A30243:765
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.
In the next place, consider the sad effect upon that mans soul who deceiveth 1himself with th•s sign, thinking all that God requireth lieth in such an outward conformity.
In the next place, consider the sad effect upon that mans soul who deceiveth 1himself with th•s sign, thinking all that God requireth lyeth in such an outward conformi•y.
- 1The sad effects of trust[…] in an •x[…]ll obedi[…]. 1.The sad effects of trust〈…〉 in an •x〈…〉ll obedi〈…〉. 1.
First, He will never see the necessary of being a new creature; He finds no necessity of change but in the outward man only: Whereas the main and principal work of grace is that which reacheth to the heart of a man: yea, God beginneth the work of grace first upon the inward principles and affections of the soul, 1 Th. 5. 23. I pray God sanctify you throughout, your whole spirit, soul and body: first spirit, then soul, then body: and thus our Saviour pleadeth that the tree must be made good before the fruit can. When the Prophet intended to make the bitter waters sweet, he threw his salt into the Spring as the fountain and cause, which if once sweetened, would make the streams so. It is therefore a woeful condition to live a man ignorant of the heart-change that should be in thee. Thou hast been profane, but now thy life is changed; Thou didst commit such and such sins, but now thou hast left them, This is well, but if a greater change and alteration hath not been made in thy soul, thou art yet in a state of sin and wrath, […] therefore look about the, and fear lest God have not wrought such a glorious work within thee as is necessary.