A30243:1463
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.
Secondly, Therefore these practical principles of good and evil abide in us, that ⟨p. 337⟩so we might be the more inexcusable: For when men have not lived according to that which the light of nature would have directed them to, their condemnation will be very just, themselves being Judges, and their own consciences bearing witness to it. When therefore men live in such sins as Nature condemneth, such are uncleanness, unjust dealings, lying and forswearing; they do not need Moses his Law, nor Pauls Gospel to condemn them; they have that in their own hearts which will accuse and overthrow them. The Apostle many times provoketh to Duty by this, 1. Cor. 11. 14. Doth not even nature teach thee? Oh how often may even Christians be severely rebuked? Doth not even Nature teach thee, that to Lye, Steal, commit Adultery, are horrid sins? How then canst thou break this strong bond in which Natural light hath tied thee? To be condemned, because we do not believe in Christ, would not be unless Christ had been propounded to us: we need supernatural revelation to some duties; but the Duties enjoined by Nature, they oblige us, though no Scripture had been written, no Ministers did inform us; though none should bid us fulfil them. Thou hast a Doctor or Teacher in thy own breast, which condemneth thee for what thou doest, therefore art thou greatly inexcusable.
Secondly, Therefore these practicall principles of good and evill abide in us, that ⟨p. 337⟩so we might be the more inexcusable: For when men have not lived according to that which the light of nature would have directed them to, their condemnation will be very just, themselves being Judges, and their own consciences bearing witnesse to it. When therefore men live in such sinnes as Nature condemneth, such are uncleannesse, unjust dealings, lying and forswearing; they do not need Moses his Law, nor Pauls Gospel to condemn them; they have that in their own hearts which will accuse and overthrow them. The Apostle many times provoketh to Duty by this, 1. Cor. 11. 14. Doth not even nature teach thee? Oh how often may even Christians be severely rebuked? Doth not even Nature teach thee, that to Lye, Steal, commit Adultery, are horrid sins? How then canst thou break this strong bond in which Natural light hath tyed thee? To be condemned, because we do not believe in Christ, would not be unlesse Christ had been propounded to us: we need supernaturall revelation to some duties; but the Duties enjoyned by Nature, they oblige us, though no Scripture had been written, no Ministers did inform us; though none should bid us fulfill them. Thou hast a Doctor or Teacher in thy own breast, which condemneth thee for what thou doest, therefore art thou greatly inexcusable.