A30243:2759
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 110
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, There is not the same reason only, that thou shouldst do all the duties God requireth, as well as externally profess him, and call on his name; but also, that thou shouldst do them with all accurateness, strictness, and all diligence: There is no man that thinks himself bound to be a Christian, but he is by the same argument to think; he is bound to be an accurate, diligent and strict one; and he that is not a strict, precise one, is indeed none, as to have any benefit by his Religion: This I would have you consider, for men think it indeed their duty to be Christians at large, Protestants in a general loose way, they are contented with this; but if you press them to a more exact circumspect walking, not to be conformed to the World, then this is the strictness they cannot abide; What needs all this? cannot we be saved without all this nicety? as they call it. Now consider
Thirdly, There is not the same reason onely, that thou shouldst do all the duties God requireth, as well as externally profess him, and call on his name; but also, that thou shouldst do them with all accurateness, strictness, and all diligence: There is no man that thinks himself bound to be a Christian, but he is by the same argument to think; he is bound to be an accurate, diligent and strict one; and he that is not a strict, precise one, is indeed none, as to have any benefit by his Religion: This I would have you consider, for men think it indeed their duty to be Christians at large, Protestants in a general loose way, they are contented with this; but if you press them to a more exact circumspect walking, not to be conformed to the World, then this is the strictness they cannot abide; What needs all this? cannot we be saved without all this nicety? as they call it. Now consider
First, No, ye cannot be saved without this strictness: The way to hell is a broad 1way, the way to heaven is a strait way, the gate is a narrow gate, Mat. 7. 14. and men must strive to enter in, ye are to walk circumspectly, [Greek or Hebrew],