A30243:1536
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 58
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.
SERMON LVIII.
Of Ethics or Moral Philosophy, that it leads not to Salvation; And that the Moral Virtues of Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, Liberality, &c. are not Grace.
Of Ethicks or Moral Philosophy, that it leads not to Salvation; And that the Moral Vertues of Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, Liberality, &c. are not Grace.
ROM. 2. 15. Which declare the Law of God written in their hearts, &c.
I Shall at this time finish the matter I intended out of this Text, which was to show, That all the Moral excellency and worth, a man by nature can attain unto, deserveth not to be called Grace and Godliness. The only thing considerable, that remaineth to be discussed, is, Whether those Moral Virtues, the choicest Heathens are so exact in describing of, and pressing to, are Grace: For there is nothing seemeth to be so like godliness, as those Moral Virtues, Fortitude, Temperance, Justice, Liberality, &c. and seeing the Scripture commands the same things, that those Authors do so commend, it may justly be doubted, whether to have those Moral Virtues that do so excellently civilize a man, and orderly regulate all his actions, that the Church and Commonwealth where he liveth, receiveth much good by him, be not enough to Salvation. This is a point of great concernment, for who doth not think, if he attain to such a well-tempered life, that he is in the necessary way to salvation? For the better discovery of the truth in this point, consider these things: