A30243:1680
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 64
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, Well then, it may easily be granted, That such petty ridiculous sanctities that are by mens commandments, may be no more then dung, yea, an abomination unto the Lord. But what shall be thought of those holy Duties which God hath appointed: there is holy praying, holy hearing. These holy services which God himself hath Commanded, Doth not the constant, and ⟨p. 393⟩diligent use of these sanctify a Man? No, these are not barely to be relied 1upon.
Secondly, Well then, it may easily be granted, That such petty ridiculous sanctities that are by mens commandments, may be no more then dung, yea, an abomination unto the Lord. But what shall be thought of those holy Duties which God hath appointed: there is holy praying, holy hearing. These holy serevies which God himself hath Commanded, Doth not the constant, and ⟨p. 393⟩diligent use of these sanctifie a Man? No, these are not barely to be relied 1upon.
- 1How the constant and diligent use of Gods Ordinances, do not sanctify. I.How the constant and diligent use of Gods Ordinances, do not sanctifie. I.
For 1. These duties do not sanctify, except thou be first sanctified inwardly. Prayer doth not make thee holy, but an holy prayer proceeds from holiness. These duties do then only increase, and add to our Grace, when they are the exercises and effects of a sanctified life within us. A wicked man who is spiritually dead in his sins, can no more pray after a spiritual gracious manner, then a dead man can speak or breath. Do not then mistake in this business: these religious Duties are called holy, not because they sanctify every one that appeareth near to God in them; but because God, who is the object of them, and on whom they are terminated, is an holy God, and because they increase holiness in those who are endued with a supernatural life.