A30243:2013
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 78
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.
The second sort of sinners living in their impieties, are these in the Text, who 1have knowledge and instruction, yet are so desperately wicked as they will persist in it however: and such are all wicked men who live in gross sins, that are not only condemned by the word, but by a mans own heart. There is no Swearer, Adulterer, drunkard, but he saith, as these in the Text, No, but we will go after the lusts of our own heart. Now though the other are inexcusable, because their ignorance is wilful, so these are much more to be reproved. Christ prayed, Father forgive them, because they know not what they do. Luke 23. 34. But here it is rather, Father, let thy wrath fall on them, for they know what they do. Gregory and Austin speaking of those places, They go quick into hell, and the earth swallowed them up quick, apply it thus (if by way of allusion it may be received:) such who sin wilfully, who know their sin, who feel their sin, whose consciences are quick to condemn them: Oh (say they) these go quick to hell, and hell swalloweth these alive as it were. Now it may easily be demonstrated, that many sinners are in this latter rank with these in the Text, They say, No, we will do as we have done, take the pleasures of sin we used to do, whatsoever is said to the contrary. Thus men follow one another desperately into destruction: even as Saul, he first fell desperately on his sword to kill himself, and afterwards his armour-bearer as violently destroyed himself. It is an heavy judgement of all judgements, thus willingly and wittingly not to murder his body, but his soul, which is the greatest sin of self-murder.
The second sort of sinners living in their impieties, are these in the Text, who 1have knowledge and instruction, yet are so desperately wicked as they will persist in it however: and such are all wicked men who live in grosse sins, that are not onely condemned by the word, but by a mans own heart. There is no Swearer, Adulterer, drunkard, but he saith, as these in the Text, No, but we will go after the lusts of our own heart. Now though the other are inexcusable, because their ignorance is wilfull, so these are much more to be reproved. Christ prayed, Father forgive them, because they know not what they do.