A30243:2681
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.
Secondly, God therefore doth not take many great and noble in this world, 1that so men may see the falseness of that position and conclusion, which men do so often make to themselves; viz. That God giveth them this wealth, this greatness, this honour above others, because he loveth them more then others: This is the sweet poison that many drink down, God hath given me this success, this wealth, this prosperity, this outward happiness; and certainly if God would destroy me, he would never have done so much for me: God foresaw such a Self-flattery in the people of Israel, and therefore he doth again and again bid them take heed of so much as thinking in their heart, that they had conquered their enemies, and possessed themselves of Canaan, for their own righteousness, as if there were more in them then in others: Nay, thou seest this Text and the like, may be like the Hand-writing on the wall, to make all thy joints tremble. Thy greatness, thy plenty, thy abundance, is no sign of Gods gracious and special love to thee, if while he bestoweth these things on thee, thou mayest be one ordained to eternal destruction; therefore see what the Wise man observeth, No man knoweth love or hatred by these things, Eccles. 9. 1. We cannot conclude ⟨p. 625⟩of Gods Electing love, or his Reprobating hatred by these outward mercies David once began to make such conclusions, but he called himself a beast for it, and said, Thereby he condemned the generation of the just.
Secondly, God therefore doth not take many great and noble in this world, 1that so men may see the falseness of that position and conclusion, which men do so often make to themselves; viz. That God giveth them this wealth, this greatness, this honor above others, because he loveth them more then others: This is the sweet poyson that many drink down, God hath given me this success, this wealth, this prosperity, this outward happiness; and certainly if God would destroy me, he would never have done so much for me: God foresaw such a Self-flattery in the people of Israel, and therefore he doth again and again bid them take heed of so much as thinking in their heart, that they had conquered their enemies, and possessed themselves of Canaan, for their own righteousnesse, as if there were more in them then in others: Nay, thou seest this Text and the like, may be like the Hand-writing on the wall, to make all thy joynts tremble. Thy greatness, thy plenty, thy abundance, is no sign of Gods gracious and special love to thee, if while he bestoweth these things on thee, thou mayest be one ordained to eternal destruction; therefore see what the Wise man observeth, No man knoweth love or hatred by these things,