A30243:2731
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.
First, A consent to be Baptized, and entered into the number of those that own 1Christ: They will not abide in the number of Jews, Turks or Pagans, but they are willing to enrol their names in Christs Catalogue: Thus in the Apostles times, yea, while Christ preached, you read, John 2. of many who believed in him, yet Christ would not commit himself to them, because he knew what was in their hearts. To come to Christ, is not the work of the tongue, or of the head, but mainly and principally of the heart: With the mouth man is said to make confession, but with the heart he is also said to believe, Rom. 10. Now if you observe the general deportment of those who are thus called, can you see any more in them, then a mere bare and general consent to be accounted as a Christian? Do they matter any more? Do they ever think, What? is this all Christ would have me to do? No, but they sit down with this general acknowledgement: Thus Simon Magus, he came to the feast without a Wedding garment; though the Text saith, He believed, and was baptized, yet he was in the state of gall and bitterness, Acts 8. 17. it is true, he did not feel this bitterness, he thought all was well, but it was so much the more dangerous: Thus it is here, thou believest, thou art baptized, thou prayest, thou professest Christ with the mouth, and yet thy soul may be in gall and wormwood, a great gulf may be between thee and salvation, and thou all this while lie down in peace and security of spirit.
First, A consent to be Baptized, and entred into the number of those that own 1Christ: They will not abide in the number of Jews, Turks or Pagans, but they are willing to in•oll their names in Christs Catalogue: Thus in the Apostles times, yea, while Christ preached, you read, John 2. of many who believed in him, yet Christ would not commit himself to them, because he knew what was in their hearts. To come to Christ, is not the work of the tongue, or of the head, but mainly and principally of the heart: With the mouth man is said to make confession, but with the heart he is also said to believe,