A30243:757
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.
4. This moral obedient man though he comes so far short of heaven, yet is the worlds 1Saint, and admired by them: for he having only the lineaments and form of godliness, without the power and activity of it, hence it is that he is the more beloved of the world; Whereas if he had the vigorous life of grace, and were zealous for the glory of God, and active to pull down the kingdom of sin and Satan, then all the rage and hat•ed of the world would be derived on him. Look upon Christ and his conversation, there was more righteousness, holiness, patience, meekness, and all loveliness in him, then in the strictest Pharisee: Yet the people generally preferred a Pharisee before him, because the one had but the picture of godliness, and the other the lively expression of it, which is very offensive and troublesome to a carnal heart. Hence the world saith, give me an honest, quiet, peaceable man, that troubleth us not for our drunkenness, wickedness, and debauched courses; but as for these strict, precise, zealous men, what have we to do with them?
4. This morall obedient man though he comes so far short of heaven, yet is the worlds 1Saint, and admired by them: for he having only the lineaments and form of godlinesse, without the power and activity of it, hence it is that he is the more beloved of the world; Whereas if he had the vigorous life of grace, and were zealous for the glory of God, and active to pull down the kingdom of sin and Satan, then all the rage and hat•ed of the world would be derived on him. Look upon Christ and his conversation, there was more righteousnesse, holinesse, patience, meeknesse, and all lovelinesse in him, then in the strictest Pharisee: Yet the people generally preferred a Pharisee before him, because the one had but the picture of godlinesse, and the other the lively expression of it, which is very offensive and troublesome to a carnall heart. Hence the world saith, give me an honest, quiet, peaceable man, that troubleth us not for our drunkennesse, wickednesse, and debauched courses; but as for these strict, precise, zealous men, what have we to do with them?
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