A30243:597
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.
Fifthly, Although it be not a necessary demonstration of godliness, yet it is a great 1mercy of God to be orthodox, and to be kept in the right faith. Hence all error and ignorance is described by the name darkness, as truth is by light, to show how dreadful the one is, and comfortable the other is; The truth of God is so great that we ought to lose our lives for it. Yea Christs death, though as it did respect Gods justice, it was [Greek or Hebrew] a Propitiatory, yet as it did respect men, and the good confession of faith he made, it was [Greek or Hebrew] a Martyrdom. Hence are those expressions, To contend earnestly for the faith, Jud. 3. Not so much as to bid God speed, to him that bringeth false Doctrines, 2 John 10. Hence also as a glorious gift, is the Spirit of God promised to teach us the truth, John 16. 13. Yea it's made the comfortable privilege of the Elect, that though false Prophets shall prevail much, yet they shall not deceive the Elect, that is, totally and finally; and when the Apostle spake of the Apostasy of Hymenaeus and Philetus, he addeth by way of comfort to the godly, Nevertheless the foundation of the Lord standeth sure, knowing who is his. Blessed therefore is that man whose heart is kept in a continual fear and trembling at errors and false ways, as well as at iniquities and ungodly practices.
Fifthly, Although it be not a necessary demonstration of godlinesse, yet it is a great 1mercy of God to be orthodox, and to be kept in the right faith. Hence all errour and ignorance is described by the name darknesse, as truth is by light, to shew how dreadfull the one is, and comfortable the other is; The truth of God is so great that we ought to lose our lives for it. Yea Christs death, though as it did respect Gods justice, it was 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 a Propitiatory, yet as it did respect men, and the good confession of faith he made, it was 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 a Martyrdom. Hence are those expressions, To contend earnestly for the faith, Jud. 3. Not so much as to bid God speed, to him that bringeth false Doctrines,