A30243:1660
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.
Sixthly, Those that are sanctified they are (as it followeth in that Text) meet for 1their Masters use, sit for any spiritual employment, prepared unto every good work. Oh this is a blessed estate when thou art fit to be employed for any service by God. As Isaiah, when he had a coal from the Altar that touched him, then he was sanctified, and the uncleanness of his lips was taken away. Thou art not fit to be a Magistrate, a Minister, a Master, a Father, a Servant, till sanctified for this use. There must be a particular smoothing, and fitting of thee for every particular relation, for every good Duty, else thou canst not serve God thereby. It is the greatest honour that we creatures are capable off, that we may be used as instruments for his glory. Now men may be either passive instruments, or active instruments under him; Passive instruments I call, all such as are raised up by God to do his work; but they have no aim or spiritual inclinations to serve God therein. Thus Cyrus, and Nebuchadnezzar, they are called Gods servants, but their hearts were not sanctified for God in this work. Again there are active instruments, and such are those who in the Text are made meet for their masters use, they have humility, and an holy fear of God. They eye him, and look up to him; and in this sense Moses, Joshua, David, and many others were sanctified. If therefore God call thee to any service, if God put thee into any relation, though never so mean, know thou canst not go through that relation in a gracious manner, unless sanctified thereunto, and made meet for it. Be not a blunt and unserviceable instrument in Gods hand.
Sixthly, Those that are sanctified they are (as it followeth in that Text) meet for 1their Masters use, sit for any spiritual employment, prepared unto every good work. Oh this is a blessed estate when thou art fit to be employed for any service by God. As Esay, when he had a coal from the Altar that touched him, then he was sanctified, and the uncleannesse of his lips was taken away. Thou art not fit to be a Magistrate, a Minister, a Master, a Father, a Servant, till sanctified for this use. There must be a particular •moothing, and fitting of thee for every particular relation, for every good Dutie, else thou canst not serve God thereby. It is the greatest honour that we creatures are capable off, that we may be used as instruments for his glory. Now men may be either passive instruments, or active instruments under him; Passive instruments I call, all such as are raised up by God to do his work; but they have no aim or spiritual inclinations to serve God therein. Thus Cyrus, and Nebuchadnezzar, they are called Gods servants, but their hearts were not sanctified for God in this work. Again there are active instruments, and such are those who in the Text are made meet for their masters use, they have humility, and an holy fear of God. They eye him, and look up to him; and in this sense Moses, Joshua, David, and many others were sanctified. If therefore God call thee to any service, if God put thee into any relation, though never so mean, know thou canst not go through that relation in a gracious manner, unlesse sanctified thereunto, and made meet for it. Be not a blunt and unserviceable instrument in Gods hand.