A30243:2475
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 98
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, This Promise is of a most excellent and precious Nature, it far 1exceeds all temporal Promises: Should God promise thee all the glory of the World, all that thy heart could in this life desire, yet it is nothing to this Promise of a new Heart. Hence Peter calls them Precious Promises, 1 Pet. 1. whereby we are made partakers of the Divine Nature. God to this people in Captivity, promiseth a new and a tender heart, as that which would qualify or put a lustre upon all other Mercies; Their return from Captivity, Their enjoying of their former Houses and Mercies again would be nothing, if God gave not this Mercy also; Oh then that the hearts of men were made more spiritual and wise, to look after and prize this Promise; Let thy Condition be never so miserable, thy state never so distressed, yet if under this Promise, thou art in an Ark, when others are tossed up and down in the uncertain waves of this world. Even the Virgin Mary that was called Blessed among Women, was more blessed that Christ was spiritually formed in her heart, then that the body of Christ was corporally fashioned in her Womb: Oh then! How wretched is thy estate even in the midst of all earthly prosperity? when thou canst say, These new houses, these new honours are mine, but thou canst not say, This new heart is mine.
Thirdly, This Promise is of a most excellent and precious Nature, it farre 1exceeds all temporall Promises: Should God promise thee all the glory of the World, all that thy heart could in this life desire, yet it is nothing to this Promise of a new Heart. Hence Peter cals them Precious Promises, 1 Pet. 1. whereby we are made partakers of the Divine Nature. God to this people in Captivity, promiseth a new and a tender heart, as that which would qualifie or put a lustre upon all other Mercies; Their return from Captivity, Their enjoying of their former Houses and Mercies again would be nothing, if God gave not this Mercy also; Oh then that the hearts of men were made more spiritual and wise, to look after and prize this Promise; Let thy Condition be never so miserable, thy state never so distressed, yet if under this Promise, thou art in an Ark, when others are tosted up and down in the uncertain waves of this world. Even the Virgin Mary that was called Blessed among Women, was more blessed that Christ was spiritually formed in her heart, then that the body of Christ was corporally fashioned in her Wombe: Oh then! How wretched is thy estate even in the midst of all earthly prosperity? when thou canst say, These new houses, these new honours are mine, but thou canst not say, This new heart is mine.