A30243:2946
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 117
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.
I shall give you also a Reason for it, which is this, Supernatural habits or principles of grace, do vitally and evidently discover their actions and effects, as rational and animal principles: As the principle of love to God, of repentance for sin, do in the acts thereof manifest themselves spiritually, as rational principles: So that as a rational man, he knoweth the arguments he hath, he discerneth his acts of reason, he can tell you he is of this judgement, and not of that: Thus it is with a spiritual man, he perceiveth the faith in him, the love of God that is within him: Can the Animal lover find sensible love burning within? and ⟨p. 678⟩doth not the spiritual lover feel such fire in his bones? Doth not David cry, That his soul breatheth and longeth for God? Doth not the Church cry out, She is sick of love? So then, supernatural principles acting in the soul, are perceived spiritually, as rational acts are, or sensible acts are. As Austin said, He that believeth, findeth he doth believe; viz. Gods spirit assisting him; otherwise, like Hagar, there may be a pleasant fountain of refreshment hard by, and she not perceive it, till her eyes be opened: What then should be the cause that men may think this certainty impossible? This may arise from three grounds:
I shall give you also a Reason for it, which is this, Supernatural habits or principles of grace, do vitally and evidently discover their actions and effects, as rational and animal principles: As the principle of love to God, of repentance for sin, do in the acts thereof manifest themselves spiritually, as rational principles: So that as a rational man, he knoweth the arguments he hath, he discerneth his acts of reason, he can tell you he is of this judgement, and not of that: Thus it is with a spiritual man, he perceiveth the faith in him, the love of God that is within him: Can the Animal lover finde sensible love burning within? and ⟨p. 678⟩doth not the spiritual lover feel such fire in his bones? Doth not David cry, That his soul breatheth and longeth for God? Doth not the Church cry out, She is sick of love? So then, supernatural principles acting in the soul, are perceived spiritually, as rational acts are, or sensible acts are. As Austin said, He that believeth, findeth he doth believe; viz. Gods spirit assisting him; otherwise, like Hagar, there may be a pleasant fountain of refreshment hard by, and she not perceive it, till her eyes be opened: What then should be the cause that men may think this certainty impossible? This may arise from three grounds: