A30243:412
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.
4. The growth of grace is by meliorating or making better the means and instruments of grace. The Word and Ordinances are appointed by God as the means to grow, and to cleanse us more and more. Now if thou wouldest have thy graces flourish, thou must be more diligent and careful in the prepared use of them; hear better, pray better, make a better improvement of the Ministry. The Disciples were mending their nets because they were instruments to get their fish. The Artificer must sharpen his tools, if he would live by his trade. Now these external Ordinances are the spiritual tools and instruments by which the soul is promoted in the way of godliness, and if thou languishest and art careless here, it will quickly appear in thy whole conversation.
4. The growth of grace is by meliorating or making better the means and instruments of grace. The Word and Ordinances are appointed by God as the means to grow, and to cleanse us more and more. Now if thou wouldest have thy graces flourish, thou must be more diligent and carefull in the prepared use of them; hear better, pray better, make a better improvement of the Ministery. The Disciples were mending their nets because they were instruments to get their fish. The Artificer must sharpen his tools, if he would live by his trade. Now these externall Ordinances are the spiritual tools and instruments by which the soul is promoted in the way of godlinesse, and if thou languishest and art carelesse here, it will quickly appear in thy whole conversation.
5. Where growth is, there is a special care, of all graces to look to that which helps to nourishment, and that is Faith. Faith is the mouth to suck the milk of the promises, it is the bunch of hyssop that sprinkles Christs blood upon us to puri•ie us, it is the feeding upon Christ: Now then if a man would be nourished and increase in grace, he must be sure this grace hath no obstructions. As a man is justified only by faith, so in some sense, we may say a man is sanctified, that is, increaseth in new obedience, by faith: By faith the branch is preserved in the olive-tree, and partaketh of the fatness thereof. Christ prayed for Peter, that his faith might not fail, as if that grace were kept up, then his courage, zeal, self-denial, and all other graces would be kept up: Non per opera venitur ad fidem, sed per fidem ad opera.