A30243:1686
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.
3. By reason of this external and visible participation of the Covenant. All 1those who live under it, and do not apostatize, or absolutely revolt from it, have a kind of external Covenant-holiness, and in opposition to Heathens and Pagans or Apostates may be called holy. This is indeed greatly doubted of by some; but if we consider the Scripture, God doth own a people for his, though not inwardly godly, as long as they externally own him, and do not plainly renounce his Worship and Service. It is true indeed, if we speak of spiritual and gracious Communion with an enjoyment of God, so they are none of his; but we now relate to an external society only: Thus the Jews, though they were false and hypocritical in their hearts, yea full of many abominable impieties, yet God owned them as his people, till the conjugal bond at last was wilfully and perfidiously violated by them. Hence in that they were Circumcised, and solemnly worshipped the true God, God owned them as his people, though he did also at the same time reprove them severely for their sins. Hence the Heathens, Ephes. 2. are said to be strangers from the Covenant and common-wealth of Israel; Implying, that all the Israelites by Birth and Education, till they made a manifest revolt, were under the Covenant. Therefore consider what the Apostle saith of all the Jews Rom. 9. 4. Who are Israelites to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, i. e. The Ark and outward testimony of Gods presence, and the Covenants, and Adoption. They were all in Covenant, and so outwardly the sons of God; and therefore God by the Prophet complaineth that they had taken his sons, and his daughters, which they had brought forth •o him, and offered them up to M• loch. Thus you see in the old Testament, that even unregenerate men were in some sense under the Covenant, and so had an external holiness; and therefore sometimes they are all called Saints, Deut, 33. 3. in opposition to the world, that was destitute of the knowledge and true worship of God; and some again, that were the children of the Kingdom, should yet be cast forth, M•t••. 12. Under the New Testament, that such an external, visible enjoying of the Ordinances doth also bring a kind of external holiness, which Heathens and Pagans have not is apparent first by that place, 1 Cor. […]. Else were your children unclean, but now they are holy.