A30243:2154
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 84
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.
I Answer, That it doth too often fall out, that even those who stand in Gods counsel, that follow this star, do yet plough and sow upon the rocks, and see no 1seed grow up. Therefore this Text or Doctrine is not such a general, but that it hath its exceptions; and if we will seek for instances, how plentiful are they to confirm this: Shall we think that this Jeremiah, who is so zealous against the false prophets, that he did not take a true and faithful course in his Ministry, yes, his whole prophecy doth manifest that. Yet how sad are his complaints that he had no success in his Ministry, Jor. 6. 29. The bellows are burnt, the lead is consumed of the fire, the founder m•lteth in vain, the wicked are not plucked away; where Jeremiah is compared to a Refiner, or Founder, his mouth is the bellows: The prophecy he had from God, was the breath, or blast, the corrupt and impure mettle was the wicked Jews. Now all this blowing, and pains in refining, was in vain, for the dross would not melt away. Thus also the Prophet Isai, he stood in Gods counsel, yet he crieth out, Who hath believed our report? Isai. 53. 1. And again, All the day long have I stretched out my hands in vain. Ezekiel also, a Prophet so frequently in communion with God by spiritual visions, and therefore so often called the Son of man, that these revelations may not puff him up: Yet God tells him, he goeth to a people that will not hear: but whether they will hear, or forbear, they must have a Prophet sent to them, Ezek. 3. Yea, what need we go further for witness to confirm this, when Christ himself, in whom were all the treasures of wisdom and holiness, and no man ever preached like him; yet the number of his converts were few, in respect of the multitude he preached unto, which made him so bewail ⟨p. 501⟩the Nation of the Jews, as a tree that had enjoyed much culture and dressing, but still continued unfruitful, and so was to be cut down and cast into the fire.
I Answer, That it doth too often fall out, that even those who stand in Gods cousel, that follow this star, do yet plough and sow upon the rocks, and see no