A30243:1822
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 70
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.
Fifthly, Although sins may have sweetness for the present, yet they have a torment ⟨p. 428⟩1and a sting afterwards. A man that in his hot blood hath got a dangerous wound, he feels it not presently; but when he is cold, then he begins to be sensible of it: And thus it is here, a man in the hot and violent pursuit of lusts, feels nothing, apprehends nothing; but when his conscience is once awakened and terrified, then he crieth out, O the wounds, the sting, the blows that sin giveth him: Thus Solomon, speaking against drunkenness, not to be enticed with the occasions of it, he addeth his reason, Look not upon the wine, while it moveth it self in the cup, for at last it biteth like a Serpent, and stingeth like an Adder. Prov. 23. 32. Little doth the drunkard think, he had as good swallow down so many live Adders, and stinging Serpents. The Apostle tells us, That sin hath a sting, 1 Cor. 15. How then is it, that thou perceivest the honey, but not the sting of it? but its no wonder, for this is at last: At last it biteth like an Adder, at the time of death, at the time of fears and grievous judgements, then it puts forth those sharp and poisonous stings. It was Aristotle's advice, we should look upon pleasures going and not coming, they leave horror and terror behind them: Commune therefore with your own hearts, sit down and consider, This sweetness will be turned into gall; this is the Devils subtlety, to present the pleasure, but not the torment of a sin; see what a sting it made in Cains conscience, what a sting in Judas, and it will be such a scorpion in thy side one time or other.
Fifthly, Although sins may have sweetness for the present, yet they have a torment ⟨p. 428⟩1and a sting afterwards. A man that in his hot blood hath got a dangerous wound, he feels it not presently; but when he is cold, then he begins to be sensible of it: And thus it is here, a man in the hot and violent pursuit of lusts, feels nothing, apprehends nothing; but when his conscience is once awakened and terrified, then he cryeth out, O the wounds, the sting, the blows that sin giveth him: Thus Solomon, speaking against drunkenness, not to be inticed with the occasions of it, he addeth his reason, Look not upon the wine, while it moveth it self in the cup, for at last it biteth like a Serpent, and stingeth like an Adder.