A30243:2982
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.
Now to such an one we say, Let him walk in a faith of adherence and dependence when he hath none of these evidences. This the Scripture calls trusting, relying, leaning and staying of the soul upon God. David in many Psalms hath only this plank to stand upon in the great Ocean: For this you must know, though assurance be a duty, and to be pressed after, yet it is not the faith that justifieth. Thou mayest belong to God, and have an interest in the promise, though thou feel no evidences of it. Who is he that feareth God, walking in darkness and hath no light, let him stay himself upon God? Isa. 50. 10. So then, if thou findest thy soul like a parched heath; thou goest bowed down, thinking thy self a withered branch, a dried tree; consider what is thy duty, what doth God require of thee? even a depending and waiting on him. And this dependence of faith is far more noble then the assurance of faith.
Now to such an one we say, Let him walk in a faith of adherence and dependance when he hath none of these evidences. This the Scripture cals trusting, relling, leaning and staying of the soul upon God. David in many Psalms hath only this plank to stand upon in the great Ocean: For this you must know, though assurance be a duty, and to be pressed after, yet it is not the faith that justifieth. Thou maiest belong to God, and have an interest in the promise, though thou feel no evidences of it. Who is he that feareth God, walking in darknesse and hath no light, let him stay himself upon God? Isa. 50. 10. So then, if thou findest thy soul like a parched heath; thou goest bowed down, thinking thy self a withered branch, a dried tree; consider what is thy duty, what doth God require of thee? even a depending and waiting on him. And this dependance of faith is far more noble then the assurance of faith.
For first, In assurance, there I go on in holy duties, and love of God, because 1of the sensible sweetness and delight that I have; but in dependence there I trust in God, when I have no sense or feeling: So then, as it is a greater act of love to God, when I love him though he afflicts me, though he blesseth me with no outward mercies; so it is a greater act of obedience to wait and depend on God, when I feel my own unworthiness and load of sin, then when the goodness of my heart is cleared up unto me.