A30243:3
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.
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.
TO THE READER.
Jam not discouraged to publish this plain Practical Treatise to the world, although it bring no Peacocks from Ophir, no strange affected words or opinions. You shall not come out to see here, A man clothed with soft raiments, but rather one like that man of Jericho, greatly wounded, desiring oil to be poured therein. And indeed holy and spiritual matter hath most convincing Majesty, when words do not obscure it; Painting of a Diamond hinders the lustre thereof: What Tully said of the Philosopher, is much more true of the Divine, Si affert eloquentiam, accipio; si non habet, non admodum flagitem. Therefore it being my main ⟨image 3⟩scope to bring the Reader into a powerful experimental Discovery of True Grace upon his own heart: I thought Words, Opinions, Notions and Controversies would be like Asahel's Carcass in the way, to move men to gaze on them, while they neglected more necessary and excellent matter. The true Work of Grace separated from the Counterfeit, with the assurance thereof, is the main Subject of this Book, and should be of our constant thoughts and meditations; this will be useful, when all other things will vanish; As Noah's Ark continued on the Waters, when all the stately Palaces of the world were overwhelmed. Grace justifying is indeed the treasure of a Christian, but Grace sanctifying is the Key to open thereunto: Grace justifying is much to be pressed, either to broken contrite hearts, or when corrupt Doctrines (as in Popery) have dangerously infected; but Grace sanctifying is constantly to be urged to every natural man, and all unbottomed Professors: Now there is no man that knoweth how it fareth with us in these days, but must acknowledge this Subject very useful. The vitals of godliness must be in a special manner preserved; that inward infused heat must not be weakened by useless evaporations: Disputes: Opinions and Differences of Judgement, must not be suckers to draw away nourishment from the substantial parts of holiness. Our Saviour himself chose this subject above all other to preach to his hearers; It was not their flocking after him in multitudes did content him, but upon all occasions he instructed them in the deep, sure and rooted work of Grace: even