A30243:1311
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 48
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.
Of good works; What to be created unto good works implies, and what works are good.
EPHES. 2. 10. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus to good works.
The next thing in Order considerable in this Text, is the meritorious cause of this spiritual workmanship, and that is Christ Jesus. But this particular I shall pass by, as a subject requiring a more large and distinct discourse of it self. I proceed therefore to the final cause of this spiritual creation, and that is, To good works: In the Greek it is Created in good works. The final cause (saith Erasmus) is not here signified, but the effect of grace creating: so that in his sense the Holy Ghost should not intend the end of creating us anew, but the effect of his grace, as if that did work all the good in us; and which is a wonder, Estius a Papist goeth this way, quoting Isa 26. that place, O God thou hast wrought all our works in us: It is much for him to do so, for this seemeth greatly to exclude the power of free will: But I rather take it for the final cause, and commend our translators who render it, unto good works; and it is an Hebraism to use the Preposition in, for unto, although the Grecians also do so, as [Greek or Hebrew], for gains sake, for a rewards sake. There [Greek or Hebrew] denoteth a final cause, though indeed this is so the final cause, as that it is also the effect.
THe next thing in Order considerable in this Text, is the meritorious cause of this spiritual workmanship, and that is Christ Jesus. But this particular I shall pass by, as a subject requiring a more large and distinct discourse of it self. I proceed therefore to the final cause of this spiritual creation, and that is, To good works: In the Greek it is Created in good works. The final cause (saith Erasmus) is not here signified, but the effect of grace creating: so that in his sense the Holy Ghost should not intend the end of creating us anew, but the effect of his grace, as if that did work all the good in us; and which is a wonder, Estius a Papist goeth this way, quoting Isa 26. that place, O God thou hast wrought all our works in us: It is much for him to do so, for this seemeth greatly to exclude the power of free will: But I rather take it for the final cause, and commend our translators who render it, unto good works; and it is an Hebraism to use the Preposition in, for unto, although the Grecians also do so, as , for gains sake, for a rewards sake. There denoteth a final cause, though indeed this is so the final cause, as that it is also the effect.