A30243:532
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 20
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.
Secondly, The end of all these spiritual abilities, is to profit the Church with them. ⟨p. 112⟩1They are not for vain ostentation, disputes, and applause in the world, but merely to edify others. 1 Cor. 12. 7. The gift is given to every one, [Greek or Hebrew], to profit with. So then these gifts must not be put under a bushel; these Talents must not be Hid in the earth, or wrapped up in a napkin, as if it were a dead thing. It is ingeniously observed by Theophylact, That when men were dead, they covered their faces with a napkin, and laid them in the grave: Thus they did to Christ, and to Lazarus: and thus the unprofitable servant did to his Talent, as if it were a dead thing and buried, he would make no improvement of it at all. And well did Austin call idleness, the burial of a man while alive: Paul, even then when he foretells his death shortly, That he must be a Sacrifice for the truth, he yet sends for his Parchments, employing that little time he hath in study. Now when I say gifts must be improved, I mean the gifts of private men in a private way out of charity; of public men, by office in a public way out of Authority: for that gifts are not enough to entitle to a public office, appeareth by the examples and commands in the Epistles, and in the Acts of the Apostles, where all that publicly employed their gifts, besides their own qualification, had also authority, and office given them by Superiors, whereby they were sent to do their work: And as they are not to be negligent, so neither to use them for applause, or to get esteem, or make parties. It is a sad corruption in us that we affect gifts more then graces, as you see the Corinthians did, for which Paul reproveth them, because by their gifts they were more admired and applauded: Hereupon they also had many followers, and truly this City of London is become much like Corinth: as she gloried in light and knowledge, as she abounded in schisms, and parties, one for one, and another for another: as her public meetings were come to great confusions and disorders, and as they minded disputes, but neglected the true power of Grace, thus is it with London at this day.
Secondly, The end of all these spirituall abilities, is to profit the Church with them. ⟨p. 112⟩