A30243:2648
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.
To answer this, It cannot be denied but that discretion and civil prudence is 1an excellent gift of God; and to have zeal but not knowledge and wisdom is to have strong legs, or body, as Samson had, but no eyes. The men of Issachar had this great commendation, That they were wise men, and knew the times and seasons, and what was fit to be done. And certainly prudence (though there be a danger of it, lest it should degenerate into craft and carnal policy) yet of it self it is an excellent grace and ornament to Religion; It preserveth godliness from that ⟨p. 619⟩contempt and scorn it is apt to receive in the world; In a mans sufferings its the great comfort, that its not for my rashness, for my unadvisedness, my busy sinful meddling, but for a just and necessary duty I suffer. How then may the wisdom of the flesh that is sinful be distinguished from lawful and commendable 2prudence?
To answer this, It cannot be denied but that discretion and civil prudence is 1an excellent gift of God; and to have zeal but not knowledge and wisdom is to have strong legs, or body, as Samson had, but no eyes. The men of Issachar had this great commendation, That they were wise men, and knew the times and seasons, and what was fit to be done. And certainly prudence (though there be a danger of it, lest it should degenerate into craft and carnal policy) yet of it self it is an excellent grace and ornament to Religion; It preserveth godlinesse from that ⟨p. 619⟩contempt and scorn it is apt to receive in the world; In a mans sufferings its the great comfort, that its not for my rashnesse, for my unadvisednesse, my busie sinful medling, but for a just and necessary duty I suffer. How then may the wisdom of the flesh that is sinful be distinguished from lawful and commendable 2prudence?
- 1