A30243:604
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, The Devils that are damned in hell have admirable knowledge. They know and believe the things of Religion. James saith, The Devils believe and tremble, not with any faith infused by Gods Spirit into them, but from the evident conviction upon their consciences; yet the Devil for all this knowledge is an unclean spirit. Though the Devil tempt men to errors, and heresies, and atheism, yet he is neither Atheist or Heretic. The light implanted in him, and acquired by observation of things, prevents such darkness and clouds upon him. Now what a goodly sign will this be to boast of, wherein the Devils do exceed thee? The Devil hath his very name [Greek or Hebrew] from knowledge, yet that is no advantage, we may say the Devil is an orthodox Devil in some sense.
Fifthly, The Devils that are damned in hell have admirable knowledge. They know and believe the things of Religion. James saith, The Devils believe and tremble, not with any faith infused by Gods Spirit into them, but from the evident conviction upon their consciences; yet the Devil for all this knowledge is an unclean spirit. Though the Devil tempt men to errors, and heresies, and atheism, yet he is neither Atheist or Heretick. The light implanted in him, and acquired by observation of things, prevents such darknesse and clouds upon him. Now what a goodly signe will this be to boast of, wherein the Devils doe exceed thee? The Devil hath his very name 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 from knowledge, yet that is no advantage, we may say the Devil is an orthodox Devil in some sense.
Use 1. Of Instruction, That although we are to bless God for orthodox Churches, yet that is not enough unless we be holy and godly Churches. Neither mayest thou 1confide in thy self, because thou art no heretic, thou art no erroneous person, thou lovest the honest old orthodox truths. Alas the Kingdom of God, of grace, reacheth further then to the understanding only. Now if so be the orthodox indeed may not thus be self confident, how intolerable is it, when men for their heresies and false doctrines, though esteemed truths by them, judge themselves the nearer salvation! What a miserable delusion is this, to be thought the more accepted to God and endeared to him by the false ways they walk in? Stir up thy heart therefore, that as thou canst not abide heresies nor false doctrines, so neither canst thou endure impiety or profaneness. It is a shame to be able to confute heretics by books, and not ungodliness by our lives, yet what Lamentations may the godly Jeremiahs of this age make, to see how possessed men are with their Tenets and Doctrines, when it may be false, as if none were godly, but such as are found among them, as if the Kingdom of God did only consist in their opinions, and in the mean while, the known and powerful way of godliness is laid aside.