A30243:1611
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 61
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.
Fourthly, Therefore the Scripture speaketh of a two fold subject to be washed. First, the heart; thus as in the place mentioned, having your hearts sprinkled 1and cleansed from all filthiness of spirit. This heart-washing is first to be set upon, as being the root, principle, and foundation. Thus purify your hearts, ye double minded, Jam. 4. 8. If the Fountain be not cleansed, all the streams must needs be muddy. Now although most men neglect this Duty, yet this is the main of all. A bad heart is an ill Treasury: out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, and all manner of actual evil. This point our Saviour pressed much upon the Pharisees, who had cleansed their lives from outward wickedness, but their inwards were full of all foul and noisome lusts: and the necessity of this appeareth, in that God accepteth of no external religious Duty, no Praying, no Hearing, no Charity, no Humility, except they be first washed in their hearts; There lieth the greatest filthiness, though you must take the candle of the Scripture, if you would find out the Dust there, and sweep it away.
Fourthly, Therefore the Scripture speaketh of a two fold subject to be washed. First, the heart; thus as in the place mentioned, having your hearts sprinkled 1and cleansed from all filthinesse of spirit. This heart-washing is first to be set upon, as being the root, principle, and foundation. Thus purifie your hearts, ye double minded, Jam. 4. 8. If the Fountain be not cleansed, all the streams must needs be muddy. Now although most men neglect this Duty, yet this is the main of all. A bad heart is an ill Treasury: out of the heart proceed evill thoughts, and all manner of actuall evill. This point our Saviour pressed much upon the Pharisees, who had cleansed their lives from outward wickednesse, but their inwards were full of all foul and noisome lusts: and the necessity of this appeareth, in that God accepteth of no externall religious Duty, no Praying, no Hearing, no Charitie, no Humilitie, except they be first washed in their hearts; There lyeth the greatest filthinesse, though you must take the candle of the Scripture, if you would find out the Dust there, and sweep it away.