A30243:2733
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.
Thirdly, If in the primitive times, among those many that gave up their names 1to Christ, few were chosen, how much a less number must there be now of chosen ones: This I would have diligently considered, If so be in those primitive times of those many thousands that believed in Christ, few were chosen, how little a remnant or handful may we expect to be among our called persons! For there were three Reasons, why all that were then called should be chosen: For
- 13. The number of chosen ones very few.
First, To accept of the Faith and Doctrine of Christ, was then a mere free and spontaneous thing; there was no compulsion by outward power, it was not a Religion they were educated and brought up in, their Parents did not teach them faith in Christ: Now who could not think certainly, they are right indeed, they must needs have the power of grace in them, who did thus readily and willingly receive a Doctrine that was wholly new to them, their parents did not instruct them in, no earthly power did force them to, but out of mere voluntary choice they embraced it: Yet in that company there was more chaff then wheat, in that garden there were more weeds then flowers: What then may we judge, when as the contrary Reasons are with us? for the Christian faith we embrace, is that we have by education, by Custom: Who is there that makes use of his own understanding, of his own will to embrace the truths of Christ? who is there, that upon searching the Scriptures, and trying all things, doth thus adhere to the truth? Are not men brutish in believing, as well as in living? Malunt homines credere, quam judicare, They take up that Religion their parents taught them, and its a mere hap, wholly accidental to them, that its the truth: Thus, like beasts, they follow one another, they go qua itur, non qua eundum est; certainly, this is far from having the spirit of God opening our hearts, and enlightening our minds: This is not by understanding and judging, and proving all things, to hold fast that which is good; This is not for a man to live by his faith, but by his Fathers, or Grand-fathers faith; indeed, to be brought up in the true Doctrine of Christ, is a wonderful mercy, its an excellent seasoning of the vessel betimes; but yet if a man have no more from the Christian Doctrine, then his education, he hath no more to say for the truth, then the Jews and Turks have for their gross falsehoods.