A30243:593
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 22
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, For the Manner, Disputations ought to be wholly in reference to practice, 1not in parties, to raise new sects, to get victory, but wholly to increase in the power of godliness, otherwise disputations are but like much fretting, that eat away the flesh of godliness, and bring it into consumption; and truly it is much to be lamented, to see how godliness is decayed, mortification languisheth, since so much quarrelling and wrangling in matters of Doctrine. It is reported of Bellarmine by Fuligattus in his life, Quod à studiis Scholasticae Theologiae averteretur ferè nauseabundus, quoniam succo carebant liquidae pictatis. He did with loathing turn from the study of School-Divinity, because it wanted the juice of sweet piety. All Religion is practical, it is food not to be looked upon, but eaten and digested.
Secondly, For the Manner, Disputations ought to be wholly in reference to practice, 1not in parties, to raise new sects, to get victory, but wholly to increase in the power of godlinesse, otherwise disputations are but like much fretting, that eat away the flesh of godlinesse, and bring it into consumption; and truly it is much to be lamented, to see how godlinesse is decayed, mortification languisheth, since so much quarrelling and wrangling in matters of Doctrine. It is reported of Bellarmine by Fuligattus in his life, Quod à studiis Scholasticae Theologiae averteretur ferè nauseabundus, quoniam succo carebant liquidae pictatis. He did with loathing turn from the study of School-Divinity, because it wanted the juice of sweet piety. All Religion is practical, it is food not to be looked upon, but eaten and digested.
- 1II. As to the manner. Wholly in reference to practice.
Thirdly, The Subject ought also to be qualified, one who is able and wise, understanding 1