A30243:2064
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.
Use of Exhortation, to take up this Duty. God meeteth with many hypocrites, and in nothing more then in their turning to him: men would seem to do something, they would gladly be thought Converts, but (alas) these things are not done with their whole hearts. And know this, to turn with all the heart to God, is a work of great difficulty and rarity. As Christ said in another case, were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine? There hath returned but one. So of those many that pray, and weep for sin, and say they will become new Converts, may we not say, There is but such a man, and such a woman, that turn with all their heart? Now be moved to this cordial hearty Conversion.
Use of Exhortation, to take up this Duty. God meeteth with many hypocrites, and in nothing more then in their turning to him: men would seem to do something, they would gladly be thought Converts, but (alas) these things are not done with their whole hearts. And know this, to turn with all the heart to God, is a work of great difficultie and rarity. As Christ said in another case, were there not ten cleansed, but where are the nine? There hath returned but one. So of those many that pray, and weep for sin, and say they will become new Converts, may we not say, There is but such a man, and such a woman, that turn with all their heart? Now be moved to this cordial hearty Conversion.
1. Because the work of the heart is more accounted of by God, then all thy outward worships, though never so diligently, and zealously performed: Rent your hearts and not your garments: God cared not for rent clothes, when mens hearts were too sound in sin: and so, a broken and contrite heart, thou wilt not despise; this is preferred before whole burnt-offerings.
2. Thou hast turned to sin with all thy heart, thou hast drudged in the world with all thy heart: Now which is the most large and ample object to fill thy heart: God or sin? God or the creature? Fecisti Domine cor nestrum, & irrequietum est donec ad to veniat. Oh be for ever ashamed that thou shouldst have thy whole heart for sin and the Devil, and not for God.