A30243:535
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, A second reason of carnal confidence herein, is, because it is, very difficult ⟨p. 113⟩to know when our duties are performed by assistance merely, and when by Sanctification also. In prayer it is hard to discern when its the Gift of prayer only, and when its the Grace of prayer also; for these things are judged by the Spiritual man only; he is said to judge all things. But now an unregenerate man, though abounding in these gifts of Gods Spirit, yet because he is altogether carnal, he cannot make any spiritual discerning of these things: but as sensual brutish men, they argue God loveth them, and that they are in the favour of God because he blesseth them with wealth, and outward prosperity. Thus men of parts and abilities in religious things argue; if God did not love them, if he intended to damn them, he would never give them such knowledge, he would never give such assistance, but this is a mere delusion. Oh there is as vast a difference between thy Duties performed through assistance merely, and through Sanctification, as is between sweet Grapes and wild Grapes.
Secondly, A second reason of carnal confidence herein, is, because it is, very difficult ⟨p. 113⟩to know when our duties are performed by assistance meerly, and when by Sanctification also. In prayer it is hard to discern when its the Gift of prayer onely, and when its the Grace of prayer also; for these things are judged by the Spiritual man onely; he is said to judge all things. But now an unregenerate man, though abounding in these gifts of Gods Spirit, yet because he is altogether carnal, he cannot make any spiritual discerning of these things: but as sensual bruitish men, they argue God loveth them, and that they are in the favor of God because he blesseth them with wealth, and outward prosperity. Thus men of parts and abilities in religious things argue; if God did not love them, if he intended to damn them, he would never give them such knowledge, he would never give such assistance, but this is a meer delusion. Oh there is as vast a difference between thy Duties performed through assistance meerly, and through Sanctification, as is between sweet Grapes and wilde Grapes.