A30243:802
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 29
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.
Thirdly, There is a defect in the efficacy and power of it; True lively faith will 1like fire devour all dross, whereas we see the historical believer cannot subdue sin. The Jews though they did believe on Christ, yet they for fear dared not to confess him, because they loved the praise of men more then the glory of God; They believed him to be Christ, but would not be afflicted or persecuted for his sake; so John 2. 23. Many believed, but Jesus would not commit himself to them, for he knew what was in man; but lively faith would make a man like Paul, triumph over all difficulties, because they look upon the things that are not seen: If faith bring Christ, the fountain of grace into a mans soul, that mans life can be no more constantly wicked, then if a man could carry the sun in his hand he could walk in darkness. As therefore the people stood looking upon John as if he were the Messiah, and John denied himself to be the Messiah, saying, there is one more noble then I, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unlose, so do thou say, Though there ⟨p. 172⟩are these acts of faith, to know, to assent to Gods truths; yet there are such further noble acts, as that these deserve not the name of faith comparatively, such are, to purify the heart, to justify, to sanctify, to keep from all sin, and to bring Christ to dwell in our hearts.
Thirdly, There is a defect in the efficacy and power of it; True lively faith will 1like fire devour all drosse, whereas we see the historicall believer cannot subdue sin. The Jews though they did believe on Christ, yet they for fear dared not to confess him, because they loved the praise of men more then the glory of God; They believed him to be Christ, but would not be afflicted or persecuted for his sake; so John 2. 23. Many beleeved, but Jesus would not commit himself to them, for he knew what was in man; but lively faith would make a man like Paul, triumph over all difficulties, because they look upon the things that are not seen: If faith bring Christ, the fountain of grace into a mans soul, that mans life can be no more constantly wicked, then if a man could carry the sunne in his hand he could walk in darknesse. As therefore the people stood looking upon John as if he were the Messias, and John denyed himself to be the Messias, saying, there is one more noble then I, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unlose, so do thou say, Though there