A30243:1657
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.
Fourthly, Those that are sanctified, are diligent in preparing and fitting themselves for the holy duties they are conversant in. Thus to sanctify, was to set a man apart 1for the spiritual employment he was called unto. And herein is a great discovery of the Truth of Grace seen; when men do not overly, and customarily perform holy Duties, but they do Hoc agere, as the Priests cried out in the Heathens sacrifice. Thus it is a duty to serve the Lord without distraction: 1 Cor 7. and hence are those expressions, Watch to pray, Mark 13. 33. take heed how you hear: Mark 4. 24. Be swift to hear, laying aside all superfluity of naughtiness, James 1. 21. To pray with all thy heart, with all thy mind, with all thy soul, this is the fruit of sanctification, How many need this truth to be powerfully pressed upon them. I speak not of profane and ungodly men, who quite lay aside the performance of any holy duties; they pray not at all, they hear not at all, or very seldom: but of those who take upon them the profession of religion; that hear and repeat Sermons, that have family Duties constantly: Alas it is not the doing of these; it is not the bare performance of these that argue thy sanctification: But dost thou watch unto these duties? dost thou take heed to thy self in the doing of them? Are they not discharged as a Task, as a burden thou knowest thou art obliged unto? This is to be feared, That when God cometh to examine your religious duties, they will be found but so many empty formalities, Duties neither coming from the life of Grace, nor yet stirring up and increasing that life. Oh this is to be considered, That all holy duties are to come from spiritual life, and to stir up spiritual life; whereas the deadness, the dullness, the barrenness of all thy private and public duties, are a great testimony at least to thy defect in sanctification. Say then to thy soul, Awake thou that sleepest: What? Did David pray thus? Did Daniel pray thus? Did Jonah in the whales belly pray thus? Be afraid that thou art only Luke-warm, that thou hast no true zeal, and so God will spue thee out of his mouth, as he threatens, Rev. 3. 16. Persuade your selves that your heartless, customary, lazy performances, are great sins against God, have a contempt of his Majesty upon them: