A30243:1432
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 7 › Sermon 53
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, Its a sure Character of grace to make a man hunger and thirst still after more degrees of grace. Therefore the godly man is described by seeking, Rom. 12. 3. by desiring, Neh. 1. 11. by hungering and thirsting, Matth. 5. 6. because his soul is never satisfied in the way of grace, but he hath an holy dropsy on him, the more he drinks of this water the more he thirsteth after it: Objects that are pleasing to sense, they glut the Faculty at last; so that an honey-comb is sometimes loathed; but spiritual objects are so far from burdening the heart, and causing a disdain, ⟨p. 330⟩that the more they are enjoyed, the more they are desired, and longed after. Every Christian is compared to a Merchant, whose scope is to increase and advance his estate; to a Traveller, who considers not so much how many miles he hath gone, as how much of his journey is still behind. Thus Paul he forgets that which is behind, Phil. 3. and presseth forward to the mark before him; so that it is an evident sign of a man in grace, when he goeth on to perfection, and thinketh not, I will live as the most do, I will not be singular, or go further than the multitude doth: Its a sign thou hast not tasted how good grace and holiness is, and therefore thou desirest not more of it; and certainly, if grace to such a degree be so good and comfortable, how much more is it to an higher degree! As the dog is sluggish until he hath got the sent of his game, and then he pursueth it violently; so it is here: A man that hath not apprehended the powerful excellency, and sweetness of grace, he is very remiss and negligent in all endeavours after it; but he that hath once felt this fire in his bosom, desireth to make it seven times hotter. Oh then, if a drop of this grace be so precious, what is an Ocean of it?
Thirdly, Its a sure Character of grace to make a man hunger and thirst still after more degrees of grace. Therefore the godly man is described by seeking,