], for an hour, for a season; and afterwards they say, John had a Devil.
A second Counterfeit pretending to this new Creature, may be every one who formerly being given to some prophane and wretched wayes is now turned a new man; for