A30243:2976
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 118
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, Presumption beareth up a mans heart, till a man come to some great and extraordinary calamities, and then this bubble vanisheth away. Its not truly rooted, 1and so will not abide a violent storm. They fall from presumption into despair. But see how Job and David can go through the hardest brunts; though they be under many briars, yet these innocent sheep lose not their wool. Dross will melt in the fire, but gold will be the more refined. The wind makes chaff fly away, but leaveth the corn more purified. The righteous hath hope in his death, Prov. 14. 32. then when the presumptuous mans hope doth most wither many times.
Thirdly, Presumption beareth up a mans heart, till a man come to some great and extraordinary calamities, and then this bubble vanisheth away. Its not truly rooted, 1and so will not abide a violent storm. They fall from presumption into despair. But see how Job and David can go through the hardest brunts; though they be under many briars, yet these innocent sheep lose not their wooll. Dross will melt in the fire, but gold will be the more refined. The winde makes chaff fly away, but leaveth the corn more purified. The righteous hath hope in his death, Prov. 14. 32. then when the presumptuous mans hope doth most wither many times.
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Fourthly, Presumption is not opposed nor assaulted by the devil. Satan doth not tempt and labour to drive people out of it, but nourisheth them in it. But out of 1this holy certainty, the devils main scope is to drive them. You see he was not afraid to shoot out his fiery dart even at Christ himself, upon this, Whether he was the Son of God. And his stratagem was to make Job think, and condemn himself for an hypocrite. So that godly assurance is much opposed, both by the devil and the unbelieving heart of man; its hardly obtained, and hardly retained. But of presumption we may say, as Isaac did of his sons counterfeit venison, how comest thou by it so quickly my son? How come you to be confident thus quickly, thus easily? This man-child is born, and your soul hath not been in travel and pangs: this is not Gods way.