A30243:2346
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 11 › Sermon 92
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.
Thirdly, therefore principles of Grace within will demonstrate themselves in a godly life, Because God at the day of judgement will make our actions and works the measure of his judgment. The judicial process will not be according to what is 1within, but what is without. Thus Paul, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive according to what we have done in the flesh, 2 Cor. 5. 10. whether good or evil, Why then hast thou any hope, who livest in all manner of ungodliness? Think not the cry of thy prayers, nor the groans of thy heart will be ⟨p. 547⟩above thy crying sins: At that great day God will not only enquire what thy thoughts, or thy desires have been, but what thy actions have been. If therefore any grain of wisdom be in thee, thou wilt be sure to look to that against which the Judge will most surely manifest himself, and that is thy actions. It will be then no plea to say, Lord I had a good heart, a good meaning, I desired to do otherwise; if thou hast not indeed done otherwise.
Thirdly, therefore principles of Grace within will demonstrate themselves in a godly life, Because God at the day of judgement will make our actions and works the measure of his judgment. The judiciall processe will not be according to what is 1within, but what is without. Thus Paul, We must all appear before the judgmentseat of Christ, to receive according to what we have done in the flesh, 2 Cor. 5. 10. whether good or evill, Why then hast thou any hope, who livest in all manner of ungodlinesse? Think not the cry of thy prayers, nor the groans of thy heart will be ⟨p. 547⟩above thy crying sins: At that great day God will not onely enquire what thy thoughts, or thy desires have been, but what thy actions have been. If therefore any grain of wisdome be in thee, thou wilt be sure to look to that against which the Judge will most surely manifest himself, and that is thy actions. It will be then no plea to say, Lord I had a good heart, a good meaning, I desired to doe otherwile; if thou hast not indeed done otherwise.