A30243:1975
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 76
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.
Secondly, Therefore a man must forsake this beloved sin, because in true conversion unto God, we are to leave sin upon such spiritual and Scripture grounds 1which are true in every sin, as well as in any. The grounds of turning from sin are, because its contrary to an holy God, it opposeth an heavenly and pure Law, it grieveth Gods Spirit, its the noisome filthiness and dung of the soul: Why then if this be thy ground, then all this is true of thy beloved sin as much as any; for that is against Gods holy will, that is opposite to a spiritual Law that is contrary to purity and the beauty of the soul. Its an hypocritical Conversion, when men leave some sins, and not others; they can part with some kind of cocorruptions; but then there are others of which they say, as was of Goliath's sword, None like that. Now all this is but deceit and frowardness of heart, this is but halting before God; for if thy beloved lust be sin, if an enemy to God, if an adversary to his glory, how canst thou lodge it in thy soul? Oh that people would attend more to the true spiritual and acceptable ground of leaving any sin, for that would sweep all away, it would not leave an Hoof in Egypt.
Secondly, Therefore a man must forsake this beloved sinne, because in true conversion unto God, we are to leave sinne upon such spirituall and Scripture grounds 1which are true in every sinne, as well as in any. The grounds of turning from sinne are, because its contrarie to an holy God, it opposeth an heavenly and pure Law, it grieveth Gods Spirit, its the noisome filthinesse and dung of the soul: Why then if this be thy ground, then all this is true of thy beloved sin as much as any; for that is against Gods holy will, that is opposite to a spirituall Law that is contrary to purity and the beauty of the soul. Its an hypocritical Conversion, when men leave some sins, and not others; they can part with some kind of cocorruptions; but then there are others of which they say, as was of Goliah's sword, None like that. Now all this is but deceit and frowardnesse of heart, this is but halting before God; for if thy beloved lust be sinne, if an enemy to God, if an adversarie to his glorie, how canst thou lodge it in thy soul? Oh that people would attend more to the true spiritual and acceptable ground of leaving any sinne, for that would sweep all away, it would not leave an Hoof in Egypt.