A30243:2567
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.
Sixthly, He that is thus called according to Gods purpose, he is careful not to apostatize or to go back again into that course of sin and wickedness, out of which he was 1called. As a man called out of fetters, and a dark dungeon, by all means takes heed that he be not thrown in there again. The Israelites were called only bodily out of Egypt, not in their affections and heart, when they so desired to make themselves a Captain, and to return thither again; yea when they loathed that admirable Manna, and desired their former Onions again: Oh it is a sign thou wast never powerfully called! who for a time indeed hast given over thy beastly lusts, wilt commit them no more, but not long after dost return to the practice of them again; This makes it worse with thee then if thou hadst never begun to cleanse thy self. Our Saviour hath a notable Parable to this purpose, of a man out of whom a devil was cast, but he returned again, and brought seven worse with him. Mat. 12. 45. Oh look to this then you who formerly have given some hopes of being called, you heard a voice within you, saying, Do no more such abominable things. You begun to pray, to weep, to be greatly affected; oh the conflicts that your souls formerly felt, but now all streams are dried up, you are as barren, as profane as ever! Know to thy terror and trembling, thou hast cause to examine whether the mighty power of God hath not yet called thee. No man that putteth his hand to the plough and looketh back is sit for the kingdom of Heaven: Our Saviour did always attend to this, to lay such principles in those that would be his Disciples, that they might never revolt: Therefore he told them of the worst afore hand, and daily instructed them about the danger of not persevering: He that is truly called doth stand immovably like a rock, Like Mount Zion that cannot be removed; and indeed there is great reason for it, Can he be better then he is? Doth not God make up all things to him? Are his former lusts and the pleasures he took in them equal to God, and the enjoyment of him? Was there not bitterness and gall even in the sweetest honey of any of his sins? But at Gods right hand there are rivers of pleasure for evermore.
Sixthly, He that is thus called according to Gods purpose, he is careful not to apostatize or to go back again into that course of sin and wickednesse, out of which he was 1