A30243:1298
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 6 › Sermon 47
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.
Fifthly, Of a people inconstant and unsettled in the ways of God, by this new change 1he makes fixed and rooted upon a sure Rock. Observe the people of Israel, they often cried unto the Lord in their extremities, but their hearts were not steadfast within them, and so they quickly revolted again, Psal. 18. 31. But the people of God are said to be like Mount Zion, that cannot be removed, Psal. 133. 3. The gates of hell cannot prevail against them. They are an house built upon a Rock, and so when the winds and tempests arise, they stand fast. As God is a God that changeth not, so they are holy, believing, and change not. Israels righteousness is like a morning Dew, Hos. 13. 2. it quickly drieth up, the Dew falls as Aristotle observeth, when the Mornings are neither too hot or cold; Thus an heart that is lukewarm, and hath no real, inward efficacy of grace, sets upon Duties, but when the Sun ariseth and scorcheth, presently the grass withereth. Oh its a great Argument of this New Creation, to be steadfast and immovable in the work of the Lord. Not to change with the times and seasons; To be one while for the truths and ways of God, and another while to be against them. Those things that are from a principle of nature are constant, and always alike, but those things which come about by accident, and as it happens; they are various and incertain. See then thou art, as it is said of Christ, The same Yesterday, and to day, and for ever. As great storms and tempests discover what rooting the Tree hath, so variety of conditions doth manifest what metal we are made of. As therefore David prayed, That God would always keep up that willingness in the mens hearts, who then offered to God; so do thou desire that God always would keep thy soul in that tenderness, love and strong affections which sometimes are kindled in thee. Johns hearers did [Greek or Hebrew], for an hour, a short season [Greek or Hebrew], Rejoice exceedingly, as in triumph, but when his Ministry began to touch them close for their particular sins, then they said, He had a Devil: Now certainly God is always the same, that which is good is always as lovely, that which is sin is always as abominable; Therefore thy affections should be always in the same manner carried out towards them. I might in many other particulars show you, how God doth create a people unto that which is good?