A30243:253
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 1 › Sermon 10
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 ought to be denied, that faith is such a full persuasion. The Scripture words which express faith, speak of it as Affiance and Adherence, rather 1then a Persuasion, for that is a reflex Act in the soul, whereby we know that we do know (as the Apostle John expresseth it) and that we do truly repent and believe.
Secondly, It ought to be denied, that faith is such a full perswasion. The Scripture words which expresse faith, speak of it as Affiance and Adherence, rather 1then a Perswasion, for that is a reflex Act in the soul, whereby we know that we do know (as the Apostle John expresseth it) and that we do truly repent and believe.
- 12. Faith not a full persuasion.2. Faith not a full perswasion.
Thirdly, Suppose such evidences were granted, yet this by way of signs were not in vain, for it hath pleased God to multiply those things which may confirm our faith. 1Thus although every word of God hath immutable verity in it, Yet he confirmed it also with an oath, after the manner of men, to end all those controversies which ⟨p. 53⟩diffidence and distrust may raise between God and us. The Apostle aggravateth this Heb. 6. 16. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolations. Again, although God hath given us his Promise, and nothing can be surer then that, yet he addeth Sacraments to seal and confirm his Promise unto us; Therefore though such Assurances were granted, yet there is great usefulness of the evidences we have by signs.