A30243:507
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 3 › Sermon 19
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.
3. Therefore men rest upon these because they are ignorant of the work and necessity of regeneration: You see Nicodemus an old man, much versed in the religious 1worship of God, yet though a master in Israel, knew not this thing. Oh it's to be feared there are many great Scholars, there are many ancient, noble, rich Christians, that yet are strangers to the whole inward work of Gods Spirit by way of change upon them. The Apostle calls circumcision of the heart, circumcision made without hands; and so baptism and the Sacraments in the heart, which are not visible in the eyes of the world, make us esteemed before God. Be not then idol Christians that have eyes and see no•, hearts and understand not the inward virtue and spiritual efficacy of Christ in his Ordinances. It was Chrysostoms complaint in his •aies, [Greek or Hebrew] &c. Alas, how are all the grave and holy Ordinances in the Church of God turned into mere outsides and formalities! Thus in Popery when real holiness began to be persecuted, then they set up a deal of superstitious holiness, holy Images, holy Altars, holy Temples, holy vestments, and in the mean while, true, real holiness was scorned: and here is too much ⟨p. 107⟩of this Pope in the belly of many formal Protestants.
3. Therefore men rest upon these because they are ignorant of the work and necessity of regeneration: You see Nicodemus an old man, much versed in the religious 1worship of God, yet though a master in Israel, knew not this thing. Oh it's to be feared there are many great Scholars, there are many ancient, noble, rich Christians, that yet are strangers to the whole inward work of Gods Spirit by way of change upon them. The Apostle cals circumcision of the heart, circumcision made without hands; and so baptism and the Sacraments in the heart, which are not visible in the eies of the world, make us esteemed before God. Be not then idol Christians that have eyes and see no•, hearts and understand not the inward vertue and spirituall efficacy of Christ in his Ordinances. It was Chrysostomes complaint in his aies, &c. Alas, how are all the grave and holy Ordinances in the Church of God turned into meer outsides and formalities! Thus in Popery when reall holinesse began to be persecuted, then they set up a deal of superstitious holinesse, holy Images, holy Altars, holy Temples, holy vestments, and in the mean while, true, reall holinesse was scorned: and here is too much