A30243:1571
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 8 › Sermon 59
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.
First, That God will not be mocked; for so saith the Apostle, Be not deceived, God will not be mocked, Gal. 6. 7. All thy Religion, all thy holy duties, without a sanctification of thy life, is but a mere mockery of God; for what can be a greater mockery than this, to cry out of thy sins here, and to commit them when thou comest home? To say here, Lord set thy will be done, even as Angels in heaven do it, and then at home to obey it no more than Devils in Hell, Oh consider, this is ⟨p. 368⟩mocking of God, and of this sin thou hast been guilty many years. Was not that plain mockery of Christ, when they called him King in scorn, and yet at the same time crucified him. No less is it here, when thou drawest nigh to God, as if thou worshippedst him, as if thou wouldst love and obey him, and afterwards live to his great dishonour.
First, That God will not be mocked; for so saith the Apostle, Be not deceived, God will not be mocked, Gal. 6. 7. All thy Religion, all thy holy duties, without a sanctification of thy life, is but a meer mockery of God; for what can be a greater mockery than this, to cry out of thy sinnes here, and to commit them when thou comest home? To say here, Lord set thy will be done, even as Angels in heaven do it, and then at home to obey it no more than Devils in Hell, Oh consider, this is ⟨p. 368⟩mocking of God, and of this sinne thou hast been guilty many years. Was not that plain mockery of Christ, when they called him King in scorn, and yet at the same time crucified him. No lesse is it here, when thou drawest nigh to God, as if thou worshippedst him, as if thou wouldst love and obey him, and afterwards live to his great dishonour.
Secondly, Consider, that what a man doth in his actions, is in some sense a more real demonstration of a man then any words or professions. He is the greatest and most real enemy to God, whose life is so, let his outward profession be what it can be. Therefore God at the great day of judgement will proceed according to the works of men. The Lord heretofore complained of those that drawed nigh to him with their lips,