A30243:353
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.
Fifthly, This is a sign, When a mans opposition to sin, and leaving of it, is because 1of the foul nature of sin. It is contrary to God, it's a transgression of his Law, and upon this spiritual motive he is bent against it. The Apostle (as you heard) giveth this as a reason, why the sons of God should not sin, because sin is a transgression of the Law; and David Psal. 51. bewails his sin, though pardoned, because God was offended thereby; so that though a man pour out floods of tears for sins, though his conversation outwardly become white as snow, yet this is no symptom of grace, a man can take no comfort from hence, unless it be upon this ground, because God is displeased, and his law broken: look over the Scriptures, you may see wonderful examples of mens remorse and sorrow about sin, yet those very tears were so foul that they needed washing; Take Ahab, observe the Jews, consider Judas, how were they cast down about their sin? with what horror of conscience did Judas cast away his thirty pieces? Oh men may go very far in sorrow for sin, and in reforming of their lives about sin, and yet this be no sign to them of the truth of grace. Why (you may say) what should work upon them, if it be not grace? Oh there are many other motives that work upon them, terrors of conscience, fear of Gods judgements, and the pressing calamities that lie upon them! Insomuch that true unfeigned hatred of sin is very rare; I deny not but the judgements of God upon a man ought to work in him a sense and feeling of his sins, a severe judging and condemning of himself under Gods hand. But to have this the only ground argueth not the presence of grace in them. They are tied up from sin as Mastiffs and Wolves are, their natures are not changed.
Fifthly, This is a sign, When a mans opposition to sinne, and leaving of it, is because 1of the foul nature of sinne. It is contrary to God, it's a transgression of his Law, and upon this spiritual motive he is bent against it. The Apostle (as you heard) giveth this as a reason, why the sons of God should not sinne, because sinne is a transgression of the Law; and David Psal. 51. bewails his sinne, though pardoned, because God was offended thereby; so that though a man pour out flouds of tears for sins, though his conversation outwardly become white as snow, yet this is no symptome of grace, a man can take no comfort from hence, unlesse it be upon this ground, because God is displeased, and his law broken: look over the Scriptures, you may see wonderfull examples of mens remorse and sorrow about sinne, yet those very tears were so foul that they needed washing; Take Ahab, observe the Jews, consider Judas, how were they cast down about their sinne? with what horrour of conscience did Judas cast away his thirty pieces? Oh men may go very farre in sorrow for sinne, and in reforming of their lives about sinne, and yet this be no sign to them of the truth of grace. Why (you may say) what should work upon them, if it be not grace? Oh there are many other motives that work upon them, terrors of conscience, fear of Gods judgements, and the pressing calamities that lie upon them! Insomuch that true unfeigned hatred of sinne is very rare; I deny not but the judgements of God upon a man ought to work in him a sense and feeling of his sins, a severe judging and condemning of himself under Gods hand. But to have this the only ground argueth not the presence of grace in them. They are tied up from sinne as Mastis and Wolves are, their natures are not changed.