A30243:2019
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.
Fifthly, Despair, That sometimes makes a man heap iniquity upon iniquity; he thinketh he can be no worse then he is, and therefore he will eat and drink, for 1to morrow he shall dye, he shall be damned: Thus as you heard some explained this, There is no hope, that is, we have committed such foul abominations, and have sinned so presumptuously, that there is no hope, God will not receive us if we should come. This was Cains condition, despair made him cry out, his sins were greater then he could bear; and therefore he never humbleth himself before God, but goeth on in his resolved wickedness.
Fifthly, Despair, That sometimes makes a man heap iniquity upon iniquity; he thinketh he can be no worse then he is, and therefore he will eat and drink, for 1to morrow he shall dye, he shall be damned: Thus as you heard some explained this, There is no hope, that is, we have committed such foul abominations, and have sinned so presumptuously, that there is no hope, God will not receive us if we should come. This was Cains condition, despair made him cry out, his sins were greater then he could bear; and therefore he never humbleth himself before God, but goeth on in his resolved wickednesse.
- 15. Despair.
Lastly, The Devils great power and dominion that he hath over such men, makes them boggle at no impiety. These are the Devils instruments prepared for every 1high degree of wickedness: As God hath his servants, and precious vessels fitted for all his greatest employment; so these are by the devil prepared for the worst kind of drudgery: thus when the devil had entered into Judas his heart, taken greater hold on him then ever, then he can guide him to that perfidious act of wickedness to betray Christ into his enemies hands, yea and can so horribly dissemble as to give him a kiss, pretending much reverence at that very time of treachery. Thus you see what are those millstones that are hung about such mens necks to press them down into the sea. Here must be one Objection answered, and that is, How can men sin willingly, and knowingly? for is it not a received rule among Philosophers, and owned