A30243:1803
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 9 › Sermon 69
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.
2. As an Husband, so in the next place, a Father also thou tookest him to be, and by this means thou art commanded to call him Father: But if thou like a Prodigal hast left thy Father, and spent thy substance in the service of the Devil, With what face canst thou call him Father? Think of it seriously, you who live in gross and palpable sins: Is God the Father of such wicked sinners? Have they the Characters of sons, and not rather of enemies, who thus disobey him? remember then that thou hast forsaken thy Father, and by thy sins hast turned from him. Is it not time then with the Prodigal to say, I will arise, and go to my Father, and acknowledge that I have sinned against him?
2. As an Husband, so in the next place, a Father also thou tookest him to be, and by this means thou art commanded to call him Father: But if thou like a Prodigall hast left thy Father, and spent thy substance in the service of the Divel, With what face canst thou call him Father? Think of it seriously, you who live in grosse and palpable sins: Is God the Father of such wicked sinners? Have they the Characters of sons, and not rather of enemies, who thus disobey him? remember then that thou hast forsaken thy Father, and by thy sins hast turned from him. Is it not time then with the Prodigall to say, I will arise, and goe to my Father, and acknowledge that I have sinned against him?
And Lastly, Then was he taken for a Lord and Master; for a King to rule and reign over thee. Thy Baptism was a giving of thy self wholly up to Gods government, to walk according to his Laws; now since that, How perfidiously hast thou violated thy Oath? Thou hast not been a servant to him, but to the Devil, Gods great enemy. It is usual with Divines to say, Baptism is Sacramentum militare, a Military Oath; because every Christian being called to a spiritual warfare, doth there swear fidelity to Jesus Christ, as the Captain of his salvation. Now every wicked man is, Proditor militiae, a flyer from his Colours, and runs into the enemies Camp. Consider then what Rebellion and Treason against God is in every sin, after thy Baptism-engagements; thou art a runagate servant from thy Master. Now if so, is it not requisite that thou shouldest turn back to him? Every sinner is not only an Apostate, and Covenant breaker in Adam our first Parent, but a second time a revolter, and Covenant breaker also, by not living according to that ipulaion in Baptism. Oh then it is high time for men to awaken out of this wretched estate. Go to the true husband of thy soul, return to thy Father, and true Lord and Master again.