A30243:1948
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.
Fifthly, Therefore turn now to God, because the sooner thou goest to him, the more service and honour thou wilt bring to him. Suppose a man be called at the twelfth 1hour, yet how little can he do for God before night? Alas thou hast lived a long while in the service of sin and satan, and thou needest even Methuselah's age to do God service, for all the disservice and dishonour thou hast done him. Paul because he had been very active for the Devil, and so laboured more then many of his equals in pulling down the Church; therefore when once converted, see how he rejoiceth as a giant to run his race, and he laboureth afterward more then all to build the Church. Oh then think the greatest honour thou art capable of, is to do the Lords work: Angels rejoice in this; and all the while thou art in the course of sin, then thou art doing the Devils service: Although now there be no greater delight to thee, then fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, yet when thou art once turned to God, thou wilt labour abundantly in the work of God, and it will be an heavy trouble to thee that thou hast been an enemy so long to God, and promoted the work of his adversary. Therefore get betime into the vine-yard of the Lord, and so thou wilt have time to do him the more service.
Fifthly, Therefore turn now to God, because the sooner thou goest to him, the more service and honour thou wilt bring to him. Suppose a man be called at the twelfth 1hour, yet how little can he do for God before night? Alas thou hast lived a long while in the service of sin and satan, and thou needest even Methusalems age to do God service, for all the dislervice and dishonour thou hast done him. Paul because he had been very active for the Divel, and so laboured more then many of his equals in pulling down the Church; therefore when once converted, see how he rejoyceth as a gyant to run his race, and he laboureth afterward more then all to build the Church. Oh then think the greatest honour thou art capable of, is to do the Lords work: Angels rejoyce in this; and all the while thou art in the course of sin, then thou art doing the Divels service: Although now there be no greater delight to thee, then fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, yet when thou art once turned to God, thou wilt labour abundantly in the work of God, and it will be an heavy trouble to thee that thou hast been an enemy so long to God, and promoted the work of his adversary. Therefore get betime into the vine-yard of the Lord, and so thou wilt have time to do him the more service.