A30243:1835
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 71
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.
SERMON LXXI.
That ungodly Friends and Relations are great Hinderances of ones Conversion, with some helps or Directions to those that are thereby kept in their Sins.
That ungodly Friends and Relations are great Hinderances of ones Conversion, with some helps or Directions to those that are thereby kept in their Sinnes.
EZEK. 33. 11. Turn ye, Turn ye: Why will ye dye, O house of Israel.
The next Mountain to be made low, that so way may be made for our turning to God. is The Temptation of evil and wicked companions. Some have desires and resolutions to come to God, and leave their sins; but then they have carnal friends, and profane neighbours, they stop them in the way, or else they live in wicked families, in ungodly places, where no fear of God is: and these presently like Herod, kill all the young Motions and Desires that may be in any mans heart, lest their Kingdom and glory go down: so that we may say, Evil and ungodly companions are that deep ditch out of which few do recover. But yet if thou applyest thy self to the Throne of Grace, and importune for divine strength, thou wilt find it not only possible but easy to break these bonds, and come out of Egypt. Therefore to take thee off this excuse, let us consider this temptation of evil company and acquaintance.