A30243:2391
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.
to show that still he did intend to perfect, to complete it; still something is wanting; and this may be written upon all our graces, Credebat, not credidit, amabat, not amavit, There is some imperfection, yea many defects which are constantly to be amended. I earnestly desire this truth might be fastened upon the godly. They are not in growing postures: they come not and say, Lord this Talent of five hath gained ten; they say not, This mustard-seed is grown up into a great tree; they speak as a child in grace, and not as perfect men.
to shew that still he did intend to perfect, to complete it; still something is wanting; and this may be written upon all our graces, Credebat, not credidit, amabat, not amavit, There is some imperfection, yea many defects which are constantly to be amended. I earnestly desire this truth might be fastned upon the godly. They are not in growing postures: they come not and say, Lord this Talent of five hath gained ten; they say not, This mustard-seed is grown up into a great tree; they speak as a child in grace, and not as perfect men.
Fifthly, As to walk implieth Progress, so it supposeth that in this life we can never attain to a period, to a full rest; all is walking here in this life, in heaven there is rest, 1then we are set in our Thrones after victory and conquest over our lusts, and the world. As God in the old Testament first had his Tabernacle, which was not fixed, but ambulatory, removed from place to place; and afterwards his Temple, a place of rest, where his people were to sit down and enjoy God: so it is with his Children in the New Testament, they are in a Tabernacle here, their Temple is in heaven: This should comfort the people of God, as the former might provoke and inflame them; they have not such mastery over their hearts as they desire, they are in continual combat and conflict, they are exceeding short of those excellent graces propounded to them; let not this dismay them, they do but walk as yet in the way of godliness, they are not come to their journeys end, they are ⟨p. 557⟩