A30243:470
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 18
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.
Augustine thought this to be the sin against the holy Ghost, or very near. But it cannot be so, because we have instances even of some godly men who have been tainted this way. It is an hard thing not to look upon godliness and the truths of God, as ours, more then as Gods, which doth breed carnal and humane dispositions in us. Know therefore that so far as thou enviest and grudgest at the excellency of another's godliness overtopping thee so far, thou hast no love to the Brethren.
Augustine thought this to be the sinne against the holy Ghost, or very near. But it cannot be so, because we have instances even of some godly men who have been tainted this way. It is an hard thing not to look upon godlinesse and the truths of God, as ours, more then as Gods, which doth breed carnal and humane dispositions in us. Know therefore that so farre as thou enviest and grudgest at the excellency of anothers godlinesse overtopping thee so far, thou hast no love to the Brethren.
Thirdly, This love to the Brethren is manifested by the contrary, viz. A zeal 1against sinners, an impatience and holy grief at the wickedness of others. That as the Apostle saith Cain hated Abel, because his own works were evil, and Abel's good, so a godly Abel is grieved at the conversation of the wicked, because his own are good, and the others evil. Thus a godly man is described by this Character, Psal. 35. 4. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth those that fear the Lord. You have a notable instance of this in Lot, 2 Pet. 2. 8. where righteous Lot is said to vex his soul by hearing and seeing the wicked Sodomites. The Greek word signifieth to torment his soul, and it is used of the damned in hell. There is also an emphasis in the phrase, his soul, he doth not say himself, but his soul, as if a sword had pierced. Thus God saith, His soul shall have no pleasure in the backslider, when he would express his great abhorring of such an one. Further this torment is amplified in the instruments by which, both in seeing and hearing. Lot was among the Sodomites as the Dove among Hawks, a Sheep among Wolves, a rose among thorns, a bright Star in a dark night; and this did so much afflict him, that August. in praef.