A30243:2843
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, They are very attentive and diligent to avoid all those ways that may be 1an active scandal or offence to others. To walk worthy of the Gospel is so to carry our selves, that others may love it, that we may win others by our life and conversation. Now on the other side, they walk unworthily of it, who give just offence and scandal to others, that are stumbling blocks in other mens ways. This is an heavy sin: our Saviour crieth out of a woe to such men, Mat. 18. 7. and saith, It had been better they were thrown into the bottom of the sea with a millstone about their necks. They had better never have been born, that it might be said, There were never such men, then so to harden others in impiety. How unworthy was Judas of that gracious call he had, when by his secret theft and perfidious betraying of Christ, he gave him up to be crucified? What such a man to be found in the number of those that left all and followed Christ! What a scandal was thi•• Those that are tender of Gods glory, and of the repute of godliness they dare ⟨p. 658⟩not do such things as shall make Religion stink in the nostrils of men: Oh they have always a care to that, that that may be well spoken of, may hear well! Indeed there are passive scandals and offences, such as wicked men take by their own corrupt and malicious hearts, as the Pharisees did at Christ, but those are not to be mattered; such persons do destroy their own selves, and like Serpents they turn every thing they eat into poison; but we speak now of those things that give a just offence, that are not justifiable and warrantable. These things, those that desire to adorn religion will abstain from. If Augustus said, That an Emperor was not only to be free from crimes, but also from the suspicion of them; How much more should Christians, who are commanded to abstain from all appearance of evil? 1 Thess. 5. 22.
Thirdly, They are very attentive and diligent to avoid all those wayes that may be 1an active scandal or offence to others. To walk worthy of the Gospel is so to carry our selves, that others may love it, that we may win others by our life and conversation. Now on the other side, they walk unworthily of it, who give just offence and scandal to others, that are stumbling blocks in other mens wayes. This is an heavy sin: our Saviour crieth out of a woe to such men,