A30243:417
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.
2. There is a growth in temporary faith, and love, and such affections, Which hypocrites may have, but temporary faith will never grow to be justifying; no more then an Ape would grow to be a man, or copper to be gold, for these differ specifically.
3. There is a growth in externals merely, men are grown more civil and reformed in their lives. We may behold a wonderful alteration and change in them, but yet because there is no inward juice of grace, therefore it's not growth of godliness; and such Peter speaks of, Who had escaped the pollutions of the flesh, yet were dogs and swines in their inward disposition.
3. There is a growth in externals meerly, men are grown more civil and reformed in their lives. We may behold a wonderfull alteration and change in them, but yet because there is no inward juice of grace, therefore it's not growth of godlinesse; and such Peter speaks of, Who had escaped the pollutions of the flesh, yet were dogs and swines in their inward disposition.
4. There is a growth in additionals of worship and service. When men judge not the prescribed way by God enough, but institute of their own. This is a monstrous growth, as if a man should have two heads or six fingers. Thus superstition is an excess in worship, not in the quality of worship; for a man can never worship God too purely, too fervently, but in the quantity, by instituting new means. Hence growth of grace doth not lie in multiplication of duties more then God requireth, but the intention of qualities therein.
4. There is a growth in additionals of worship and service. When men judge not the prescribed way by God enough, but institute of their own. This is a monstrous growth, as if a man should have two heads or six fingers. Thus superstition is an excesse in worship, not in the quality of worship; for a man can never worship God too purely, too fervently, but in the quantity, by instituting new means. Hence growth of grace doth not lie in multiplication of duties more then God requireth, but the intention of qualities therein.