A30243:2679
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.
The Reasons why, as they be either on Gods part, or on their part who are 1refused: And
- 1Reasons why God leaves great men. On Gods part. 1.
First, On Gods part; Therefore God may reject these, to declare his absolute Sovereignty and Sufficiency; that he needs no men, that he is God, and able to carry on the great things of his Counsel, without the wisdom of wise men, the strength of great men, the repute of noble men in the world; that is the reason why great men in Authority, need wise men for counsel, and mighty men for execution thereof, because they know not how to do without other mens eyes, and other mens hands; but God, he is the only great and mighty God, none is his Counsellor, neither doth he need any help: Therefore that God might demonstrate this Sufficiency and Independency of his nature, he chooseth those that all the world seeth he doth not want; for if God had wanted the gifts, and parts, and power of men, he would have chosen other men: Oh then behold the wisdom and power of God in calling of men! he calleth the foolish, the weak, the nothings of this world, that so all may be convinced and see, God needs not the creatures, but the creatures him; and no wonder of this, for the world is not enough sensible of Gods greatness, its ready to count every thing great but him, to fear every thing but him; but God by this will teach us, that we are but as clay in the hands of the Potter; as the Apostle presseth it at large in the Discriminating act of God, and therefore will not suffer a man to be so presumptuous, as in those things to say, Why doth God so?
First, On Gods part; Therefore God may reject these, to declare his absolute Soveraiguty and Sufficiency; that he needs no men, that he is God, and able to carry on the great things of his Counsel, without the wisdom of wise men, the strength of great men, the repute of noble men in the world; that is the reason why great men in Authority, need wise men for counsel, and mighty men for execution thereof, because they know not how to do without other mens eyes, and other mens hands; but God, he is the onely great and mighty God, none is his Counsellor, neither doth he need any help: Therefore that God might demonstrate this Sufficiency and Independency of his nature, he chooseth those that all the world seeth he doth not want; for if God had wanted the gifts, and parts, and power of men, he would have chosen other men: Oh then behold the wisdom and power of God in calling of men! he calleth the foolish, the weak, the nothings of this world, that so all may be convinced and see, God needs not the creatures, but the creatures him; and no wonder of this, for the world is not enough sensible of Gods greatnesse, its ready to count every thing great but him, to fear every thing but him; but God by this will teach us, that we are but as clay in the hands of the Potter; as the Apostle presseth it at large in the Discriminating act of God, and therefore will not suffer a man to be so presumptuous, as in those things to say, Why doth God so?