A30243:1583
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 60
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, God makes his grace to come to such great sinners sometimes, that his 1tender mercies and compassions may be made the more illustrious: As it was Christs pity to cure that cripple, that lay thirty years by the pools side, and had no man to help him; so these sinners that are bound in stronger chains then others, whom the Devil detaineth in surer chains then others, its a greater act of pity and grace to rescue them: Thus Paul being sensible of himself, as the greatest of all sinners, how passionately doth he break out to admire the mercy and grace of God to him: So that when we see a wretched obstinate sinner, who careth for nothing, feareth nothing, is not able to pity himself, converted and enlightened by the grace of God; here are tender bowels, God pitieth him more then man doth himself. As Hierom said of the poor dumb man that cannot speak or beg for an alms, Maxim rogat, dum non potest rogare, The more unable he is to speak, the more he doth speak, moving compassion and pity. Thus a wicked man, who is indeed dumb spiritually, cannot speak, cannot pray, cannot utter any one word in his behalf, is thereby an object of pity with God, because so miserable: If then you ask, Why are such mens eyes opened? why do such men understand what they did not? Christ in mercy hath said unto them, Arise and walk.
Secondly, God makes his grace to come to such great sinners sometimes, that his 1tender mercies and compassions may be made the more illustrious: As it was Christs pitty to cure that cripple, that lay thirty years by the pools side, and had no man to help him; so these sinners that are bound in stronger chains then others, whom the Devil detaineth in surer chains then others, its a greater act of pitty and grace to rescue them: Thus Paul being sensible of himself, as the greatest of all sinners, how passionately doth he break out to admire the mercy and grace of God to him: So that when we see a wretched obstinate sinner, who careth for nothing, feareth nothing, is not able to pitty himself, converted and inlightned by the grace of God; here are tender bowels, God pittieth him more then man doth himself. As Hierom said of the poor dumb man that cannot speak or beg for an alms, Maxime rogat, dum non potest rogare, The more unable he is to speak, the more he doth speak, moving compassion and pitty. Thus a wicked man, who is indeed dumb spiritually, cannot speak, cannot pray, cannot utter any one word in his behalf, is thereby an object of pitty with God, because so miserable: If then you ask, Why are such mens eyes opened? why do such men understand what they did not? Christ in mercy hath said unto them, Arise and walk.