A30243:2563
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 12 › Sermon 102
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, He that is effectually called, is careful to walk in a worthy and beseeming 1manner of it. I beseech you, saith Paul, that you walk worthy of your calling, Ephes. 4. 1. Every man in any condition or estate, is to look to the [Greek or Hebrew] quod decet, what is fitting and becoming him. Those actions are beseeming a child which are not an old man; men of better breeding have a suitable deportment: And thus it is in Christianity, Thy holy and heavenly calling should raise up thy spirits, ennoble thy conversation. As Nehemiah argued from the office and trust that was committed to him, Shall such a man as I flee? Thou shouldst then ⟨p. 598⟩consider, Shall such an one as I tumble and wallow in the mire? Shall I that have such an holy and heavenly calling, live like a beast? I here is nothing should so confound and a shame a man for all sinful and ungodly ways, as that they are not suitable unto, nor worthy of his calling. Michal did in a sinful way despise David in her heart, when she saw him dancing before the Ark, Thou hast made thy self (saith she, 2 Sam. 6.) like one of the vile fellows this day; like one of the base ones of the world. She did this maliciously; but thou mayest truly say to thy soul, when overcome with unruly passions, inordinate affections; Thou hast made thy self like the vilest of men to day. Do then things that are beseeming your calling, that are a grace to it, that may bring an honour and a glory to it in the eyes of the world. Shall the Sun send forth no more light then the dung-hill? Shall a Rose smell no sweeter then a noisome weed? Dead Flies are not fit to fall in a box of ointment. As Jacob said of his two sons, when they had committed such outrageous wickedness on the Sichemites, You have made me to stink before the inhabitants of the Land. Thus also mayest thou say to all unmortified affections, uncrucified lusts, You have made me to stink, to be loathsome and abominable before God. Therefore above all things look to this, that your conversation be as becometh this heavenly calling, you may not live as you list, walk as you please, make your lusts and your pleasures a rule to walk by; but consider what you are called to.