A30243:752
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 28
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.
That external moral obedience unto the Law of God, though it be much relied upon 1by men; yet it is no sure evidence for heaven.
That externall morall obedience unto the Law of God, though it be much relyed upon 1by men; yet it is no sure evidence for heaven.
- 1Obs. External obedience unto the law of God is no sure evidence for Heaven. What is meant by external obedience. 2. A freedom from all gross sins.Obs. Externall obedience unto the law of God is no sure evidence for Heaven. What is meant by externall obedience. 2. A freedom from all grosse sins.
To open this consider these particulars.
First, That by external obedience we mean an innocency or freedom from all gross vices. No drunkard, no whoremonger, no prodigal, &c. For the Pharisees made clean the outside, howsoever inwardly their hearts were dens of thievish Justs: Now although this innocency be no symptom of grace; yet how many such noisome and filthy weeds grow in Christs garden! how many such beastly swine are in Christs sheepfold, sins that should not be named among Christians, are yet practised and boasted of among them. What comfort and hopes canst thou have in thy conscience, who carriest about with thee such evident plague-tokens of Gods wrath? What do such Crows among Christs Doves? What do such Brambles among his pleasant plants? Depart ye workers of iniquity from Christian assemblies for these know you not: God called you not to uncleanness but unto holiness. Oh that these spots and reproaches of Christianity were once purged away from us.