A30243:1830
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.
Thirdly, That is only profitable, which is profitable to the greatest good that we 1stand in need of, and to divert the greatest evil that can befall us: Now no sins are profitable to that, but the clean contrary; for the greatest good that we are capable of, is the favour of God, the light of his countenance: This David doth so often pray for in his straights, as being the only Sun to dispel that dark night which was upon him; and on the contrary, no evil, no not of misery, torment, and pain, is like that of Gods anger and fury against sin. Now take all the profit and advantages thou hast got in a sinful way, what do these help, for the obtaining of the one, or repelling of the other? Oh take Cain and Judas burning and scalding in the guilt of sin, can they buy Gods favour? can they purchase the light of his countenance? Doth not the Scripture make the rust of their money, 2and the timber in the wall, to cry out, and witness against the wicked man? Then be ashamed ever to pretend this any more, that the wicked ways thou livest in, are in so many respects hopeful to thee, for that cannot be, it destroyeth the main, and is contrary to the true happiness.
Thirdly, That is onely profitable, which is profitable to the greatest good that we 1stand in need of, and to divert the greatest evil that can befal us: Now no sins are profitable to that, but the clean contrary; for the greatest good that we are capable of, is the favor of God, the light of his countenance: This David doth so often pray for in his straights, as being the onely Sun to dispel that dark night which was upon him; and on the contrary, no evil, no not of misery, torment, and pain, is like that of Gods anger and fury against sin. Now take all the profit and advantages thou hast got in a sinful way, what do these help, for the obtaining of the one, or repelling of the other? Oh take Cain and Judas burning and scalding in the guilt of sin, can they buy Gods favor? can they purchase the light of his countenance? Doth not the Scripture make the rust of their money, 2and the timber in the wall, to cry out, and witness against the wicked man? Then be ashamed ever to pretend this any more, that the wicked ways thou livest in, are in so many respects hopeful to thee, for that cannot be, it destroyeth the main, and is contrary to the true happiness.