A30243:408
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 16
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.
1. We bring forth more fruit, when the habits of our graces are more intense and enlarged: for in this supernatural habits agree with moral, that they are capable of intension, whereby faith may be made stronger, love more active, patience more refined. Their natures do not consist in indivisibili, neither do any attain to the utmost of any grace, Christ only had fullness, and the spirit of God was given unto him without measure; but in us it is otherwise: hence the Disciples fallen into some ambition, our Saviour tells them, except ye be converted, that is, further converted and carried on in sanct fication, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven; so it is said of the disciples upon some remarkable passage which Christ did, that they believed on him, which is not to be understood, as if they did not before believe on him, but they were confirmed more. Oh therefore look upon it as a necessary testimony of grace, to thrive more in godliness, to have many cubits added to thy stature, say with thy self, oh if the life of grace were in me, should I always be at such a stay, would it be no more active and operative; do wicked men grow worse and worse, and shall not I better and better? We complain of our children if sent to school, and they are still the same, stand at a stay; and may not the Ministers of God complain of their people, if they be still the same? how severely and terribly doth Paul speak to the Hebrews, because they were babes still, when they might have been strong men? he threatens them with the sin against the holy Ghost, and total apostasy, for not to go forward is to go backward, as it is with the boats in the river, if they cannot go on, they are driven backward: Now these habits of grace may be made more intense, partly by more fervency, when our graces arise to a greater heat, our faith and love more burning within us; partly by more easiness, the ways of godliness are not so difficult, corruption is more subdued, for habits are like a second nature, which doth facilitate and make all actions welcome, so that his Commandments are not grievous; partly by more delight and joy, for this floweth from the former: hence when the people of Israel offered so willingly, they rejoiced in that they had such hearts.
1. We bring forth more fruit, when the habits of our graces are more intense and enlarged: for in this supernaturall habits agree with morall, that they are capable of intension, whereby faith may be made stronger, love more active, patience more refined. Their natures do not consist in indivisibili, neither do any attain to the utmost of any grace, Christ only had fullnesse, and the spirit of God was given unto him without measure; but in us it is otherwise: hence the Disciples fallen into some ambition, our Saviour tels them, except ye be converted, that is, further converted and carried on in sanct fication, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven; so it is said of the disciples upon some remarkable passage which Christ did, that they beleeved on him, which is not to be understood, as if they did not before beleeve on him, but they were confirmed more. Oh therefore look upon it as a necessary testimony of grace, to thrive more in godlinesse, to have many cubits added to thy stature, say with thy self, oh if the life of grace were in me, should I alwaies be at such a stay, would it be no more active and operative; do wicked men grow worse and worse, and shall not I better and better? We complain of our children if sent to school, and they are still the same, stand at a stay; and may not the Ministers of God complain of their people, if they be still the same? how severely and terribly doth Paul speak to the Hebrews, because they were babes stil, when they might have been strong men? he threatens them with the sinne against the holy Ghost, and totall apostasie, for not to go forward is to go backward, as it is with the boats in the river, if they cannot go on, they are driven backward: Now these habits of grace may be made more intense, partly by more fervency, when our graces arise to a greater heat, our faith and love more burning within us; partly by more easinesse, the waies of godlinesse are not so difficult, corruption is more subdued, for habits are like a second nature, which doth facilitate and make all actions welcome, so that his Commandements are not grievous; partly by more delight and joy, for this floweth from the former: hence when the people of Israel offered so willingly, they rejoyced in that they had such hearts.