A30243:1589
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.
To this the answer may be, That wicked men living in their sins, under the daily 1exercise of the word, quickly provoke a spiritual censure and judgement to be inflicted upon them; by which means, as the clay under the Sun, they become more obdurate; wonder not then, if as miracles, so this wonderful work of conversion ceaseth (at least its not so frequent) for rebellion and unfruitfulness under the means of grace, enjoyed so long a time, hath deserved this: but I added (not so frequently) because even to this day in several places, God still goeth out with this Omnipotent power upon some few, some firebrands there are pulled out of the fire, some Tigers are made Lambs, although this is very rare in comparison of what hath been formerly; not but that Gods arm is as strong, and the word we preach as powerful, but as it is said of one place, Christ could do no miracles there, because of their unbelief, Mat. 6. 6. He could not (that is) he would not, because he saw their unbelief made them so wretched a people; so it is here, our ministry can do no good, our preaching cannot convert; not that mens lusts are stronger then Gods grace, but because they put such bol•s and bars, such obstructions in the way of grace, that thereby God will not make it effectual to them. O then be afraid, if thou, though still before this fire of the word, yet art always cold and chill, feeling no spiritual heat at all.
To this the answer may be, That wicked men living in their sins, under the daily 1exercise of the word, quickly provoke a spiritual censure and judgement to be inflicted upon them; by which means, as the clay under the Sun, they become more obdurate; wonder not then, if as miracles, so this wonderful work of conversion ceaseth (at least its not so frequent) for rebellion and unfruitfulness under the means of grace, enjoyed so long a time, hath deserved this: but I added (not so frequently) because even to this day in several places, God still goeth out with this Omnipotent power upon some few, some firebrands there are pulled out of the fire, some Tygers are made Lambs, although this is very rare in comparison of what hath been formerly; not but that Gods arm is as strong, and the word we preach as powerful, but as it is said of one place, Christ could do no miracles there, because of their unbelief,