A30243:1586
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.
Fifthly, Therefore God will have some of these Beelzebub sinners converted, that so grace may be acknowledged to be a real, manifest, powerful work, and that in the 1eyes of all the world: Men are prone to judge godliness, nothing but the Melancholy, and the tender constitution of some mens bodies, or their black imaginations or fancies which arise within; but now when such, who have been so long, so continual in evil and ungodly ways, they shall love and delight in what they once loathed: This makes godliness a palpable visible thing: When Paul a blasphemer, a cursed opposer of the ways of Christ, is converted, and sets up that which he once pulled down, this makes all men see Gods Grace is not a notion, but a real lively work upon a man. That as the whole world wondered, when they saw Christ work such palpable miracles, making the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dead to rise, they concluded he was God; here could be no imposture or deceit, the things were so manifest: Thus when God calls some wicked men, and makes them forsake all the pleasures and profits, leave the custom receipt immediately, deny their parents, friends, and all that might work upon natural affections; all the profane and carnal company to whom their souls was once glued; this must make every man say, Here is more then notions, here is a real fire. The Poets taught much of Circe's cup, which turned men into beasts, but here is a change of beasts into men, yea into Angels; and we may say, This work of the Lord is marvellous in our eyes.
Fifthly, Therefore God will have some of these Beelzebub sinners converted, that so grace may be acknowledged to be a real, manifest, powerful work, and that in the 1eyes of all the world: Men are prone to judge godliness, nothing but the Melancholy, and the tender constitution of some mens bodies, or their black imaginations or fancies which arise within; but now when such, who have been so long, so continual in evil and ungodly ways, they shall love and delight in what they once loathed: This makes godliness a palpable visible thing: When Paul a blasphemer, a cursed opposer of the ways of Christ, is converted, and sets up that which he once pulled down, this makes all men see Gods Grace is not a notion, but a real lively work upon a man. That as the whole world wondered, when they saw Christ work such palpable miracles, making the blinde to see, the deaf to hear, the dead torise, they concluded he was God; here could be no imposture or deceit, the things were so manifest: Thus when God calls some wicked men, and makes them forsake all the pleasures and profits, leave the custom receipt immediately, deny their parents, friends, and all that might work upon natural affections; all the prophane and carnal company to whom their souls was once glewed; this must make every man say, Here is more then notions, here is a real fire. The Poets taught much of Circe's cup, which turned men into beasts, but here is a change of beasts into men, yea into Angels; and we may say, This work of the Lord is marvellous in our eyes.