A30243:2652
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.
4. This godly prudence, as its very active in doing, so its as patient and admirable 1in suffering Holy prudence walketh by lawful rules to avoid danger; but if God will exercise them, then its as wise to bear them with the flourishing exercise of all graces. Now fleshly wisdom is subtle to escape miseries, but if fallen into them, then toileth and vexeth a man like a wild bull in a net. He hath no skill, no understanding to lay himself low before God: Now wisdom is as much, if not more seen in suffering then in doing. Therefore Jam 1. speaking of the afflictions Gods people would be plunged into, he addeth, If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God, that is, wisdom to bear afflictions, to account it all joy when they are beset with them. Howsoever Christ hath commanded his Disciples prudence, that they may escape all dangers, yet he hath withal told them, That all their wisdom, and all their godliness shall not preserve them from persecution, but they must go many of them at least through the red Sea of their own blood into the Land of Canaan; now when all this doth befall them, they take it thankfully, they rejoice they are accounted worthy to suffer for Christ; they are not weary of Christ and his ways, though they cost them so dear; but now the carnal wisdom of man, if after all the shifts and subtle plots he hath used, he fall into danger, then he is confounded, then he crieth out, then he roareth and curseth, and is like the Sea foaming out its froth. And thus for the first Objection, I shall a little touch upon another, and that is, Some may think from hence 2may be gathered a very popular Argument against humane learning: for if they are not many wise men after the flesh that God takes, then this humane learning is not at all to be regarded; Those that have the wisdom of the Spirit, they ought to be exalted only.
4. This godly prudence, as its very active in doing, so its as patient and admirable 1in suffering Holy prudence walketh by lawful rules to avoid danger; but if God will exercise them, then its as wise to bear them with the flourishing exercise of all graces. Now fleshly wisdom is subtil to escape miseries, but if fallen into them, then toileth and vexeth a man like a wilde bull in a net. He hath no skill, no understanding to lay himself low before God: Now wisdom is as much, if not more seen in suffering then in doing. Therefore Jam 1. speaking of the afflictions Gods people would be plunged into, he addeth, If any man lack wisdom, let him ask it of God, that is, wisdom to bear afflictions, to account it all joy when they are beset with them. Howsoever Christ hath commanded his Disciples prudence, that they may escape all dangers, yet he hath withall told them, That all their wisdom, and all their godlinesse shall not preserve them from persecution, but they must go many of them at least through the red Sea of their own bloud into the Land of Canaan; now when all this doth befall them, they take it thankfully, they rejoyce they are accounted worthy to suffer for Christ; they are not weary of Christ and his wayes, though they cost them so dear; but now the carnal wisdom of man, if after all the shifts and subtil plots he hath used, he fall into danger, then he is confounded, then he crieth out, then he roareth and curseth, and is like the Sea foaming out its froth. And thus for the first Objection, I shall a little touch upon another, and that is, Some may think from hence