A30243:2838
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 113
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, The word implieth glory, and an ornament to this heavenly calling, which 1is more then mere comeliness and decency. Glory is clara notitia, a famous and illustrious manifestation of such godliness in our lives, that thereby all others may honour the Gospel, and love that Christianity, which instruct them in such things. This our Saviour meaneth, when he commands, That our light should so shine before men, that others may glorify God for us, Matth. 5. 16. Oh, every Christian is to be like a Star or the Sun in the firmament; as lights in the dark night, so these in the midst of a crooked and perverse people: Oh its a woeful thing to be an offence or a stumbling block to others, and that is, so to live, as that others are more confirmed and encouraged in their wickedness! Look we then upon mens lives, and compare them with their Christian calling, here is no more agreement then with light and darkness: Oh the reproach and scandal they are to Christianity! Salvian a godly Ancient doth excellently describe this, What do Pagans say, when they see Christians live wickedly? They think Christ taught them no better, he instructed them in no more holiness. Christiani sanctè vixissent, si Christus sancta docuisset; Christians would have lived holily, if Christ had given them holy commands: Oh blasphemy! Yet thus is the name of Christ blasphemed by thy ungodly life.
Thirdly, The word implieth glory, and an ornament to this heavenly calling, which 1is more then meer comelinesse and decency. Glory is clara notitia, a famous and illustrious manifestation of such godlinesse in our lives, that thereby all others may honour the Gospel, and love that Christianity, which instruct them in such things. This our Saviour meaneth, when he commands, That our light should so shine before men, that others may glorifie God for us, Matth. 5. 16. Oh, every Christian is to be like a Star or the Sun in the firmament; as lights in the dark night, so these in the midst of a crooked and perverse people: Oh its a wofull thing to be an offence or a stumbling block to others, and that is, so to live, as that others are more confirmed and encouraged in their wickednesse! Look we then upon mens lives, and compare them with their Christian calling, here is no more agreement then with light and darknesse: Oh the reproach and scandal they are to Christianity! Salvian a godly Ancient doth excellently describe this, What do Pagans say, when they see Christians live wickedly? They think Christ taught them no better, he instructed them in no more holinesse. Christiani sanctè vixissent, si Christus sancta docuisset; Christians would have lived holily, if Christ had given them holy commands: Oh blasphemy! Yet thus is the name of Christ blasphemed by thy ungodly life.