A30243:1320
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.
Fifthly, Here is universality of good works. The Apostle speaks indefinitely, created to good works, and that is equivalent to an universal where the matter is necessary: He doth not say, created to some good works, or this and that good work, but good works in the general. If a man be studious for all the good works of the second Table that relate to man, as the works of righteousness, liberality, humility, and love, &c. if negligent in the good works that relate to the first Table, of piety, worship of God in Truth and sincerity, keeping his Sabbath, zealous for his glory, fearing an Oath; this man is but for some good works, and so not created by God, which is universal. Again, if a man be zealous for the works of piety and religion, but careless in the duties of justice, equity, truth to men, of brotherly love and liberality to those that are in necessities, as far as it is his duty, he also is to doubt whether he be created to good works; for Gods grace createth to one as well as to another.
Fifthly, Here is universality of good works. The Apostle speaks indefinitely, created to good works, and that is equivalent to an universal where the matter is necessary: He doth not say, created to some good works, or this and that good work, but good works in the general. If a man be studious for all the good works of the second Table that relate to man, as the works of righteousness, liberality, humility, and love, &c. if negligent in the good works that relate to the first Table, of piety, worship of God in Truth and sincerity, keeping his Sabbath, zealous for his glory, fearing an Oath; this man is but for some good works, and so not created by God, which is universal. Again, if a man be zealous for the works of piety and religion, but carelesse in the duties of justice, equity, truth to men, of brotherly love and liberality to those that are in necessities, as far as it is his duty, he also is to doubt whether he be created to good works; for Gods grace createth to one as well as to another.
Sixthly, It doth not only suppose us inclining and ready to them, but zealously to pursue them. Thus they are called a peculiar people, zealous of good works; zeal is an hot burning affection, compounded partly of grief, because we are hindered in what we would do; partly of anger against that which opposeth us; and partly of vehement love, which carrieth us out to that we desire. Thus the godly are greatly grieved, because of that relic and remainder of corruption which makes them not to do the good they would, as Paul bitterly complaineth. They are also angry at those lusts which have the greatest power over them: And lastly, hot burning love to the glory of God, whom they do honour, and desire to exalt continually. And as zeal breeds jealousy, so it doth also in the godly breast: Their zeal to that which is holy makes them jealous, lest at any time sin should deceive them, or Satan seduce them. Thus Job made a covenant with his eyes, and David set a watch before his mouth, and Paul kept down his body, and all out of a godly jealousy, lest though they had gone so far in the way of holiness, their feet at last should be turned out of the way.