A30243:1435
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.
So then where grace is in a man, there it conquers natural inclinations, affections and desires; insomuch that he puts off a man, when he puts on a Christian. Oh then do not think, that when once made gracious, such humane natural Obligations will be such snares to thee, as they have been: It will not be graces excuse to say, I have bought a Farm, or married a wife, and so cannot come; but therefore the rather come.
So then where grace is in a man, there it conquers naturall inclinations, affections and desires; insomuch that he puts off a man, when he puts on a Christian. Oh then doe not think, that when once made gracious, such humane naturall Obligations will be such snares to thee, as they have been: It will not be graces excuse to say, I have bought a Farm, or married a wife, and so cannot come; but therefore the rather come.
Sixthly, Where grace is, there it doth not despise little sins, but is afraid to commit them. 1Its far from saying, as he of Zoar, Is it not a little one? He dares not swear petty Oaths, nor use idle words; for to grace no sin is little, because its against that great God of heaven, who hath severely punished even little sins. Adams first sin, which hath involved all the world in so much misery, and made the first spark to kindle hell, was but little for the matter of it. Moses his sin, for which God kept him out of Canaan, seemed very little comparatively: and Eli's sin, was only in the defect of grace, he did his duty, but not with such Zeal as he should have done; yet for this Gods judgements were so great upon him, and his Family, that it made the ears of those tingle who heard it. And as for Saul, he committed many grievous sins, but that for which God took occasion to deprive him of his Kingdom, and to cast him off, was but the not staying long enough till Samuel came; and therefore setting upon the Sacrifice to satisfy the people who were impatient. Therefore where grace is, there cannot but be preciseness, exactness, they cannot swallow a Gnat, much less a Camel: It makes the heart tender, •like the eye, which the least crumb of dust doth greatly offend: As for that Pharisaical hypocrisy, to make conscience about less things, and to neglect great, grace doth also abhor; for if a little sin not regarded, or slighted by worldly men, be so grievous to it, how much rather that which is of a more bloody nature? and if sin cannot compel him to go on a mile, how shall it do two or three? Therefore both sin and nature are rectified by grace.