A30243:1475
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 55
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.
Showing more Causes of the Senselessness, Silence and Stupidity of the Consciences of most Men.
Shewing more Causes of the Senselesness, Silence and Stupidity of the Consciences of most Men.
ROM. 2. 15. Which declare the work of the Law written in their hearts, their Consciences also accusing, or excusing one another.
ROM. 2. 15. Which declare the work of the Law written in their hearrs, their Consciences also accusing, or excusing one another.
The last day we delivered one main cause of the silencing, or stupefying those Dictates and Principles of natural light, which provoke to that which is good, though very imperfectly and defectively. We now proceed to a second ground; and that may be an imprudent and sinful consideration of the government and administration of things below. That it hath fared ill with those that have done 1well; and on the contrary, that those who have been very heinous in wickedness, have yet prospered, and had great abundance; hath been a great tempest to put out that little spark in mens hearts: which consideration made the Poet say, Solicitor nullos, saepe putare Deos, He was tempted to think there was no God, when he looked upon the administration of things below. This sate heavy on the heathens spirits, whereupon they have made Tractates upon this question, Why it sometimes falls ill to a good man, and well to a wicked, as Seneca and Plutarch, wherein they have behaved themselves in some measure well, gravely acquitting Gods providence; and had they enjoyed Scripture-light, they had easily waded through that deep: And it is no wonder that these blasts have made Heathens stagger and reel too and fio, for we have the eminent Cedars in Gods Church almost overturned by it. David, a godly man, greatly exercised in several conditions, though always finding God turning stone into bread for him, when he was in any wilderness, yet how pitifully doth he toil and labour under this temptation?