A30243:2979
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.
Sixthly, Presumption is but a self-deceiving, false logic that a man deceiveth himself with. Whereas you heard this certainty is a knowledge wrought by Gods 1Spirit in us. The Apostle James saith, If any man seem to be religious and bridle not his tongue, [Greek or Hebrew], he makes a false syllogism, James 1. 26. He takes non causa, procausa; and indeed all presumption is nothing but a false syllogism; a man takes that for a cause which is not a cause: or else it is an ignoration of the proper state of the question, that it is to be indeed godly, how much goeth to the nature of it.
Sixthly, Presumption is but a self-deceiving, false logick that a man deceiveth himself with. Whereas you heard this certainty is a knowledge wrought by Gods 1Spirit in us. The Apostle James saith, If any man seem to be religious and bridle not his tongue, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, he makes a false syllogisme, James 1. 26. He takes non causa, procausa; and indeed all presumption is nothing but a false syllogisme; a man takes that for a cause which is not a cause: or else it is an ignoration of the proper state of the question, that it is to be indeed godly, how much goeth to the nature of it.
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Seventhly, The presumptuous man is full of haughty arrogance and proud preferring 1of himself, contemning and undervaluing others. Thus that Pharisee, Lord I thank thee that I am not as other men, &c. Whereas true assurance is accompanied with deep humility, and a pitiful respect to others, praying and mourning for others; Oh that their eyes were opened; Oh that they were enriched with the grace of God, as they are. Humility and self-emptiness is an inseparable effect of godly assurance, and of precious esteem with God. Minimum de se sensisse, tam magnum est quam maximas res fecisse, The lowest love, and the least thoughts of our selves, is as great, as to have done the greatest and most excellent things.