A30243:2646
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 106
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.
Lastly, Its devilish; as godly wisdom is a beam of the divine Light; so this carnal wisdom is part of that devilish wisdom that is in the Devil. The Devil he 1is called [Greek or Hebrew] because of his knowledge. So that you see, the more knowledge, the more understanding a man hath, if not sanctified, the more devilish he is, the nearer he comes to a devil. So that as the devil is called the red Dragon for his subtlety and cruelty against the sheep of Christ, Thus you have many carnal wise men, Dragons rather then men; So violent and bitter are they against all the ways of holiness.
Lastly, Its devilish; as godly wisdom is a beam of the divine Light; so this carnal wisdom is part of that devilish wisdom that is in the Devil. The Devil he 1is called 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 because of his knowledge. So that you see, the more knowledge, the more understanding a man hath, if not sanctified, the more devilish he is, the nearer he comes to a devil. So that as the devil is called the red Dragon for his subtilty and cruelty against the sheep of Christ, Thus you have many carnal wise men, Dragons rather then men; So violent and bitter are they against all the wayes of holinesse.
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In the next place let us consider an Objection, for this Doubt may arise, If God reject wise men after the flesh, Doth not this condemn all humane wisdom? How 1can any man in any prudent and discreet way manage his affairs, especially in evil and dangerous days, if no prudence be allowed? Yea doth not our Saviour, though he command all spiritual fortitude and courage, all self-denial and readiness to take up the cross, all integrity of aims and ends, yet withal he bids us, Be wise as Serpents,