A30243:2784
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.
Sixthly, These that are thus chosen by God, of his mere good will and gracious 1pleasure, God finds not any thing in one called person more then another that should distinguish them. Paul said, Who hath made thee to differ from another? 1 Cor. 4. 7. And indeed if in these earthly mercies, its God that gives some riches, and not another; some wealth, and not another; some health, and not another; How much rather then is it God, that gives one grace to repent, and not another; one a broken and a contrite heart, and not another? Thus always in the Scripture, you shall find that repentance is Gods gift. To believe and understand the mystery of the Gospel, is given to one and not to another. Those then that are thus chosen, are to be ravished with the consideration of free Grace, that God out of his good pleasure should make such a large difference between him and others that it may be have been less sinners, and have less dishonoured God then he hath done. How thankful must the Israelite needs have been to see the destroying Angel pass by his house, and strike at the next Egyptian house to him! How much more then are the godly to rejoice, who have the stroke of eternal damnation passing by them, but falling heavily upon others!
Sixthly, These that are thus chosen by God, of his meer good will and gracious 1pleasure, God findes not any thing in one called person more then another that should distinguish them. Paul said, Who hath made thee to differ from another? 1 Cor. 4. 7. And indeed if in these earthly mercies, its God that gives some riches, and not another; some wealth, and not another; some health, and not another; How much rather then is it God, that gives one grace to repent, and not another; one a broken and a contrite heart, and not another? Thus alwaies in the Scripture, you shall finde that repentance is Gods gift. To believe and understand the mystery of the Gospel, is given to one and not to another. Those then that are thus chosen, are to be ravished with the consideration of free Grace, that God out of his good pleasure should make such a large difference between him and others that it may be have been lesse sinners, and have lesse dishonoured God then he hath done. How thankful must the Israelite needs have been to see the destroying Angel passe by his house, and strike at the next Aegyptian house to him! How much more then are the godly to rejoyce, who have the stroak of eternal damnation passing by them, but falling heavily upon others!