A30243:2430
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 96
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.
He dareth not pray, hear, make a strict profession of Religion to God; and yet lye, cozen, deal falsely, wrong or defraud any man in his dealings; He hath a respect to all Gods Commandments, Psal. 119. he knoweth the same God who commanded the Precepts of the first Table, containing duty to, and worship of God; doth also equally and indispensably require duties of faithfulness and righteousness to men. This point is of singular use, for wherein doth Religion get greater wounds, the Gospel more dishonour, then when men in repute for godliness, are found guilty and blame-worthy in the ways of dishonesty? To have wicked men lye, swear and forswear, to defraud and injure others, the world expects no better, looks for no other; but for thee, a professor of Religion, it expects all truth, fidelity, righteousness, else thou art a dead fly in the box of ointment, a scandal and reproach to the ways of God; and thou hadst better never to have been born, then to prove such a stumbling block in the ways of piety. Indeed, there are passive scandals, when men will maliciously and falsely raise slanders and false reports of the professors of Religion, ⟨p. 565⟩laying to their charge things they never did, believing lies, and misinterpreting their words and actions; and these will be, as long as wicked men are in the world: And hence it is, that all godly men are looked upon as Hypocrites, as such as will lye and do falsely, yea, do any thing for their advantages: But these are passive scandals, and these offences come from the venomous disposition of wicked men; and the godly may rejoice in their innocency, while such crimes are laid upon them. But then there are active scandals, when men of strict profession, do indeed walk in such unjust and unrighteous ways, that thereby the name of God is blasphemed among wicked men: Our Saviour saith, Woe be to that man, by whom such offences come, Matth. 16. 7. So that we desire this truth should sound aloud in the ears of all those, who take themselves for Converts; their faith and piety must be accompanied with all righteousness and honesty. Hence whereas converted persons have several Titles and Attributes, denoting several qualities in them; there is nothing more frequent and ordinary, then to call them Righteous, this is in every page; How then is a Liar righteous in his words?