A30243:414
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.
6. There is a growth objectively, and that is, when the glorious fullness of God is manifested to us more and more. Though the Sun cannot in it self increase or be glorious, yet it may to us more and more: therefore it hath its dawning, and its noon; so though God and Christ cannot be better or more lovely objects then they are, yet they may be so to thy affections and desires, Christ a new Christ, grace new grace, because there are further apprehensions and applications of their sweetness and efficacy.
6. There is a growth objectively, and that is, when the glorious fullnesse of God is manifested to us more and more. Though the Sun cannot in it self encrease or be glorious, yet it may to us more and more: therefore it hath its dawning, and its noon; so though God and Christ cannot be better or more lovely objects then they are, yet they may be so to thy affections and desires, Christ a new Christ, grace new grace, because there are further apprehensions and applications of their sweetnesse and efficacy.
Now to prevent mistakes, there is a twofold disposition like growth, that is not.
1. An increase in knowledge, parts, and abilities. This is not growth of grace: There is an increase (as you heard) quoad amplitudinem scientia, and quoad efficaciam, the latter is the crown and the perfection of the former.
1. An encrease in knowledge, parts, and abilities. This is not growth of grace: There is an encrease (as you heard) quoad amplitudinem scientia, and quoad efficaciam, the latter is the crown and the perfection of the former.