A30243:307
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 2 › Sermon 12
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.
Secondly, Though Paul walked with a good Conscience, and that towards God as well as man, yet that was for externals only, he was not acquainted with all the sinful motions of his heart, how much diffidence, ignorance, lukewarmness, love to the world, his credit and glory was in him more then of God, he did not perceive. Now Gods Law requireth that internal good frame above all. That Paul ⟨p. 65⟩was thus at that time, appeareth evidently Rom. 7. where the Apostle mentioning that former time of his life, said, He knew not lust to be sin till the Law said thus against it, and that he was alive till then, had good confidence and persuasion in himself, but afterwards he died, he was quite out of love with himself, and loathed all that was in him: so that by this you see, how unblameable soever his life appeared, yet it was far from being in a right way. Oh therefore be persuaded to consider your selves you that live unblameable lives, diligent in the duties that relate to God and man, though thy outside be thus painted, thy inwards may be a noisome sepulchre! how uncomely is it for a man to have his porch and out-rooms very clean, but his chambers and in-rooms full of noisome filth? This is thy case, look in thy life, no irreligion or impiety to God, no injustice or oppression to men, yet thou art destitute of the Spirit, and void of all supernatural life.
Secondly, Though Paul walked with a good Conscience, and that towards God as well as man, yet that was for externals only, he was not acquainted with all the sinfull motions of his heart, how much diffidence, ignorance, lukewarmnesse, love to the world, his credit and glory was in him more then of God, he did not perceive. Now Gods Law requireth that internal good frame above all. That Paul ⟨p. 65⟩was thus at that time, appeareth evidently Rom. 7. where the Apostle mentioning that former time of his life, said, He knew not lust to be sinne till the Law said thus against it, and that he was alive till then, had good confidence and perswasion in himself, but afterwards he died, he was quite out of love with himself, and loathed all that was in him: so that by this you see, how unblameable soever his lise appeared, yet it was farre from being in a right way. Oh therefore be perswaded to consider your selves you that live unblameable lives, diligent in the duties that relate to God and man, though thy outside be thus painted, thy inwards may be a noisome sepulchre! how uncomely is it for a man to have his porch and out-rooms very clean, but his chambers and in-rooms full of noisome filth? This is thy case, look in thy life, no irreligion or impiety to God, no injustice or oppression to men, yet thou art destitute of the Spirit, and void of all supernatural life.