A30243:803
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.
Fourthly, It is defective in its Concomitants; This Historical faith is not necessarily conjoined with other graces, whereas a true and lively faith can no more be 1separated from other graces, then light and heat can be divided in the Sun-beams, for true faith is that branch which sucks of the Olive fatness, it uniteth us as members to Christ, and when we are so, it's impossible but that power and life should be communicated to us; Hence all those eminent acts of holiness spoken of Heb. 11. are given to faith, and Gol 5. faith is said to work by love; but Simon Magus had Historical faith, and it was alone, there were no graces to accompany it. Hence we distinguish between faith alone in the subject, and faith alone in the act of Justification. The hand alone receiveth that which is offered to it, but the hand could not do this if it were alone, separated from other parts. Hence it is that Believers and Saints are used promiscuously one for another, because true lively Believers can no more be without holiness, then the Sun dark, or the fire cold: Yet for all this, This historical faith is a true faith, and it's the gift of God, even as other common gifts of Gods Spirit are: As copper is a true metal though it be not gold. By this means it cometh about that a lively faith is proper to the Elect only. Hence it's called the faith of the Elect; and as many believed as were ordained to eternal life. Oh therefore consider your selves, you who boast of your faith, you who glory in this, that you change not your faith as others do, make diligent search whether it be not a Simon Magus his faith that leaveth thee still in a state of gall and bitterness, I am (thou sayest) for the doctrine of the Church of England, and art thou also for the life required in Gods Word?
Fourthly, It is defective in its Concomitants; This Historicall faith is not necessarily conjoyned with other graces, whereas a true and lively faith can no more be 1separated from other graces, then light and heat can be divided in the Sun-beams, for true faith is that branch which sucks of the Olive fatnesse, it uniteth us as members to Christ, and when we are so, it's impossible but that power and life should be communicated to us; Hence all those eminent acts of holinesse spoken of