A30243:471
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.
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. Psal. 69 calls this a persecution, and saith, The evil deeds of the Sodomites were a persecution of Lot. Hereupon the same Father proves, That the persecutions of godly mens souls by wicked scandals, is worse then that of Tyrants killing the bodies. And Bernard speaks excellently to this purpose of the Churches bitterness, Amara prius fuit in nece Martyrum, amarior postea in conflictu haereticorum, sed amarissima in moribus domesticorum. Try thy love to the godly, by thy grief and trouble that cometh to thee, through the wickedness of others; for seeing by their evil deeds, God is so much dishonoured, how can it be but that with David, Rivers of water should run down thy eyes, because men keep not Gods Law? and David said, He hated those who hated God with a perfect hatred, that is, a full, absolute, irreconcilable hatred, which is to be understood of their will not their persons.
Thirdly, This love to the Brethren is manifested by the contrary, viz. A zeal