A30243:2947
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.
First, When we take no effects of grace to be sure signs, unless they be perfect and 1complete: And this is very often a deceit, even to good and tender hearts; they do not love God, they are not so heavenly minded, so zealous; they have often failings, they have daily infirmities: And thus, because they have not perfect workings of grace, they doubt of any grace at all; but then Hezekiah, Paul, and all the worthies of God, who enjoyed this privilege, should have been stripped of it, for at the same time they complain of the remainder of their corruptions, they feel thorns and goads in their side: So great a matter is it to make a difference between truth of grace in the Essence, and perfection in the degrees.
First, When we take no effects of grace to be sure signs, unless they be perfect and 1compleat: And this is very often a deceit, even to good and tender hearts; they do not love God, they are not so heavenly minded, so zealous; they have often failings, they have daily infirmities: And thus, because they have not perfect workings of grace, they doubt of any grace at all; but then Hezekiah, Paul, and all the worthies of God, who enjoyed this priviledge, should have been stripped of it, for at the same time they complain of the remainder of their corruptions, they feel thorns and goads in their side: So great a matter is it to make a difference between truth of grace in the Essence, and perfection in the degrees.
- 1Why men think this certainty impossible. 1.Why men think this certaintie impossible. 1.
Another ground may be, Because men for the most part keep at a remote distance 1from God: They are not diligent and constant in spiritual duties and approaches to God: Thus because they draw not nigh to God, God draweth not nigh to them; because they are estranged from God, God is also from them: If therefore we did take the Scriptures counsel, To walk with God, and to acquaint our selves with God, which is done by lively meditation, and quickened duties of Religion, we should then find that from God, which we thought impossible: You see the effects of all acts are thought impossible, to those that have no skill therein: And thus it is here Assurance is a mystery, and impossibility to thee, because thou hast no familiar acquaintance with God; thou comest not into his presence often, thou delightest not to draw nigh to him.