A30243:2726
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 109
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.
That many of those who are called, and in many things obey, do yet come short 1in that which is absolutely necessary.
- 1Observ.
He that comes to the feast, was not guilty of such rebellion, as they that opposed, and inhumanely handled the Messengers; yet because he did not prepare the Wedding-Garment, which is a conversation and life suitable to the outward profession of Christ, therefore he is cast away: This is a necessary truth; for though we have many Christians, yet we have indeed but few: Though all in the Land come and sit down at the feast, yet we may say to many, Friends, how came ye in here? How came you to profess Christ? how came you to say you are Christians? What? such a sinner, such an ungodly person, and yet say, You believe in Christ, you love Christ? What is the reproach of the Christian profession this day, but the ungodly, ignorant, and profane lives of those who are baptized into Christs name? Monsters they are, and not Christians, who in one part bear the image of Christ, and in another the image of the Devil; in one part seem to be men, in another beasts: So that although the Christian Religion may boast in the multitude of her followers, yet it may blush at the lives of them: This was a point our Saviour did much ⟨p. 633⟩treat upon, That men did receive the truth, as to some particulars, and some degrees, but not wholly and throughly. The Parables of the several sorts of ground, of the unwise builder, especially that of the foolish Virgins, who were Virgins, had their lamps, went out to meet the Bridegroom, only they wanted oil, and this was not perceived till it was too late; all these tend to this purpose: You see then beloved, that we may have our lamps lighted, we may have the external profession and acknowledgement of Christ, but want oil in time of need. Certainly, while we are preaching of this subject, we may say almost to every man, Nunc tua res agitur, rouse up thy self and attend, for this matter belongs to thee: Thou receivest Christ and his ways but in parcels, though thou hast Baptism, the title of a Christian, sittest down at the Ordinances; yet where is the Wedding-garment! where is the conversation that doth agree, and belong to so holy a matter?