A30243:2875
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 114
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, He must needs be holy, because else we are not prepared for any communion 1or fellowship with God: Herein lieth the happiness of a godly man, that he hath fellowship with God, that he enjoyeth his presence, that he seeth his face, as you may see it represented in the Canticles: Now how can this be, when a man is profane and unholy? Christ speaks there of his heavenly love, and spiritual embracements, and how can this be to a soul that is loathsome and uncomely through sin? God speaks by the Prophet, of the abominable and vile condition of the Church of Israel in her sin, wallowing in her blood, Ezek. 16. 6. and till he put on comely ornaments on her, she was no fit object of love: Follow holiness; without which no man shall see, enjoy God, Heb. 12. 14. As the eye distempered with diseased humours, cannot comfortably behold the sun, so neither can the soul, debased through sin, behold the favour of God; yea, as the soul is not fit for such communion, so the presence and purity of God, if it should draw near, would be an heavy burden to a wicked man. Heaven it self, and enjoyment of God, is no suitable or welcome mercy to a wicked heart: So far as the notion of safety and deliverance from hell is in heaven, they can be glad of it; but take the positive part of heaven, which is indeed the heaven; viz. Enjoyment of God, and delighting in him, a wicked man can no more agree with it, then soar eyes do abide the dazzling sun.
Thirdly, He must needs be holy, because else we are not prepared for any communion 1or fellowship with God: Herein lieth the happiness of a godly man, that he hath fellowship with God, that he enjoyeth his presence, that he seeth his face, as you may see it represented in the Canticles: Now how can this be, when a man is prophane and unholy? Christ speaks there of his heavenly love, and spiritual imbracements, and how can this be to a soul that is loathsom and uncomely through sin? God speaks by the Prophet, of the abominable and vile condition of the Church of Israel in her sin, wallowing in her blood, Ezek. 16. 6. and till he put on comely ornaments on her, she was no fit object of love: Follow holiness; without which no man shall see, enjoy God,