A30243:2388
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 94
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.
Secondly, It implieth voluntariness, delight, and pleasure in the ways of Godliness. 1Its not only our employment, and labour, (for we may be haled to that) but it is our delight, our joy, our greatest pleasure we have in this life. To walk is a voluntary action, and frequently used for the expression of a mans delight. He is gone to walk, or He walketh in his Garden. Thus God to express his protection, and delight he hath in us, he promiseth to walk with us, or amongst us, & set his Tabernacle amongst us, 2 Cor. 6. 16. So that those who are converted, find it more than honey, riches, or all advantages, to be doing the will of their Father. Hence Psal. 110. they are called a willing people, or willingnesses. David doth many times express that great delight and pleasure he takes in the Commandments of God: And Paul, Rom. 7. I delight in the Law of God, in the inward man. If therefore Grace and Godliness be thy walk, how great will the joy and gladness of thy heart be in all approaches near to him? Every duty will be like the Mount of Transfiguration, of which thou wilt say, Its good to be here. As our Saviour said, He that drinks of the old Wine, would not care for the new. And thus the godly man that hath tasted of the goodness of God, and the sweetness of grace, will forget his earthly pleasures. This Manna will make a man despise Egyptian Garlic: This fatted Calf will make a man regard no more any Husks: So that you who look upon all godly duties constantly as a wearisomeness, a burden, how can you say God hath wrought this new heart in you? Indeed the dullness, sluggishness, and partial wearisomeness that surpriseth even the godly many times, doth argue Conversion is but in part, and imperfect: and therefore they should be in an holy manner grieved, and shamed in soul to hear and think of these things, saying. These holy truths have too much lustre and dazzling in them, more then my weak infirm eyes are able to behold. Oh then hunger and thirst more after this sweetness and pleasure, which is to be had in holiness. This will be On to the wheels; yea like the spirit in Ezekiels wheels to make the soul move swiftly.
Secondly, It implyeth voluntarinesse, delight, and pleasure in the wayes of Godlinesse.