A30243:1250
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.
Thirdly, Let these resolutions be accompanied with earnest and fervent prayers to God. Thou purposest and resolvest, but where are thy lively and powerful supplications 1unto God? There is no such Engine to batter down all the strong holds of sin, as prayer; see our Saviours encouragement herein, Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened, Mat. 7. 7. Prayer is the key of Heaven, as the Ancients called it; thy resolutions therefore and desires are like those of the sluggard, who desireth, and desireth, but putteth not his hands to work, and so his desires are said to kill him; Thus thou resolvest, and resolvest, but dost not set home, or back these resolutions by earnest and strong prayers; therefore thy resolutions destroy thee: A man strong in resolutions, and weak in supplications will presently be foiled upon ⟨p. 281⟩every temptation, you must not therefore only resolve, but you must watch, pray, and even yet thy resolutions take no place, extraordinarily fast, and seek to God; for sins that have been long upon thee, are like those devils which possessed a man from his youth, and such could not be cast out, but by prayer and fasting.
Thirdly, Let these resolutions be accompanied with earnest and fervent prayers to God. Thou purposest and resolvest, but where are thy lively and powerfull supplications 1unto God? There is no such Engine to batter down all the strong holds of sinne, as prayer; see our Saviours incouragement herein, Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened, Mat. 7. 7. Prayer is the key of Heaven, as the Ancients called it; thy resolutions therefore and desires are like those of the sluggard, who desireth, and desireth, but putteth not his hands to work, and so his desires are said to kill him; Thus thou resolvest, and resolvest, but dost not set home, or back these resolutions by earnest and strong prayers; therefore thy resolutions destroy thee: A man strong in resolutions, and weak in supplications will presently be foyled upon ⟨p. 281⟩