A30243:2678
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 107
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.
Thirdly, When God doth call any of the wise men, and great men, and noble men of the world, They become eminent instruments of his glory; they are 1worth ten thousand of those that are in an inferior way; for they do not only credit the Gospel, as the Gospel doth them, and as they honour God, so God honours them; they lose nothing of their greatness, by having goodness: but they by their power, by their wealth and interest they have in the world, may greatly advance the ways of God. What Reformations did the godly Kings and Magistrates bring about in the Kingdom of Judah? How did Constantine by his power and greatness, arise like a Sun, that dispelled the dark night of Idolatry and Paganism? and therefore such are compared to Nursing fathers, and nursing mothers. Temporal power, when sanctified for the use of the Church, is like the Elm that beareth up the vine: Oh then, its an happy time, when great men, are good men; when men of power, are men of godliness. And thus also men of wealth and estates, how many ways may they be ⟨p. 624⟩serviceable to God, wherein others cannot be? Rich men are the greatest men in debt, for they owe more duties to God then others; and as such have wherewith to be more instrumental to Gods glory then others, so by their example they may bring on others. If the chief and great men in a place, do earnestly seek the Kingdom of Heaven, and promote that, this makes all inferior persons to do the same: They are like the springs, if the springs be poisoned, then all the streams will be, but if they be sweet, then the streams will be. When Elisha was to cure the bitter waters, he takes salt, and throweth it, not into the streams, but into the springs, because that was the way to cure the streams: And thus, if the great ones, and chief ones in a Parish, if they love God, and good men, and good things, their example will even compel others to do the like; and certainly, you that have more greatness and wealth then others, be afraid, lest you have not other mens sins to answer for; other men have been encouraged to be profane, because they have either seen you so, or at least, you have not showed your self an enemy to such ways. Seeing then God takes this way, few rich men, great men, honoured men, comparatively to others; let us consider,
Thirdly, When God doth call any of the wise men, and great men, and noble men of the world, They become eminent instruments of his glory; they are