A30243:2565
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.
As the old Prophet counterfeited a voice and call of God contrary to what the other Prophet had received, and thereby seduced him: It is then a sure and good sign of a called person, in all matters, specially of great concernment, to regard Gods calling, whether it be to do or to suffer: whereas wicked men they never attend to Gods directing of them, Gods guiding of them, never pray about this, or study and meditate about this, but as their lusts and profits carry them, so they run headlong.
Fifthly, He that is effectually called is greatly thankful even to astonishment 1and ravishment, for this high mercy vouchsafed to him. The grace of the Gospel wheresoever it doth powerfully work, doth so soften and melt the heart, that praise and thankfulness is the great duty he studies; Oh how shall I be thankful! and the Lord enlarge my heart to praise him! What am I that God should call me! Oh, Why is my Soul so barren, so straitened! Why do I not run all over? Why doth not my heart boil within me? Thus a man partaker of this heavenly calling is affected; See the Apostles aggravation of Gods mercy herein, 2 Tim. 1. 9. Who hath called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according […] his own purpose and grace. The Apostle melts himself into ravishing thoughts about this, The God that needed me not, yea the God that was so greatly offended, and provoked by me, he out of his free grace calls me from sin and danger, from all that eternal wrath I was obnoxious unto; and therefore Bless the Lord, O my Soul, and let all within thee bless his holy name. You may observe the Apostle Pauls disposition, when he hath occasion to speak of Gods converting and calling us out of the former lusts of sin he lived in, he is so transported that he never satisfieth himself with a thankful remembrance thereof; Wherein men are affected, and what they account extraordinary mercies, there they will always be speaking; Their Meditations are sweet and burning about it. So that it is a sure sign thou wast never yet effectually called, if thy soul many times break not out with joy and thanksgiving herein. Shall outward mercies, safety, wealth, honours, so work upon thee, as we see they did on Haman, and shall it not much more prevail with thee to be called to be Gods friend, and Gods favourite? How should all the afflictions and discouragements in the world be easily subdued, when this consideration prevaileth with thee!