A30243:1708
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 65
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.
Thirdly, It may be thou dost not distinguish between the presence of Grace, and 1the power of it; between weak graces and strong graces. And that which is little, or which is not to thy desire and mind, thou accountest nothing at all. A little infant hath a mans nature in him, as well as he that is grown. As it was in the building of the Temple, they were not to despise the day of small things; so neither is a godly man to contemn or disregard the beginnings, and the small things of grace. Our Saviour would not despise the smoking Flax, and wilt thou? Take ••ed therefore of thinking thou hast no evidences, because they be imperfect and weak: One spark argues fire as well as an whole flame. The child of God while he looketh to the rule, and considereth what he ought to be, never remembers that the conformity to this rule is more or less in those that believe; so then though thou art in the lowest form, yet thou art still in Christs school, and needest to look backward for what hath been done, and fore-warned for what remaineth to be done.
Thirdly, It may be thou dostnot distinguish between the presence of Grace, and 1the power of it; between weak graces and strong graces. And that which is little, or which is not to thy desire and mind, thou accountest nothing at all. A little infant hath a mans nature in him, as well as he that is grown. As it was in the building of the Temple, they were not to despise the day of small things; so neither is a godly man to contemn or disregard the beginnings, and the small things of grace. Our Saviour would not despise the smoaking Flax, and wilt thou? Take ••ed therefore of thinking thou hast no evidences, because they be imperfect and weak: One spark argues fire as well as an whole flame. The child of God while he looketh to the rule, and considereth what he ought to be, never remembers that the conformity to this rule is more or lesse in those that believe; so then though thou art in the lowest form, yet thou art still in Christs school, and needest to look backward for what hath been done, and fore-warn'd for what remaineth to be done.
- 13.