A30243:2055
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 80
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, He turneth to God with his whole heart, who doth not entertain any thing, 1Supra, contra, aeque, or cum Deo, Above, or contrary, or equal, or with God: So that if all these particulars are necessary, we must conclude that conversion is a rare work. For first to turn with our whole heart, is to prefer nothing above God. This Christ makes a fundamental requisite in every convert. A man must hate Father, or Mother, and his own life for Christs sake. Oh the wonderful change then that this converting grace makes upon a man: now his right eye, or his right hand is not dear unto him in respect of God, and is it not good reason that he who is the most high, should have the most high affections, the most high desires? is it not reason to bid all things come lower, that God may have the highest room in our hearts. Oh but how many proclaim that there is a great gulf between them and conversion, for are not their base and filthy lusts preferred before God? is not the Devil obeyed in his lusts, rather then God in his Commandments? so that such instead of turning to God, with their whole heart, thy are turned to their sins, and to the world with all their heart: see then what that is which thy heart doth seek in the first place. The true Convert giveth the best and choicest of his thoughts and Affections to God: He now comes to Christ every day, and poureth out as it were a box of precious ointment, the most excellent and quintessential vigour of his soul.
Fifthly, He turneth to God with his whole heart, who doth not entertain any thing, 1Supra, contra, aeque, or cum Deo, Above, or contrary, or equall, or with God: So that if all these particulars are necessary, we must conclude that conversion is a rare work. For first to turn with our whole heart, is to prefer nothing above God. This Christ makes a fundamental requisite in every convert. A man must hate Father, or Mother, and his own life for Christs sake. Oh the wonderful change then that this converting grace makes upon a man: now his right eye, or his right hand is not dear unto him in respect of God, and is it not good reason that he who is the most high, should have the most high affections, the most high desires? is it not reason to bid all things come lower, that God may have the highest room in our hearts. Oh but how many proclaim that there is a great gulf between them and conversion, for are not their base and filthy lusts preferred before God? is not the Divel obeyed in his lusts, rather then God in his Commandments? so that such instead of turning to God, with their whole heart, thy are turned to their sins, and to the world with all their heart: see then what that is which thy heart doth seek in the first place. The true Convert giveth the best and choicest of his thoughts and Affections to God: He now comes to Christ every day, and poureth out as it were a box of precious oyntment, the most excellent and quintessential vigour of his soul.