A30243:1346
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 49
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, Consider the Titles which the Scripture giveth evil works, and those titles 1will demonstrate the nature of them. They are called The works of the Devil, What can be a more horrid aggravation then to say, Thy lusts, thy ungodliness, they are of thy self, and they are of the Devil too? It is the Devil in thee, and by thee, who provokes thee to such ways. Thus our Saviour bid Peter, Get thee behind me Satan, get thee behind me Devil, Mat. 16. 23. Why? was Peter a Devil? No, but because what he did came by the Devils instigation and temptation; therefore he useth that phrase. Thus Peter saith to Ananias and Sapphira, Why hath Satan filled thy heart, to lye against the holy Ghost? Act. 5. 3. and the Jews or Pharisees are said to be of their Father the Devil, for his works they do: and Christ is said to come into the world to destroy the works of the Devil. Oh then remember thy self, by whom, and from whom is it that thou art so profane and ungodly? Is it not from the Devil? Doth not that unclean spirit ruling in thee, provoke thee to all uncleanness? Thou wouldst judge it an uncharitable censure to be called as Simon Magus was, Thou child of the Devil; but yet every man living in that ungodly and unholy way, is so. Neither doth this excuse them, as if they were justified, and all the blame to be laid on the Devil, no, for he works upon thy corrupt disposition within. If thou wert not first tempted by thy own lust, the devil could not be a tempter to thee: If thou wert not stubble, his fiery darts would not inflame thee. Consider then all this, you who wallow in all mire and filth of sin. If the Devils were to act visibly upon the earth, and had bodily members to work withal, they would do as thou dost: And further also remember that he who thus enticeth thee to all sin, will be a tormentor afterwards unto thee, and will be an accuser unto God against thee, for that which he hath excused unto thee; throw them then away, they are the Devils works.
Thirdly, Consider the Titles which the Scripture giveth evil works, and those titles 1wil demonstrate the nature of them. They are called The works of the Divel, What can be a more horrid aggravation then to say, Thy lusts, thy ungodlinesse, they are of thy self, and they are of the Divel too? It is the Divel in thee, and by thee, who provokes thee to such waies. Thus our Saviour bid Peter, Get thee behinde me Satan, get thee behinde me Divel,