A30243:2190
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 10 › Sermon 85
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.
First, In infatuating the counsels and thoughts of wise men: He strikes the great ones of the world, when he is angry, with the spirit of madness and giddiness, Isa. 24. 45. Thus David prayed, That God would turn Achitophels counsel into folly, only God could do it: And the Princes of Zoan and Egypt, that thought they were wise, and none like them, God stroke them with folly and giddiness: So true is that old observation, Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dormentat, When God intends to destroy and ruin man, he first beginneth with their understanding, inflicting giddiness upon that: The eyes of a man first dye, they say, and so men perish first in their counsels, thoughts and designs, afterwards in other things: Thus God is said To catch the crafty in their own wisdom, and he knoweth that the thoughts of the wise they are vain, 1 Cor. 3.
First, In infatuating the counsels and thoughts of wise men: He strikes the great ones of the world, when he is angry, with the spirit of madness and giddiness, Isa. 24. 45. Thus David prayed, That God would turn Achitophels counsel into folly, onely God could do it: And the Princes of Zoan and Egypt, that thought they were wise, and none like them, God stroke them with folly and giddiness: So true is that old observation, Quos Deus vult perdere, prius dormentat, When God intends to destroy and ruine man, he first beginneth with their understanding, inflicting giddiness upon that: The eyes of a man first dye, theu say, and so men perish first in their counsels, thoughts and designs, afterwards in other things: Thus God is said To catch the crafty in their own wisdom, and he knoweth that the thoughts of the wise they are vain, 1 Cor. 3.
Secondly, Gods Justice upon mens hearts is, in the spiritual blinding and hardening 1of them: Thus God is said to harden Pharaohs heart; and Eli's sons would ⟨p. 509⟩