A30243:3007
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 119
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, In regard of the knowledge of God in a true and saving way. They are as little children, in utero ignorantiae, as Tertullian expressed it, no more apprehensive in a right manner of God, then the children in the dark womb are perceiving of the things of reason. Therefore Ephes. 2. part of this distance from God is in that they were [Greek or Hebrew], without God in the world. Athens that was the eye of Graecia, yet that could see no better, then to dedicate an Altar To the unknown god; Hence the Apostle speaking of the Heathens, said, They did feel or grope in the dark after God, Acts 17. 27. Even as the Egyptians in their thick darkness, or the Sodomites stricken with blindness did; and therefore Gods willing of men to be saved, is declared in this, That he would have all men come to the knowledge of the truth; and generally the Nations of the world are described by this, That they know not God. Its true, Rom. 1. the Apostle speaks of [Greek or Hebrew], something that by nature may be known of God, some sparks, some embers, but this is so corrupted, so confuse, so imperfect, that it grossly mistakes like that blind man recovering a little sight, that saw men like trees: Oh then, if to be a corporally blind man be so heavy a misery, that such cried to our Saviour, Lord that we might receive our sight! How much rather may we cry out to have the eyes of our eyes opened, who are wandering far from God! For although these that are here said to be far off are Heathens and Gentiles, yet even Christians by birth are also far off from God, till they have this spiritual eye-salve; and therefore in two respects men may be said to be far off from God: First, both in respect of inward grace, and the outward means of salvation: and thus all the Heathenish part of the world is afar off God: Or secondly, in respect of the inward grace only: When men do enjoy the outward means of salvation, and in this sense by their duties are said To draw nigh God, but in respect of any saving work of grace, are as far off as Heathens and Pagans:
First, In regard of the knowledge of God in a true and saving way. They are as little children, in utero ignorantiae, as Tertullian expressed it, no more apprehensive in a right manner of God, then the children in the dark womb are perceiving of the things of reason. Therefore