A30243:2737
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.
Fourthly, These come upon the invitation, and yet are without the Wedding-garment, 1That are diligent in the discharge of the external duties God requireth, but never look to the internal frame and change of the heart: That was the universal disease among the Jews, for burnt-offerings and sacrifices they were constant and diligent in; they did even weary God with the abundance of them: but God rejected them all comparatively, Burnt offering and sacrifice God would not have, but a broken spirit, and the Law of God written in their hearts. Our Saviour also is very earnest in this point, in acquainting people with this, That the mere outward performance of any Religious duty, without any inward change and work of the spirit, is but a shell, is but the skin; therefore he tells them, The heart is the good or bad treasury, Mat. 1•. 35. the heart is the fountain from whence all streams flow; and John 4. God is a spirit, and he seeketh for such who worship him in spirit and truth: No wonder then, if you see many people submit to the external duties of praying and hearing, for these are but a bodily labour: Here is no inward working upon their soul, they pray not, they hear not with a powerful change upon the inward man: Speak to them of a broken spirit, a contrite heart, which is of so great repute with God, you speak a mere riddle to them. Observe then, if the greatest sort of persons do any more then the mere external duty; and if so, these have but an outward call, they have none of that spiritual glory within.
Fourthly, These come upon the invitation, and yet are without the Wedding-garment, 1That are diligent in the discharge of the external duties God requireth, but never look to the internal frame and change of the heart: That was the universal disease among the Jews, for burnt-offerings and sacrifices they were constant and diligent in; they did even weary God with the abundance of them: but God rejected them all comparatively, Burnt offering and sacrifice God would not have, but a broken spirit, and the Law of God written in their hearts. Our Saviour also is very earnest in this point, in acquainting people with this, That the meer outward performance of any Religious duty, without any inward change and work of the spirit, is but a shell, is but the skin; therefore he tells them, The heart is the good or bad treasury,