A30243:1487
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.
Seventhly, A profane jollity, and a carnal merriment, this also weakens the voice of natural Conscience; some men are as afraid of any serious sober thoughts 1about God, and the day of judgement, as children are of the dark. This was their disposition, who said, Let us eat and drink, for to morrow we shall dye. Oh profaneness, ⟨p. 345⟩rather let us repent and mourn, and forsake our sins, for to morrow we shall dye; but these swinish Epicures, they made the clean contrary use, We have but a short time to live, we may not hold out till to morrow, therefore let us be merry while we may, when we are gone, all is gone; we will take our pleasures while we may have them. This jolly profaneness, puts out all the eyes of Conscience; now all his care and thought is, but how he may be merry, how he may be glutting and satisfying his lusts; as for the day of judgement, or those sad Sermons which his conscience may preach to him, he desireth to hear no more of them, he will make much of one while he may. But Oh! what is this making much? Its making up much wrath, much misery, and much horror for thy self: That which thou saidst is making mirth, is indeed making nothing for thee, its the eternal perdition of thy soul and body.
Seventhly, A prephane jollity, and a carnall merriment, this also weakens the voice of naturall Conscience; some men are as afraid of any serious sober thoughts 1about God, and the day of judgement, as children are of the dark. This was their disposition, who said, Let us eate and drink, for to morrow we shall dye. Oh prophaness, ⟨p. 345⟩rather let us repent and mourn, and forsake our sins, for to morrow we shall dye; but these swinish Epicures, they made the clean contrary use, We have but a short time to live, we may not hold out till to morrow, therefore let us be merry while we may, when we are gone, all is gone; we will take our pleasures while we may have them. This jolly prophaneness, puts out all the eyes of Conscience; now all his care and thought is, but how he may be merry, how he may be glutting and satisfying his lusts; as for the day of judgement, or those sad Sermons which his conscience may preach to him, he desireth to hear no more of them, he wil make much of one while he may. But Oh! what is this making much? Its making up much wrath, much misery, and much horror for thy self: That which thou saidst is making mirth, is indeed making nothing for thee, its the eternal perdition of thy soul and body.