A30243:1947
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 75
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.
4. Therefore it is more difficult if thou delayest, because the devil hath thereby 1got the stronger possession on thee; for every man hath either God and his spirit dwelling in him, whereby he becomes a lively Temple, and his house, and so all things are according to his government, or else the Devil he hath a full possession of him; but now his hold in thee is stronger and stronger, as thou delayest, and therefore it will be the more hard to cast him out, when he hath had so many years possession. The devils that possessed the man from the womb up, could not be cast out but by some extraordinary way. The devil was in Judas his heart long before, yet saith the Scripture, The Devil entered into his heart, John 13. 27. How is that? was he not before there? Yes, but now more then ever; he had sinned more, and resisted the grace of Christ more, and therefore God gave him up to the greater power of the Devil: And thus it will be with thee; the more thou putst off, the more thou delayest, the greater Tyranny and reign will Satan have over thee.
4. Therefore it is more difficult if thou delayest, because the divel hath thereby 1got the stronger possession on thee; for every man hath either God and his spirit dwelling in him, whereby he becomes a lively Temple, and his house, and so all things are according to his government, or else the Divel he hath a full possession of him; but now his hold in thee is stronger and stonger, as thou delayst, and therefore it will be the more hard to cast him out, when he hath had so many years possession. The divels that possessed the man from the womb up, could not be cast out but by some extraordinary way. The divel was in Judas his heart long before, yet saith the Scripture, The Divel entered into his heart, John 13. 27. How is that? was he not before there? Yes, but now more then ever; he had sinned more, and resisted the grace of Christ more, and therefore God gave him up to the greater power of the Divel: And thus it will be with thee; the more thou putst off, the more thou delayest, the greater Tyranny and raign will Satan have over thee.