A30243:346
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 14
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.
For there can be no better sign to discover principles by, then their proper incommunicable actions; thus we discover fire by burning, a rational life by speaking, now of all actions, this is most connatural to the permanent habit of grace to incline us to loath and abhor those things that are destructive to the nature of it, which is only sin: but because we may easily be deceived about this sign, for every one that is afraid of sin, yea bitterly crieth out of it, and leaveth it, is not yet regenerated. Therefore let us diligently consider how it is a sign. And
For there can be no better sign to discover principles by, then their proper incommunicable actions; thus we discover fire by burning, a rational life by speaking, now of all actions, this is most connatural to the permanent habit of grace to encline us to loath and abhorre those things that are destructive to the nature of it, which is only sinne: but because we may easily be deceived about this sign, for every one that is afraid of sin, yea bitterly crieth out of it, and leaveth it, is not yet regenerated. Therefore let us diligently consider how it is a sign. And
First, It is a sign, When we perceive a settled fixed frame of heart against sin. As 1the reason in the Text implieth; The seed of grace abideth in a man, he is born of God, now these expressions do denote something in us by way of a new nature, whereby we have an enmity and hostility, yea and irreconcilableness with sin; As some creatures have an antipathy against others; As on the contrary, he that is of the Devil, and so hath a fixed root of ungodliness in him, he hath a constant enmity and hatred against godliness, and those that are godly, Why so? Because their works are good, and his are evil, as John expresseth it; on the contrary the godly cannot agree and delight in evil, or evil men, because their works are evil, and his good; The Apostle Rom. 12. calls it [Greek or Hebrew], hating sin as hell it self, and the exhortation is to cast away their transgressions, abj̄icere not deponere, because of the loathsomeness they see in sin; So then, let Pharaoh, let the Israelites in several calamities bewail their Idolatries, and sins against God, yet here is no sign of grace, because their hearts were not steadfast within them. These were sudden transient motions not permanent principles, if thou wouldst take comfort from this sign, do not judge of thy self by some fits or seasons, but by the habitual inclination of thy soul. God in regeneration doth first change our natures, new mould us; and from this supernatural principle issue gracious actions.