A30243:376
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 15
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.
O Lord, my heart doth not rage, nor rise against this light; it doth not hate, or rebel against it, but I set open the Gates of my soul to receive more in.
3. The work of Conscience within us, that also doth prove us. God hath set up a light within us, and when this is enlightened by the word, then it makes a mans 1breast full of light. Now a faithful godly man, he loveth this should be tender, active, speaking out of Gods word for every duty, and against every sin. You see the quickness of it in David, when it's said, His heart smote him: and 1 John 3. If thy heart condemn thee, God is greater then thy heart. Alas, if thou within thy own self judgest thy self to sin thus and thus, God doth much more. Try thy integrity: art thou willing to have a tender conscience, and an informed conscience? Dost thou love to hear what that speaks out of Gods word? whether peace or Duty, this is comfortable. But on the other side, if thou art a man that rebelest against the light of it; wouldst fain put out the sting of it; wouldst be glad to feel no such living thing in thy breast, then thou hast cause to suspect thy self: Oh it is to be feared that there are many that give themselves to lusts, and carnal pleasures, that so they may put a foggy mist between this sin and them. Others dig into the world, labouring to become senseless, that so there may be an eclipse of this light by the interposition of the earth. Others run to damnable Heresies, denying Scriptures, God, Heaven, Hell; pleading for an universal salvation of all: What are these but refuges of guilty consciences. It is true, we must distinguish between our carnal concupiscence, and conscience; between deluded imaginations, and conscience; between an erroneous, and scrupulous conscience, and a well grounded, and truly informed conscience; and when we have done so, we must follow conscience as far as that follows the word.
3. The work of Conscience within us, that also doth prove us. God hath set up a light within us, and when this is enlightened by the word, then it makes a mans