A30243:2781
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 111
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, Therefore this cannot breed despair, because if there be any soul broken 1for sin, troubled under the guilt of it, we Ministers of the Gospel have a Commission to preach peace and pardon to such a soul. Oh then there is no cause thou shouldst bewail thy reprobate condition, that God had no thoughts of thee, but rather thy hard and stony heart, that will not relent, that will not grieve, that will not hunger and thirst after Christ. For let us meet with such a soul, as the body of that man of Jericho, wounded with sin, and we must pour oil into it. We dare not keep comfort from any one who discovers unfeigned signs of repentance; yea if need be, we may in particular absolve, and acquit in the name of the Lord, such a sinner from his sins, and the Lord he will confirm it, Whose sins ye loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven, Matth. 18. Oh then that we had such occasions, as to administer this balm of Gilead! Oh that we could meet with such persons, and we would say, Be of good comfort, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Thirdly, Therefore this cannot breed despair, because if there be any soul broken 1for sinne, troubled under the guilt of it, we Ministers of the Gospel have a Commission to preach peace and pardon to such a soul. Oh then there is no cause thou shouldst bewail thy reprobate condition, that God had no thoughts of thee, but rather thy hard and stony heart, that will not relent, that will not grieve, that will not hunger and thirst after Christ. For let us meet with such a soul, as the body of that man of Jericho, wounded with sin, and we must pour oil into it. We dare not keep comfort from any one who discovers unfeigned signs of repentance; yea if need be, we may in particular absolve, and acquit in the name of the Lord, such a sinner from his sins, and the Lord he will confirm it, Whose sins ye loose on earth, shall be loosed in Heaven, Matth. 18. Oh then that we had such occasions, as to administer this balme of Gilead! Oh that we could meet with such persons, and we would say, Be of good comfort, thy sinnes are forgiven thee.
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