A30243:804
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.
Fifthly, The deficiency of it is seen comparatively, with other graces; If a man make a beast of such a grace in his heart, and demonstrate no real effects 1thereof, is it not hypocrisy and delusion? The Apostle maketh a parallel in charity, which gives good words, fair promises, but exhibits no real comfort: Even such a t•ular believer is a man that assenteth to the true doctrine of Christ, but neglecteth real godliness: faith is called the acknowledging of the truth after godliness; when a mans heart comes to be heated with burning love, as well as enlightened with shining light, this is of sure consequence. All the graces of God have their real effects, they are not barely notional, but as fire doth really burn, gall doth really embitter, so doth grace produce its sensible, and powerful effects, Show me thy faith by thy works, saith the Apostle: Show thou believest there is a God by fearing of him, by obeying of him: Show thou believest a day of judgement by preparing to give an account at that time. All grace is for operation as its perfection, therefore the commands of God are for the acts, not the habits, and we may as well carry fire in our bosoms, and not feel it burn us, as carry true lively faith, and it not cleanse our life.
Fifthly, The deficiency of it is seen comparatively, with other graces; If a man make a beast of such a grace in his heart, and demonstrate no reall effects 1thereof, is it not hypocrisie and delusion? The Apostle maketh a parallell in charity, which gives good words, fair promises, but exhibits no reall comfort: Even such a t•ular beleever is a man that assenteth to the true doctrine of Christ, but neglecteth reall godlinesse: faith is called the acknowledging of the truth after godlinesse; when a mans heart comes to be heated with burning love, as well as inlightned with shining light, this is of sure consequence. All the graces of God have their reall effects, they are not barely notionall, but as fire doth really burn, gall doth really imbitter, so doth grace produce its sensible, and powerfull effects, Shew me thy faith by thy works, saith the Apostle: Shew thou beleevest there is a God by fearing of him, by obeying of him: Shew thou beleevest a day of judgement by preparing to give an account at that time. All grace is for operation as its perfection, therefore the commands of God are for the acts, not the habits, and we may as well carry fire in our bosomes, and not feel it burn us, as carry true lively faith, and it not cleanse our life.