A30243:844
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 31
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, let us consider why outward prosperity and blessings do not 1argue a mans good estate.
- 1Why outward prosperity doth not argue a mans good estate. R. 1.
And first, It may be demonstrated from the original or fountain whence they flow; It is not only from Gods love, but his anger and hatred also: Sometimes God giveth men the outward comforts of this life in his hot displeasure; Thus Dives, it was Gods anger to him made him rich: Solomon speaketh of this vanity, that many times a wicked man hath wealth given him, not for his own good, for he hath no power to enjoy it, but for the good of others: Solomon often taketh notice of this, that the wicked layeth up for the righteous; not that intentionally he doth ⟨p. 182⟩[…] ⟨p. 183⟩[…] ⟨p. 184⟩so, but providentially it shall be so, Quandoque divitiae dantur ad panam, saith Austin; God giveth wealth to men, as Saul did Michal his daughter in wife to David, not out of love, but to be a snare unto him, let their table become a snare to them. As the immoderate length of Absaloms hair was an occasion to hang him, to be his death, so the overflowing of mercies and comforts are sometimes the instruments of mens destruction: Do not thou therefore boast and grow lofty by that which cometh from wrath and will end in wrath. Thy fat pastures are only to fat thee the more for hell; Do not bear thy head high, because thou hast more abundance, wealth, greatness then others. The higher the trees are, the nearer to thunder and lightning. Oh what a difference did Dives in hell find from himself faring deliciously every day!