A30243:2840
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.
Now let us consider, What are those properties or constant actions that will thus become and grace our holy calling. And
Now let us consider, VVhat are those properties or constant actions that will thus become and grace our holy calling. And
First, They walk worthy of this calling, who have heartily and totally left all that former life God hath called them out from, and have no desires to return to that again. By this call God takes us from all those former customary ways of impieties, that we lived in: Were we profane? we are so no more: Were we proud, earthly, unjust? we are so no more. God hath called us from such a wretched and cursed estate of life. Now a man cannot walk in a mere unworthy ⟨p. 657⟩way of this call, then to desire to return to his former lusts; To think it was better then with us, then now; we had more pleasures, more love in the world, more content and esteem, then since we have followed God thus calling of us: Oh wherein can we show our selves a people more unworthy of this mercy, then in so doing! As it was with the people of Israel, when God had delivered them out of that place of bondage, and by a mighty hand had wrought wonderful deliverances for them; wherein did they demonstrate their horrible ingratitude more then in this, That they would go back again to Egypt? They prized not the Manna, but thought of their old flesh-pots. Thus its as unsufferable wickedness in any man, whom God hath called from his former lusts, and he begins to desire them again, and to do as he hath done: Oh what is this, but to repent of thy marriage to God! To proclaim to the world, that thou didst find more pleasure and content in lusts, then in the service of God! Remember Lots wife; when God had by a merciful hand pulled her out of Sodom, she looks back and was immediately turned into a pillar of salt. Augustine said, It was to season us; but the Hebrew word for salt, may signify brimstone, or such materials, and so she was punished in some measure like the Sodomites, partaking of their punishments, because she had some compliance with their sins: Oh then consider thy self! Hast thou forsaken all thy former dear lusts? Hast thou bid them all Be gone? Is the very memory of thy former life a shame and a bitterness to thee? Art thou daily blessing God, that he hath given thee eyes to see and an heart to understand thy former life, and that for thousands of worlds, thou wouldst not be the man thou once wert? This is to walk worthy of so holy a calling.