A30243:1712
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.
Seventhly, Consider this also, that as the heart is very deceitful in a presumptuous man, flattering him upon false grounds to believe in God; so its as deceitful in a 1tempted Christian to make him doubt of all things, fear all things, to regard his sins only, and not his graces. How prevalent the deceit of heart is in Pharisaical men, is evident to all the world; for how confident and bold are such? When have they any fears or doubts about their condition? When do they ever say, It may be all this is but a smooth skin, no sound vitals at all? But in a godly man tempted, there his deceit worketh in a contrary way, not taking notice of the great things God hath done for his soul, he believeth, and mourneth for sin, he would not commit any known sin for all the world, yet at the same time cannot see the uprightness and sincerity of his heart: Say then, I have a deceitful heart in my fears and doubts, as well as presumptions.
Seventhly, Consider this also, that as the heart is very deceitfull in a presumptuous man, flattering him upon false grounds to believe in God; so its as deceitfull in a 1tempted Christian to make him doubt of all things, fear all things, to regard his sins onely, and not his graces. How prevalent the deceit of heart is in Pharisaical men, is evident to all the world; for how confident and bold are such? When have they any fears or doubts about their condition? When doe they ever say, It may be all this is but a smooth skin, no sound vitals at all? But in a godly man tempted, there his deceit worketh in a contrary way, not taking notice of the great things God hath done for his soul, he believeth, and mourneth for sin, he would not commit any known sin for all the world, yet at the same time cannot see the uprightnesse and sinceritie of his heart: Say then, I have a deceitfull heart in my fears and doubts, as well as presumptions.
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