A30243:53
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 1 › Sermon 1
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.
First, Our Saviour did in his Sermons much press this point upon his hearers. If 1that be true which the Heathen said, Quando sapiens loquitur, aulaea animi aperit, when a wise man speaks he openeth the rich treasures and wardrobe as it were of his mind; This is much more true of Christ, in whom are the treasures of wisdom. And of all practical points in Divinity our Saviour is most frequently on this, That which is conceived his first Parable, Matth. 13. it is mainly to show the difference of true grace from that which is like it only, and as being a matter of great concernment; it is said Luke 8. 8. after the Parable was ended, Jesus cried, He that hath ears to hear let him hear. Now that crying is never attributed unto Christs speech, but when his affections were very earnest, and the matter of great importance. It is also to be considered that this he speaks to a multitude that thronged after him with great attention, yet to such he declareth, That few have a good and honest heart to receive the Word. When therefore our Saviour himself shall thus preach, that you may in the use of the Ordinances find much alteration made in your selves, you may have joy, faith, some kind of reformation, and yet not be the good and right soil: what a provocation should this be to us never to leave, till we be truly qualified: Our Saviour also spends another Parable to this purpose, Matth. 25. of the ten Virgins, where all are Virgins, that is, such who had preserved themselves from the Idolatries and gross vices of the world; They both had lamps, they both go with confidence to meet the Bridegroom, and there is no differencing of one from the other, till the Bridegroom come: so that by this Parable it should seem, that a Professor having no more then a false imperfect or counterfeit work of grace, may live and die with a great deal of comfort and confidence, as if his condition were exceeding good, and not find it otherwise till it be too late.
First, Our Saviour did in his Sermons much presse this point upon his hearers. If 1that be true which the Heathen said, Quando sapiens loquitur, aulaea animi aperit, when a wise man speaks he openeth the rich treasures and wardrobe as it were of his minde; This is much more true of Christ, in whom are the treasures of wisdom. And of all practical points in Divinity our Saviour is most frequently on this, That which is conceived his first Parable,