A30243:1653
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 63
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.
And first, They who are so, have the spirit of God effectually, and powerfully 1dwelling in them. That as wicked men have the Devil filling their hearts, and he reigneth in them, whereby they are carried out to all wickedness, with delight and boldness: Thus those that are sanctified are full of the Holy Ghost, being partakers of his operations, and so are thereby fitted for all holiness. Hence it is called the spirit of sanctification, and the holy spirit, because where the spirit of God dwelleth, there it sanctifieth, and makes holy. Alas the greatest part of Christians are destitute of Gods Spirit; yea, they have scarce heard whether there be an holy Spirit or not: And thereupon they have nothing but customariness, formality, and education, which do act them in all religious duties. But as in working of Miracles, no humane strength or power could enable them thereunto; they were only done by power from the Holy Ghost; So neither to love God, to believe in him, to mortify sin, can be done by the sole strength of free-will: but it must be the Spirit of God changing and new-moulding the heart. Oh then consider this, all you who go in a round, pray and hear, and hear and pray, in a general customary way: The spirit of God is not in these; which yet is like the soul to the body: like fire to the sacrifice: like winds to the ship; Our duties and hearts are but Cisterns, that is the Fountain. There is never a Duty accepted, if the spirit of God be not working therein, Rom. 8. The spirit helpeth our infirmities, and God heareth the voice of his own spirit. Till therefore thou art made partaker of Gods spirit, all thy external righteousness and holiness is but a shadow and no substance. It is an image or picture, no real life at all. Oh then, How far are profane, dissolute men from this Grace of sanctification? Doth the holy spirit of God dwell in thee? Doth not the unclean spirit rather live in thee, whose heart and life is made like a very hell? Is it the holy Spirit of God that inciteth thee to curse, to swear, to lusts? Oh blasphemy to think, or say so. Let then all ungodly, and foul wretches be ashamed and confounded within themselves. It was the Devil that desired to enter into swine: The Spirit of God appeared in an innocent and harmless Dove:
And first, They who are so, have the spirit of God effectually, and powerfully 1