A30243:1594
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, Its a rational change: Its the highest act of reason, for a man to 1become another man: For seeing the Scripture, which cannot lye, informeth us both of original and actual pollution, whereby we become no more qualified for heaven, then Toads to be made Angels: This being granted, its the greatest reason in the world, that thou shouldst immediately arise, and go out from thy own self; For how wilt thou, who art but stubble and dry wood, be able to endure this consuming fire of Gods wrath? Again, its rational, because its for the better: Though men do not love to change, yet when its for the better, then they are glad; How do men thus change, in all their outward affairs? but herein turning from sin to grace, we transcendently have the advantage; we change corruption for glory, coals for gold, lust and sin, for the enjoyment of God, and communion with him: So that if men would set judgement on work, and consider what that is they were once; and what that is to which God now calleth them, they would make no delay, but rise up and be doing. Again, its the greatest reason thus to change, because we our selves are subject to a total change by death: We cannot always live and abound in our pleasures, and our jollities, but death will at last come and make a wonderful change: Oh therefore be changed spiritually, before thou art changed corporally; the time will come, when it will be said of thee, Thou livedst in such advantages, in such comforts, but now thou art not, death hath swallowed up all thy temporal joy, and life it self: Oh let it be for the present said, Thou didst live once in such wickedness, in such impieties, but now all is altered: I beseech you as pilgrims, abstain from the lusts of the flesh, 1 Pet. 2. 11. Remember you are pilgrims and travellers, you have no abiding place in this world.
Scondly, Its a rational change: Its the highest act of reason, for a man to 1become another man: For seeing the Scripture, which cannot lye, informeth us both of original and actual pollution, whereby we become no more qualified for heaven, then Toades to be made Angels: This being granted, its the greatest reason in the world, that thou shouldst immediately arise, and go out from thy own self; For how wilt thou, who art but stubble and dry wood, be able to indure this consuming fire of Gods wrath? Again, its rational, because its for the better: Though men do not love to change, yet when its for the better, then they are glad; How do men thus change, in all their outward affairs? but herein turning from sinto grace, we transcendently have the advantage; we change corruption for glory, coals for gold, lust and sin, for the enjoyment of God, and communion with him: So that if men would set judgement on work, and consider what that is they were once; and what that is to which God now calleth them, they would make no delay, but rise up and be doing. Again, its the greatest reason thus to change, because we our selves are subject to a total change by death: We cannot always live and abound in our pleasures, and our jollities, but death will at last come and make a wonderful change: Oh therefore be changed spiritually, before thou art changed corporally; the time will come, when it will be said of thee, Thou livedst in such advantages, in such comforts, but now thou art not, death hath swallowed up all thy temporal joy, and life it self: Oh let it be for the present said, Thou didst live once in such wickedness, in such impieties, but now all is altered: I beseech you as pilgrims, abstain from the lusts of the flesh,