A30243:2479
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.
But then in the next place, There are formal and internal Means that do 1immediately receive Christ in the soul, such as Faith, or hearing in Faith, and these a man hath no power of himself to perform, Faith being the ⟨p. 578⟩gift of God. So then although internal Means of obtaining Christ, cannot by natural strength be performed, yet there are external Means, which whosoever shall refuse, he doth reject the counsel of God, and pronounceth himself unworthy of Salvation. Therefore harbour no more such thoughts, unless thou wilt violently throw thy self into the mouth of hell.
But then in the next place, There are formall and internall Meanes that doe 1immediately receive Christ in the soul, such as Faith, or hearing in Faith, and these a man hath no power of himself to performe, Faith being the ⟨p. 578⟩gift of God. So then although internal Meanes of obtaining Christ, cannot by natural strength be performed, yet there are external Meanes, which whosoever shall refuse, he doth reject the counsel of God, and pronounceth himself unworthy of Salvation. Therefore harbour no more such thoughts, unless thou wilt violently throw thy self into the mouth of hell.
- 1[…].〈…〉.
But secondly, It may be said, If Gods Promise of Conversion be Absolute, This is discouraging and may easily cast men into despair; for though I desire, and groan 1after Conversion, yet if I be not in this Absolute Promise, I can never be partaker of it.