A30243:1242
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.
Oh consider then, whether thy becoming a new man, be not upon some fits for a little while, and then thou Apostatizest again: Thy inconstancy is an argument of thy hypocrisy: Thou art but a blazing star that may make a lustre for a while, thou art not fixed in the Orb. Now with what earnestness should this be pressed upon you? How many men become new for a day, for a week, but then presently return to their old lusts again? This argueth thy motion is not natural, but violent, otherwise it would hold out.
Oh consider then, whether thy becoming a new man, be not upon some fits for a little while, and then thou Apostatizest again: Thy inconstancy is an argument of thy hypocrisie: Thou art but a blazing star that may make a lustre for a while, thou art not fixed in the Orb. Now with what earnestnesse should this be pressed upon you? How many men become new for a day, for a week, but then presently return to their old lusts again? This argueth thy motion is not naturall, but violent, otherwise it would hold out.
2. It may be defective in the motives of it; Thou art become a new Creature upon old grounds, for so it may fall out. Not love to Christ and spiritual considerations may set thee upon this change, but temporal fears, and love to outward mercies: When the Apostle, 2 Cor. 5. 16. would declare, That every man in Christ is a new Creature, and old things are passed away, he declareth this by instancing in particulars; Henceforth know we no man after the flesh,, no not Christ himself: A mighty expression. The sense is, That whereas once they delighted in, and had much comfort by the bodily presence of Christ; he was a great stay and comfort to them, insomuch ⟨p. 279⟩that they were exceedingly troubled to hear of his departure. Now (saith the Apostle) we look not after those corporeal considerations, but know him after, a spiritual manner, we expect spiritual strength, spiritual privileges, and spiritual consolations by him; so then if a new Creature, thy humiliations are after the Spirit, not after the Flesh; all thy religious duties, thou knowest them not after the flesh: But there are many men, though changed in their lives, yet it is after the flesh only they are changed, because Gods judgements were upon their estates, their bodies, and the outward man. The Prophet