A30243:1456
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 54
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.
2. Though these principles and dictates of conscience within, carry men out to never 1so much natural honesty, yet it is not Grace.
- 1Obs. 2. The works of the Law in a mans conscience, may be considered according to a mans three-fold estate.
I shall begin with the first: And for the understanding of it consider, That we may speak of the work of the Law in a mans conscience, according to a mans three-fold estate.
First, That of Perfection and innocency, wherein God made Adam before his Apostasy: ⟨p. 336⟩And thus the work of the Law was perfectly engraven in Adams heart, both for knowledge to discern, and power to perform. This was a Star sure enough to guide Adam to eternal happiness: Adams soul was not made like a blank paper, for Virtue or Vice to be written on it, in a mere indifferency; but he was made after the image of God, which was righteousness, and true holiness. It was an Image, the whole and universal resemblance of God, and every Lineament was curiously, and accurately drawn. By reason of this, there was no duty to be done, but Adam knew it, there being no ignorance, imprudence, blindness, or folly in his mind; and hereby he had a propension, inclination, facility, and delight in what God commanded, no commandment being an heavy yoke to him.
First, That of Perfection and innocency, wherein God made Adam before his Apostacy: ⟨p. 336⟩